862 Sketch of the Life and Charaéier of the late Dr. Priefiley. [May 15 
of fwallowiug food of any kind. But dur- 
ing this period of general debility, he was 
bufily employed in printing his Church 
Hiftory, and the firft volume of his Notes 
on the Scriptures, and in making new 
and original experiments. During this 
period, likewife, he wrote his pamphlet 
of Jefus and Socrates compared, and 1e- 
printed bis Effay on Phlogiiton. 
«¢ From about the beginning of Novem- 
ber, 1803, to the middle of January, 
1804, his complaint grew more {erious ; 
yet, by judicious medical treatment, and 
ftri&t attention to diet, he, after {ome time, 
feemed, if not gaining flrength, at leaft 
not getting worfe; and his friends fondly 
hoped that his health would continue to . 
improve as the feafon advanced. He, 
however, confidered his life as very pre- 
carious. Even at this time, befides his 
mifcellaneous reading, which was at all 
times very extenfive, he read through all 
the works quoted in his ‘* Comparifon of 
the different Syftems of Grecian Philofo- 
phers with Chriltianity ;°’ compofed that 
work, and tranfcribed the whole of it in 
Jefs than three months; fo that he has left 
it ready for the prefs. During this period 
he compofed, in one day, his Second Re- 
ply to Dr. Linn. 
“©JTn the la(t fortnight of January, his 
fits of indigeftion became more alarming, 
‘his legs fwelled, and his weaknefs in- 
creafed, Within two days of his death he 
became fo weak, that he could walk but 
alittle way, and teat with great diffi- 
culty. For fome time he found himfelf 
unable to fpeak; but, on recovering a 
little, he told his friends, that he had 
mever felt more pleafantly during his 
whole life-time, than during the tune he 
was unable tofpeak. He was fully fen- 
fible that he had not long to live, yet 
talked with cheerfulne{s to all who called 
onhim. In the courfe of the day he ex- 
prefled his thankfulnefs at being permitted 
to die quietly in his family, without pain, 
and with every convenience and comfort 
that he could with for. He dwelt upon the 
_ peculiarly happy fituation in which it had 
pleafed tie Divine, Being to place him in 
life, and the great advantage he had en- 
joyed in the acquaintance and friendfhip 
of fome of the beft and wileft men of the 
age in which he lived, and the fatisfaétion 
he derived from having led an ufeful as 
well as happy life. He this day gave di- 
rections about printing the remainder of 
his Notes on Scripture (a work, in the 
. completicn of which he was much inte- 
_refted), and looked over the firft theet.of 
a 
we 
the third volume, after it was correéted 
by thofe who were to attend to its com- 
pletion, and expreffed his facisfaction at 
the manner of its being executed. 
‘¢©On Sunday, the sth, he was much 
weaker, but fat up in an arm-chair for a 
few minutes: He defired that John, chap. 
xi. might be read to him: he ftopped the 
reader at the 45th verfe, dwelt for fome 
time on the advantage he had derived from 
reading the Scriptures daily, and recom- 
mended this practice, faying, that it 
would prove a fource of the pureft plea- 
fure. § We fhall all ({aid he) meet finally ; 
we only require different degrees of difci- 
pline fuited to our different tempers, to 
prepare us for final happinefs.” Mr. 
coming into his room, he faid, ¢‘ You fe, 
Sir, I am ftill living.” Mr. obferved, 
‘that he would always live.” ‘ Yes, I 
believe I fhall;. we fhall meet again in 
another and a better world.” He faid this 
with great animation, laying hold of Mr. 
*s hand in both his own. After 
evening prayers, when his grand children 
were brought to his bed-fide, he fpoke to 
them feparately, and exhorted them to con- 
tinue to love each other, &c. ‘Iam going 
(added he) to fleep as well as you, for 
death is only a good long found fleep in 
the grave, and we fhall meet again.” 
«* On Monday morning, the gth of q 
February, on being afked how he did, he 
an{wered in a faint voice, that he had no 
pain, but appeared fainting away gradual. 
ly. About eight o'clock, he defired ta 
have three pamphiets which had been 
looked out by his direétions the evening 
before. He then diated as clearly and 
diftin@ly as he had ever done in his life, 
the additions and alterations which he 
withed to have made in each. M 
took down the fubftance of what he faid, 
which was read to him. He-oblerved, 
<¢ Sir, you have put in your own language, 
I with it to be mine.” 
over again, nearly word for word, what 
he had before faid, and when it was tranf- 
cribed, and read over to him, he faid, 
«¢ That is right, IT have now done.”” 
‘s Abont half an hour after, he defired 
that he might be removed toa cot. About 
He then repeated — 
ten minutes after he was removed to it, © 
he died; but breathed bis laft fo eafily, 
that thofe who were fitting clofe tohim did 
not immediately perceive it. He had put 
his hand to his face, which prevented — 
them from obferving it” 
. This was indeed 
poffefled of generous and tender feelings, 
how 
«¢ the death of the 
sighteous !’’and it is prefumed, that no one 
