By 



T. H. Baker. 



295 



proceeded from au inability to exert what in the plenitude of health was wont 

 jo enrapture and delight. Of this failure, at the last commemoration of Handel 

 toe was sensible. Aware that his reputation would suffer, should he make so 

 psuccessful an exit from public life, he resolved to make one more attempt, and 

 jduce more exert the full strength of his vocal abilities. With this view he 

 pgaged himself, at the late Birmingham Music Meeting. On the first day he 

 failed, and omitted an air; but on the last night his exertions astonished every 

 bue. That Norris was great before, but never so great as then, was the general 

 ppinion. The theatre rung with applause. Madame Mara was forgot, and the 

 Distinguished invalid enjoyed and deserved the loudest acclamations of the 

 asseinbry. Much however as this success redounded to his fame, it was 

 purchased with his life. His constitution was too feeble to survive efforts so 



iolent and determined. Lord Dudley who, from early years has had a 



'riendship for him, kindly invited him to Himley, in hopes it might have 



sontributed to his recovery. " {Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Sept. 13th, 



Beetor of Kilmington, was born in the vicarage house at Mere, 



" Francis Potter was born in the Vicaridge House at Meyre in Wilts on Trinity 

 Sunday, an. 1594, educated in Grammar learning in the King's school at 

 Worcester under Mr. Hen. Bright, became a Communer of Trin. Coll, under 

 the tuition of his elder brother Hannibal Potter, in the latter end of the year 

 1609, took the degrees in Arts and one in Divinity, and continued in the Coll. 

 a close student till his father died an 1637, 1 and then succeeding him in 

 the Rectory of Kilmanton (sometimes called Kilmington and Culmington) 

 left the University for altogether, retired to that place, led a single and monkish 

 life, without the conversation of ingenious men till the day of his death. 

 He was from a boy given to drawing and painting, and the Founder's picture 

 that hangs in the Refectory of Trin. Coll. is of his copying. His genie laid 

 most of all in the Mechanicks, had an admirable mechanical invention, and 

 excellent notions for the raising of water, and making water engins ; many 

 of which inventions being presented to the Royal Society about the time of 

 its first erection, were highly approved by them, and forthwith the members 

 thereof admitted him one of their number. About the year 1640 he entertained 

 the notion of curing diseases by transfusion of blood out of one man into 

 another : the hint whereof came into his head from Ovid's story of Medea 

 and Jason, which matter he communicating to the Royal Society, about the 

 time of its first erection, was entred into their books. But this way of 

 transfusion having (as 'tis said) been mentioned long before by Andr Libavius 

 our author Potter (who I dare say never saw that Writer) is not to be esteemed 

 the first inventor of that notion, nor Dr. Rich. Joioer, but rather an Advaneer. 



1790.) 



Francis Pottek, B.D., 



1 Richard Potter, his father, died L629. 



