LIFE of Dr BLACK. ir 7 



tion. This accordingly followed, on the 26th of November 

 1799, and in the feventy-firft year of his age, without any con- 

 vulfion, mock, agitation or ftupor, to announce or retard the 

 approaches of death. Being at table, with his ufual fare, fome 

 bread, a few prunes, and a meafured quantity of milk diluted with 

 water ; and having the cup in his hand when the laft flroke of 

 his pulfe was to be given, he appeared to have fet it down on 

 his knees, which were joined together, and in this action expired, 

 without fpilling a drop, — as if an experiment had been purpofely 

 made, to evince the facility with which he departed. So ended a 

 life which had pafled in the mod correct application of reafon and 

 good fenfe to all the objects of purfuit which Providence had pre- 

 fcribed in his lot. His effects, when looked into, fhewed how much 

 he had profited by the order and juft arrangement he had ever 

 maintained in his affairs ; amounting almoft to double of what any 

 one thought his income or his frugality could have enabled him 

 to acquire. The whole was difpofed of by will, without fpeci- 

 fying any fum, in a neat and fatisfactory manner. Being divi- 

 ded into ten thoufand fhares, it was parcelled to a numerous lift 

 of relations, in fhares, in numbers, or fractions of fhares, accord- 

 ing to the degree in which they were proper objects of his care 

 or folicitude. 



This account of Joseph Black, however inadequate to the 

 merit of its fubject, is infcribed to the Prefident and Members 

 of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 



By their faithful AfTociate, 



And humble fervant, 



Hallyaros, in Tweeddale, 7 

 i$d April v 801. y 



ADAM FERGUSON, 



