$16 
I muft referve what I had to fay on that 
fubje&t to fome future opportunity. In 
the mean. time, your giving this a place 
will tend to fpread a knowledge of the 
number and condition of thete affecting 
objects, together with the means provided 
—— oo 
et 
Account of Dr. Percival. 
[Nov. 1, 
for their relief, which ory wants to be 
more extended. To that end fhould this, 
in any degree, contribute, Iam perfuaded 
you will fhare the gratification with, 
Bermondfey. J. W. 
MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
ea 
ACCOUNT of DR. FHOMAS PERCIVAL. 
Mihi quidem, quanquam eft fubito ereptus, 
- vivit tamen, fem pergue/vivet. Virtutem 
enim amavi iilius viri, quz extin€ta non ett. 
Nec mihi foli verfatur ante oculos, fed 
etiam pofteris erit clara et infignis. 
CICERO. 
Amo Gavioy ev: AcAcivas. EBP. 
@ is with peculiar concerf that we an- 
pounce to the public the lofs of fo 
eitimable a member of fociety as Dr. Per- 
cival, of Manchefter, who, after an illnets 
of but eight days centinuance, breathed 
his laft on the evening of Thurfday, the 
goth of Auguft, at the clofe of the fixty- 
fourth. year of his age. The feverity of 
his diforder, which was cccafionally ac- 
companied with excefiive pain, he fupport- 
ed with fortitude and compofure; fully 
aware, throughout, of the approaeh of 
diffolution, he looked forward to that 
awful] event with tranquil acquiefcence, 
Thofe animating hopes with which he 
had always refied, in humble confidence, 
upon the mercies of his God, enabled hin 
to contemplate death- without difmay ; 
and his lait moments were marked with 
that elevated fcrenity and pious refigna- 
tion which well became the conclufion of 
a life, in which the great duties of a man 
and of a Chriftian, had been conf{cientiouf- 
ly diicharged. 
In every thing that relates to the hif 
tory and character of a perfon fo extenfively 
known, and fo defervedly beloved, the 
public wiil naturally feel a lively curiofity; 
and we lament that we are at prefent un- 
prepared to meet this laudable defire with 
any other than a hafly and imperfect 
{ketch of both. It is, however, to be 
hoped, that a more lengthened memoir 
may be given of the interefiing particulars 
of a life, in which there is fo much to fti- 
mulate to moral and intelle&tual improve- 
ment, fo much to recommend and infpire 
the love of virtue and decorum, and {fo 
much to exemplify the rewards of reéti- 
tude and the contolations of religion, 
Thomas Percival was born at Warring- 
ton, September the 29th, N.&. 1740. 
His parents, Jofeph and Margaret Perci- 
val, both highiy refpeGtable in their con- 
dué&t, endowments, and defcent, having 
died at the fame time;* he was placed, at 
the age of four years, under the protec- 
tion of his uncle, Dr. Thomas Percival, a 
phyfician of learning and confideration, re- 
fident in Warrington, But being deprived 
likewife of his parental guidance at the age 
of ten, the fole care of him thenceforward 
devolved upon his oldeft fifier, from whofe 
kind, affiduous, and judicious attentions 
he continued to experience moft of the be- 
nefits of parental fuperintendance, and 
whom he never after ceafed to regard 
with the higheft fentiments of gratitude, 
and a tendernefs approaching to filial ve- 
neration. 
His education commenced at a private 
{chool in the neighbourhood of Warring- 
ton. From this he was, ia his eleventh 
year, transferred to the Free Grammar | 
School of that town, in which he gave. 
fuch {triking promife of induftry and ta- 
lent as fecured to bim the particular regard 
and affection of the principal, Mr. Hay- 
ward, a teaclier eminently dittinguifhed for 
his abilitics and icholaftic acquirements. 
On the inftitution of the Warrington Aca- 
demy, in 1757, under the direétion of the 
Rev. Dr. Aikin, the Rev. John Holt, and ~ 
the venerable Dr. Taylor, he was enrolled - 
the fint ftudent of that well known femi- 
nary; and, after profecuting his ftudies 
there, with diligence and reputation, for 
the {pact of avove three years, he removed 
to the Univerfity of Edinburgh, at which 
* Ft is a fingular and melancholy faét, 
that the diffolution of the wife was preceded 
but a few hours by that of her hufband, 
whofe health had been gradually under- 
mined by the forrow which her long and 
painful illnefs had excited; and that the re- 
mains of both were interred at the fame 
moment in the parochial church-yard, at 
Warrington. 
place 
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