98 HISTORT of the SOCIETT. 



ber of his friends. In one or other of thefe, he was accu- 

 ftomed almoft every evening to feek relaxation from the ftudies 

 of the day, and found always the moft cordial welcome. A 

 brighter tint of gaiety and chearfulnefs fpread itfelf over every 

 countenance when the Doctor entered the room ; and the phi- 

 lofopher who had juft defcended from the fublimeft fpeculations 

 of metaphyfics, or rifen from the deepeft refearches of geology, 

 feated himfelf at the tea-table, as much difengaged from thought, 

 as chearful and gay, as the youngeft of the company. Thefe 

 parties were delightful, and, by all who have had the happinefs 

 to be prefent at them, will never ceafe to be remembered with 

 pleafure. 



He ufed alfo regularly to unbend himfelf with a few friends, 

 in the little fociety alluded to in ProfefTor Stewart's Life 

 of Mr Smith, and ufually known by the name of the Oy- 

 Jler Club. This club met weekly ; the original members of 

 it were Mr Smith, Dr Black, and Dr Hutton, and round 

 them was foon formed a knot of thofe who knew how to 

 value the familiar and focial converfe of thefe illuflrious men. 

 As all the three pofTefTed great talents, enlarged views, and 

 extenfive information, without any of the ftatelinefs and forma- 

 lity which men of letters think it fometimes necefTary to affect \ 

 as they were all three eafily amufed ; were equally prepared to 

 fpeak and to liften ; and as the fincerity of their friendfhip had 

 never been darkened by the leaft {hade of envy ; it would be 

 hard to find an example, where every thing favourable to good 

 fociety was more perfectly united, and every thing adverfe more 

 entirely excluded. The converfation was always free, often 

 fcientific, but never didactic or difputatious ; and as this club 

 was much the refort of the ftrangers who vifited Edinburgh^ 

 from any object connected with art or with fcience, it derived 

 from thence an extraordinary degree of variety and intereft. It 



is. 



