we are informed, that he never was perfectly restored to his accustomed good health. His complaint was indigestion, which produced a general relaxation of the system. But notwithstanding this debility of body, his mind continued vigorous;* and he continuedhis literary pursuits with constant assiduity. His time was engaged in printing his " Church History," & the first volume of his annotations on the Scriptures. He also reprinted an Essay on Phlogiston; wrote his pamphlet of "Socrates and Jesus compared," and made several philosophical experiments. Thus the two last years of his ex istence may be said to have been two of the busiest; and like Newton, Johnson, and several other great men, his intellectual faculties remained unimpaired to the last moment of his life.

In the beginning of November 1803, his complaint became more alarming, but by judicious medical treatmen, and a strict attention to regimen, he seemed, if not gaining strength, at least not getting worse. He continued in this uncertain state till the middle of January 1804; and his friends hoped that his health would improve with the return of spring. The

* A strong proof against materialism.

Doctor himself considered his life as very precarious, but his delight in intellectual pleasure continued; for "besides his miscellaneous reading, he read through the works quoted in his Comparison of the different systems of the Grecian Philosophers with Christianity,' composed the work, and transcribed the whole of it in three months; so that he has left it ready for the press. During this period, he wrote in one day, his second Reply to Doctor Linn.'

Towards the end of January, his indigestion became more alarming, his legs swelled, and he daily became weaker; insomuch, that two days previous to his death he could scarcely walk. On the 4th of February he was unable to speak for some time; but, on recovering, he told his friends, that he never felt happier than during the time he was deprived of the power of speech. He expressed his thankfulness to the great Disposer of events at being permitted to die quietly in his family, without pain, and with every comfort he could wish for. Like a Christian Philosopher, he expatiated with pious gratitude upon the happy situation in which it had pleased the Divine Being to place him in this life; the great advantage he had enjoyed in

the friendship of some of the best and wisest men of the age, and the satisfaction he derived from having led a useful as well as a happy life. He gave directions about printing the remainder of his Notes on Scripture; and hav¬ ing looked over the first sheet of the third volume, he expressed his approbation of the manner in which it was corrected, by the friend. who was to attend to its completion..

"On Sunday the 5th he was much weaker,, but sat up in an arm chair for a few minutes. He desired that John chapter x. 1. might be read to him, and stopped the reader at the twenty-fifth verse,* dwelt for some time on. the advantage he had derived from reading the scriptures daily, and recommended this practice,. saying that it would prove a source of the purest pleasure. "We shall all," said he, "meet finally; we only require different degrees of discipline suited to our different tempers, to prepare us for final happiness." Mr.

coming into his room, he said, "you see, Sir,,

"Jesus said unto her, I am 'the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

I am still living." Mr. observed "that he would always live"—""Yes, I believe I shall; we shall meet again in another and a better world." He said this with great animation, laying hold of Mr.'s hands in both his own. After evening prayers, when his grand-children were brought to his bedside, he spoke to them separately, and exhorted them to continue to love each other, &c. "I am going" added he, "to sleep as well as you; for death is only a good long sound sleep in the grave; and we shall meet again."

"On Monday morning, the 6th of February, on being asked how he did, he answered in a faint voice, that he had no pain, but appeared fainting away gradually. About eight o'clock he desired to have three pamphlets which had been looked out by his directions the evening before. He then dictated as clearly and distinctly as he had ever done in his life, the additions and alterations which he wished to have made in each. Mr. took down the sub

stance of what he said, which was read to him. He observed, "Sir, you have put in your own language; I wish it to be mine: he then repeated over again, nearly word for word, what he had before said, and when it was transcribed and

read over to him, he said that is right, I have now done.'

"About half an hour after he desired that he might be removed to a cot. About ten minutes after he was removed to it he died; but breathed his last so easily, that those who were sitting close to him did not immediately perceive it. He had put his hand to his face which prevented them from observing it."

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The behaviour of this great man at the hour of death corresponded with the philosophic se-renity which he had evinced on the most trying occasions. It reminds us of the expiration of Addison, and is an additional proof of the triumph of christian fortitude, over the king of terrors. "See in what peace a christian can die!"* christian? yes, undoubtedly our philosopher was a believer in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind; and whatever difference there might be in his speculative opinions from that doctrine which the majority of christians think it their indispensable duty to embrace, no man who is

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*The last words of Addison,