of his intention to ftudy law, expressed in a wifh, which we now know to have been prophetic.

Mihi fit, oro, non inutiis toga,
Nec indiferta lingua, nec turpis manus!

"I have already enumerated attainments and works, which, from their diverfity and extent, feem far beyond the capacity of the most enlarged minds; but the catalogue may yet be augmented. To a proficiency in the languages of Greece, Rome, and Afia, be added the knowledge of the philofophy of thofe countries, and of every thing curious and valuable that had been taught in them. The doctrines of the Academy, the Lyceum, or the Portico, were not more familiar to him than the tenets of the Vedas, the mysticism of the Sufis, or the religion of the ancient Perfians; and whilft, with a kindred genius, he perufed with rapture the heroic, lyric, or moral compofitions of the moft renowned poets of Greece, Rome, and Afia, he could turn with equal delight and knowledge to the fublime fpeculations or mathematical calculations of Barrow and Newton. With them alfo he profeffed his conviction of the truth of the Chriftian religion; and he justly deemed it no inconfiderable advantage that his researches had corroborated the multiplied evidence of revelation, by confirming the Mofaic account of the primitive world. "There were, in truth, few fciences in which he had not acquired confiderable proficiency; in moft, his knowledge was profound. The theory of mufic was familiar to him: nor had he neglected to make himfelf acquainted with the interefting difcoveries lately made in chemiftry; and I have heard him affert,

"We all recollect, and can refer the following fentiments in his Eighth Anniversary Difcourfe.

66

Theological enquiries are no part of my prefent fubiect; but I cannot refrain from adding, that the collection of tracts which we call, from their excellence, the fcriptures, contain, independently of a divine origin, more true fublimity, more exquifite beauty, purer morality, more important hiftory, and finer ftrains both of poetry and eloquence, than could be collected within the fame compafs from all other books that were ever compofed in any age, or in any idiom.

The two parts, of which the fcriptures confift, are connected by a chain of compofitions, which bear no refemblance in form or style to any that can be produced from the ftores of Grecian, Indian, Perfian, or even Arabian learning; the antiquity of thofe compofitions no man doubts, and the unftrained application of them to events long fubfequent to their publication, is a folid ground of belief that they were genuine predictions, and confequently infpired."

His laft and favourite purfuit was the ftudy of botany, which he originally began under the confinement of a fevere and lingering diforder, which with mott minds would have proved a difqualification from any application. It conftituted the principal amufement of his leifure hours.

"It cannot be deemed ufelefs or fuperfluous to inquire by what

arts

years.

"The faculties of his mind, by nature vigorous, were improved by conftant exercise; and his memory, by habitual practice, had acquired a capacity of retaining whatever had once been impreffed upon it. To an unextinguished ardour for univerfal knowledge, he joined a perfeverance in the purfuit of it, which fubdued all obftacles. His ftudies began with the dawn, and, during the intermiflions of profeffional duties, were continued throughout the day-reflection and meditation ftrengthened and confirmed what induftry and inveftigation had accumulated. It was a fixed principle with him, from which he never voluntarily deviated, not to be deterred by any difficulties that were furmountable, from profecuting to a fuccefsful termination what he had once deliberately undertaken.

"But what appears to me more particularly to have enabled him to employ his talents fo much to his own and the public advantage, was the regular allotment of his time, and a fcrupulous adherence to the diftribution which he had fixed. Hence all his ftudies were purfued without interruption or confufion. Nor can I here omit remarking, what may probably have attracted your obfervation as well as mine, The candour and complacency with which he gave his attention to all perfons, of whatfoever quality, talents, or education: he justly concluded, that curious or important information might be gained even

"Of the private and focial virtues of our lamented prefident, our hearts are the best records. To you who knew him, it cannot be neceffary for me to expatiate on the independence of his integrity, his humanity, probity, or benevolence, which every living creature participated; on the affability of his converfation and manners, or his modeft, unaffuming deportment: nor need I remark that he was totally free from pedantry, as well as from arrogance and self-sufficiency, which fometimes accompany and difgrace the greatest abilities. His prefence was the delight of every fociety, which his converfation ex hilerated and improved; and the public have not only to lament the lots of his talents and abilities, but that of his example.

"To him, as the founder of our intitution, and whilft he lived its firmeft fupport, our reverence is more particularly due. Inftructed, animated, and encouraged by him, genius was called forth into exertion, and modeft merit was excited to diftinguish itfelf. Anxious for the reputation of the Society, he was indefatigable in his own endeavours to promote it, whilft he cheerfully aflifted thofe of others. In lofing him, we have not only been deprived of our brighteft ornament, but of the guide and patron, on whofe inftructions, judgment, and candour, we could moft implicitly rely.

"But it will, I truft, be long, very long before the remembrance of his virtues, his genius, and abilities lofe that influence over the mem

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