46 HISTORT of the SOCIETY. 



For feveral years before this period, Dr Hutton was con- 

 cerned in the fal- ammoniac work, which had been actually efla- 

 blifhed on the foundation of the experiments already mentioned, 

 but remained in Mr Davie's name, only, till 1765: at that time 

 a copartnership was regularly entered into, and the work carried 

 on afterwards in the name of both. 



He now found that his farm was brought into' the regular 

 order which good hufbandry requires, and that as the manage- 

 ment of it became more eafy, it grew lefs interefting. An oc- 

 casion offering of letting it to advantage, he availed himfelf of 

 it. About the year 1768 he left Berwickfhire entirely, and be- 

 came refident in Edinburgh, giving his undivided attention 

 from that time to fcientific purfuits. 



Among other advantages which refulted to him from this 

 change of refidence, we mud reckon that of being able to enjoy, 

 with lefs interruption, the fociety of his literary friends, among 

 whom were Dr Black, Mr Russel,. profefTor of Natural Philo- 

 fophy, ProfefTor Adam Ferguson, Sir George Clerk, alrea- 

 dy mentioned, his brother Mr Clerk of Elden,Dr James Lind, 

 now of Windfor, and feveral others. Employed in maturing his 

 views, and fludying nature with unwearied application, he now 

 paffed his time moft ufefully and agreeably to himfelf, but in 

 filence and obfcurity with refpedl to the world. He was, per- 

 haps, in the moft enviable fituation in which a man of fcience 

 can be placed. He was in the midft of a literary fociety of 

 men of the firfl abilities, to all of whom he was peculiarly ac- 

 ceptable, as bringing along with him a vaft fund of informa- 

 tion and originality, combined with that gayety and animation 

 which fo rarely accompany the profounder attainments of 

 fcience. Free from the interruption of profeflional avocations, 

 he enjoyed the entire command of his own time, and had fuffi- 

 cient energy of mind to afford himfelf continual occupation. 



A 



