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The faculties of his mind, by nature vigorous, were improved by constant exercise: and his memory, by habitual practice, had acquired a capacity of retaining whatever had once been impressed upon it. To an unextinguished ardour for universal knowledge, he joined a perseverance in the pursuit of it, which subdued all obstacles; his studies began with the dawn, and, during the intermissions of professional duties, were continued throughout the day; reflection and meditation strengthened 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 surmountable, from prosecuting to a successful 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 scrupulous adherence to the distribution which he had fixed; hence, all his studies were pursued without interruption or confusion: nor can I here omit remarking, what may probably have attracted your observation as well as mine, the candour and complacency with which he gave his attention to all of whatever quality, talents, or education: he justly concluded that eurious or important information might be gained even from the illiterate; and wherever it was to be obtained, he sought and seized it.

persons,

Of the private and social virtues of our lamented President, our hearts are the best records. To you who knew him, it cannot be necessary for me to expa tiate on the independence of his integrity, his humanity, probity, or benevolence, which every living creature participated; on the affability of his conver

sation and manners, or his modest unassuming deportment; nor need I remark that he was totally free from pedantry, as well as from arrogance and self-sufficiency, which sometimes accompany and disgrace the greatest abilities: his presence was the delight of every society, which his conversation 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 Institution, and whilst he lived, its firmest support, our reverence is more particularly due: instructed, animated, and encouraged by him, genius was called forth into exertion, and modest 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 assisted those of others. In losing 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, lose 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 posthumous honours or attentions we could best shew our respect for his memory, I may venture to assert he would have replied, "by exerting yourselves to support the credit of the Society;" applying to it, perhaps, the dying wish of Father PAUL, "Esto perpetua."

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TREATISE ON THE BAROMETER.

BY FRANCIS BALFOUR, ESQ.

IN

I.

a Treatise, published at this place a few weeks ago, on Sol-Lunar Influence in Fevers, I have endeavoured to shew, "That all Fevers are liable to certain diurnal and septenary* revolutions; and that these revolutions are uniformly and constantly connected with fixed periods of time.

II.

Having established this proposition (1.) it was natural to suppose that the power or influence which is capable of producing these very remarkable and interesting revolutions on the human constitution, at certain intervals, did not exert itself without effecting, at the same time, some corresponding periodical change in the state of that element in which we constantly exist; and in which all the operations of life and nature are carried on.

Other necessary avocations having hitherto preyented me from being able to make those experi ments myself that are required for deciding on this

*That is to say, changes happening after an interval of seven or eight days.

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