rapture the heroic, lyric, or moral compofitions, of the most 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 NEWΤΟΝ. 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 Mofaick account of the primitive world. We all recollect, and can refer to, the following fentiments in his eighth anniversary discourse.

Theological inquiries are no part of my "prefent fubject; but I cannot refrain from

adding, that the collection of tracts, which "we call from their excellence the Scriptures, "contain, independently of a divine origin, more true fublimity, more exquifite beauty, purer morality, more important history, and "finer ftrains both of poetry and eloquence, "than could be collected within the fame compass from all other books, that were ever composed in any any "idiom. The two parts, of which the "Scriptures confift, are connected by a chain. "of compofitions, which bear no resemblance "in form or style to any that can be produced

66

age,

or in

"from the ftores of Grecian, Indian, Perfian, or even Arabian learning; the antiquity of those compofitions no man doubts, and the un" ftrained application of them to events long subsequent to their publication, is a solid ground "of belief, that they were genuine predictions, "and confequently inspired."

66

There were in truth few sciences, in which he had not acquired confiderable proficiency; in moft, his knowledge was profound. The theory of music was familiar to him; nor had he neglected to make himself acquainted with the interesting discoveries lately made in chymistry; and I have heard him affert, that his admiration of the ftructure of the human frame, had induced him to attend for a season to a course of anatomical lectures delivered by his friend, the celebrated HUNTER.

His last and favourite pursuit, was the study of Botany, which he originally began under the confinement of a fevere and lingering disorder, which with moft minds, would have proved a difqualification from any application. It conftituted the principal. amusement of his leisure hours. In the arrangements of LINNEUS he discovered system, truth, and science, which never failed to captivate and engage his attenand from the proofs which he has

tion;

from arrogance and self-sufficiency, which fometimes accompany and disgrace the greatest abilities; his prefence was the delight of every fociety, which his conversation exhilarated and improved; and the public have not only to lament the lofs of his talents and abilities, but that of his example.

To him, as the founder of our Inftitution, and whilst 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 itself. Anxious for the reputation of the Society, he was indefatigable in his own endeavours to promote it, whilst he cheerfully affifted those of others. In lofing him, we have not only been deprived of our brightest ornament, but of a guide and patron, on whose instructions, judgment, and candour, we could implicitly rely.

But it will, I trust, be long, very long, before the remembrance of his virtues, his genius, and abilities, lofe that influence over the members of this Society, which his living example had maintained; and if previous to his demife he had been asked, by what pofthumous honours or attentions we could beft fhow our respect for his memory ? I may venture to affert he would have replied, "By exerting yourselves

"to fupport the credit of the Society;" app'ying to it, perhaps, the dying wish of father PAUL, "efto perpetua!"

In this wish we must all concur, and with it, I close this address to you.