334 CHAPTER 5t. 
the year 1786, the decline of his health 
very vilible to his friends, and his ftrength 
was greatly diminifhed, together with much 
of that vivacity which fo ftrongly marked 
his charafter. He died May 10, 1787* 
Sir WilUajn Watson had a natural ac- 
tivity both of mind and body, that never 
allowed him to be indolent in the flighteft 
degree. He was a moft exa<5l oeconomift 
of his time, and throughout life a very early 
rifer, being up ufually in fummer at fix 
o'clock, and frequently fooner ; thus fecur- 
ing to himfelf daily two or three uninter- 
rupted hours for ftudy. In his younger 
days, thefe early hours, as I have before 
obferved, were frequently given up to the 
purpofes of fimpling ; but, in riper years, 
they were devoted to ftudy. He read much 
and carefully ; and his ardent and unremit- 
ting defire to be acquainted with the pro- 
grefs of all thofe fciences which were his 
objeds, joined to a vigorous and retentive 
memory, enabled him to treafure up a vaft 
ftock of knowledge. What he thus ac- 
quired, he freely difpenfed. His mode of 
conveying information was clear, forcible, 
and 
