"from the ftores of Grecian, Indian, Perfian, or 66 even Arabian learning; the antiquity of those "compofitions no man doubts, and the un"ftrained application of them to events long fub66 sequent to their publication, is a folid ground "of belief, that they were genuine predictions, "and confequently inspired." 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 himself acquainted with the interesting discoveries lately made in chymistry; and I have heard him affert, that his admiration of the structure 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 laft and favourite purfuit, was the study of Botany, which he originally began under the confinement of a fevere and lingering diforder, which with moft minds, would have proved difqualification from any application. It conftituted the principal amufement of his leifure hours. In the arrangements of LINNEUS he discovered fyftem, truth, and science, which never failed to captivate and engage his attention; and from the proofs which he has exhibited of his progrefs in Botany, we may conclude that he would have extended his dif coveries in that science. The last composition which he read in this Society, was a defcription of select Indian plants, and I hope his Executors will allow us to fulfil his intention of publishing it, as a number in our Researches. It cannot be deemed useless or fuperfluous to inquire, by what arts or method he was enabled to attain to a degree of knowledge almoft univerfal, and apparently beyond the powers of man, during a life little exceeding forty-seven 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 obstacles; his ftudies began with the dawn, and during the intermiffions of profeffional duties, were continued throughout the day; reflection and meditation ftrengthened and confirmed what industry and investigation had accumulated. It was a fixed principle with him, from which he never voluntarily deviated, not to be deterred by any difficulties that were fur 1 mountable, from profecuting to a fuccessful termination, what he had once deliberately undertaken. But what appears to me more particularly to have enabled him to employ his talents so much to his own and the public advantage, was the regular allotment of his time to particular occupations, and a fcrupulous adherence to the diftribution which he had fixed; hence, all his ftudies were pursued without interruption or confusion: 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 whatsoever quality, talents, or education; he justly concluded, that curious or important information, might be gained even from the illiterate; and wherever it was to be obtained, he fought and feized it. 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 felf-fufficiency, which fome times accompany and difgrace the greatest abilities; his prefence was the delight of every fociety, which his converfation exhilarated and improved; and the public have not only to lament the loss of his talents and abilities, but that of his example. To him, as the founder of our Inftitution, and whilft he lived, its firmeft fupport, our reverence is more particularly due; instructed, animated, and encouraged by him, genius was called forth into exertion, and modeft merit was excited to distinguish 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 demise he had been asked, by what pofthumous honours or attentions we could beft fhow our refpect for his memory? I may venture to affert he would have replied, "By exerting yourselves |