1804.] Account of Dr. 
which have been acquired by fevere ftudy, 
feyves only to produce perplexity and con- 
fufion. But his thoughts were always 
ready at command, and he engaged with 
peripicuity on every topic of diicourfe, 
becaule he faw at one view all its relations 
and analogies to thofe branches of know- 
ledge w ith which he was already acquaint- 
ed. * onverfation he deemed the uae 
effective Hho a of mental improve- 
ment. Put whilft he, therefore, loft no 
opportunity of directing it to the beft and 
moft inftiuctive topics, the native cheer- 
fulnefS ot his mind, ever at peace with it- 
felf ana with the world, did not tail to 
beflow ‘upon it a livelinefs and zelt by 
thofe playful and feafonavie fallies of de- 
licate and unoffending pieafantry, which 
lo UneOgIy marked the fweetnels of his 
temper, the innocence of his heart, and 
the nicety of his difcretion, To the col- 
Joguial ornaments with which he was thus 
eminently gifted, was fuperaded the polifh 
of arefined urbanity, the joint refuit of 
innate benevolence, and of early and habi- 
tual intercourfe with the motft improved 
clafies of fociety. They alone, in fhort, 
who have had the happinefs to experience 
the delights of his converfe, can form any 
jult conception of its attractive pleafures 
and its ameliorating virtues. 
But highly as this excellent man was 
to be admired and loved for his engaging 
manners, and his intellectual endowments, 
thefe fentiments are yet more forcibly ex- 
cited by -the exalted qualities which dig- 
nified and embellifhed his mora] nature. 
Thele were the precious gems that fhed 
around bis character that luftre which 
made him a public light. From thefe did 
all his attainments derive their fterling 
value. To thefe were all his other gua- 
lifications rendered fubfervient ; and from 
their pervading influence did he acquire 
that fecret charm, which gave him an 
irrefiftible afcendant over the affections of 
all whoknew him. A ftrié&t probity, and 
an inviolable love of truth, were perhaps 
the moft con{picugus in the afiemblage of 
thefe moral graces. From thefe, his whole 
conduct derived a purity and elevation, 
fuch as could {pring only from a mind in 
which the fineft fenfibilities of virtue hid 
ever remained unhurt by the confcioutne!s 
of difhonour. Totran{mit to his children 
* This paflage, fo truly defcriptive of him- 
felf, is taken from an elegant tribute paid by 
him to the memory of a refpefed friend, 
Charles de Polier, Efg. and inferted in the 
firft volume of the Memoirs of the Manchef- 
ter Society, 
“Thomas Percival. 
a" 
a 
19 
this precious inheritance, guarded againft 
contamination by every perfuafion of pre- 
cept, and every allurement of example, 
was a principal fludy of bis life. And to 
fecure to them the permanent enjoyment 
of this valuable depofit, he laboured un- 
ceafingly to inculcate that which he truly 
deemed the foundation ard_the ‘fence of 
every virtue, the principle of religion. In- 
deed, toimprefs this principle upon the un- 
derftandings and the hearts of all to whom 
his converlation or his writings could ex-_ 
tend, was to him the firft duty and the 
higheft glory. And it was delighiful to 
behold a man diftinguifhed in a profefion 
m which, whether truly or not, religicus 
{cepticilm has been fuppofed to prevail ; 
prominent in the walks of philofophy, 
which in latter times has too often but 
mifled her votaries ; and nonoured in all 
the literary circles ofan age whole peculiar 
pride it has been to undermine eftablifhed 
opinions; lending the whole weight and 
moment of his name and talents to the 
maintenance of genuine religion, and the 
fupport of Chrilan virtue. Educated a 
diffenter, he fieadily retained the pliicipies 
of rational diffent, without defcending to 
be a partizan. Solicitous upon all occa- 
flons to make the Scripture the interpreter 
and the teft of religious truth, he had im- 
bibed from the flated perufal of the facred 
volume, an enlightened familiarity with 
thofe great vital ‘verities which mutt lie at 
the foundation of the creed of every finceve 
Chriitian. His religious teneis were there-_ 
fore reverenced by the truly good and can- 
did of all denominations ; and by fome of 
the mof eminent divines and worthielt 
prelates of the eftabiifhed church his cor- 
refpondence and friendly intercourle were 
highly efteemed, and his fentiments acd 
Opinions not unfrequenily ciied and re- 
commended. f 
But neither w4s his a religion that could 
reft in {peculation. Itwas transtuf:d into 
his life, and governed all his actions ; its 
purifying power net only extending to his 
open intercourfe with the world, but pene- 
trating the retirement of the clofet, and 
the fecret recefles of the heart. 
That benevolence which Chriftianity fo 
forcibly inculcates, was with him not lefs 
an impulfe cf nature, than a difcharge of 
duty. Alive tothe mott generous fympa- 
thies, he participated with cordial concern 
in whatever affected the intereits of a fel- 
low creature. But whilit bis philanthro- 
phy was of that expanftve quality, thet 
would, if poffib! €, compr: hend in 1's em- 
brace, the whole human family of tue one 
great commonParent ; it was not allow.d 
to 
