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and friend of Baron Liebig, and the approved translator of several 
of his works, and had established his reputation as a teacher of 
his favourite science in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, and King’s 
College, Aberdeen, where he was appointed Professor of Chemistry 
in 1839, that he at length, in 1844, obtained the Chair of Chemis- 
try in the University of Edinburgh. 
Dr Alison next referred to Dr Gregory’s published writings and 
scientific papers in proof of his command of practical chemistry, of 
his remarkable power of condensation and clear exposition of chemi- 
cal principles, and of his just perception of the many important dis- 
coveries by which the science of chemistry was advanced during his 
lifetime. He had formed plans which, had his health permitted, 
would have resulted in a course of chemical instruction not surpassed 
in extent and importance in any single school in Europe. 
It was, however, unfortunate for Dr Gregory, that though a man 
of large make, and capable during youth of much exertion both 
bodily and mental, he had neither opportunity nor disposition to 
take so much muscular exercise as would probably have suited his 
physical constitution. In consequence, also, of an attack of fever in 
1826, he became liable, during the remainder of his life, to severe 
pain and swelling in one of his legs on any unusual exertion. It is, 
besides, worth notice, that he had repeatedly decided febrile attacks, 
which were distinctly traceable to the inhalation of sulphuretted 
hydrogen, and other gases, in his laboratory. 
He was thus latterly compelled to restrict himself almost ex- 
clusively to occupations of a completely sedentary character, such as 
the acquisition of languages, for which his remarkably tenacious 
memory will fitted him, and the practice of music, in which he pos- 
sessed a refined taste. Of late years his favourite employment was 
the use of the microscope: but this was not a mere amusement; 
for his systematic and laborious investigations resulted in various 
memoirs on the “ Diatomacese,” which he contributed to the “ Tran- 
sactions of the Boyal Society of Edinburgh,” and the “ Microscopi- 
cal Society of London.” 
The zeal which Dr Gregory displayed in the progress of his favourite 
science, chemistry, was never shown in a more interesting manner 
than in the composition of the “Notes on the Action of the Soil in Ve- 
getation,” which he drew up only a few days before his death, when 
he was with difficulty supported in bed, so as to enable him to write. 
