54 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
He felt the approaches of old age somewhat early, and was under the necessity
of employing an assistant when only about sixty years of age. He restricted
himself to a moderate, or rather abstemious diet, and regulated his food and
exercise by the measure of his strength. He entertained many apprehensions
of a long-continued sick-bed, which he was anxious to avoid, not from any selfish
motive, but that it might not occasion trouble or distress to his friends. This
anticipated evil was averted by the suddenness of his departure, which took
place on the 26th November 1799, while sitting at table with his usual fare
before him, viz. some bread, a few prunes, and a measured quantity of milk,
diluted with water, with the cup in his hands containing the liquid, resting on
his knees. In this posture he was found by the servant who attended him. He
was in the seventy-first year of his age.
Dr. Black, who had never been married, left more money than any one thought
he could have acquired in the course of his career. It was disposed of by his
will in a manner highly characteristic : Being divided into ten thousand shares,
it was parcelled out to a numerous list of individuals, in shares, or fractions of
shares, according to the degree in which he thought they were proper objects of
his care os solicitude. He was succeeded, as Professor of Chemistry, by Dr. Hope.
“ The aspect of Dr. Black,” says Chalmers,’ “ was comely and interesting. His
countenance exhibited that pleasing expression of inward satisfaction, which, by
giving ease to the beholder, never fails to please. His manner was unaffected
and graceful ; he was affable, and readily entered into conversation, whether
serious or trivial; he was a stranger to none of the elegant nccomplishments
of life; he had a fine musical ear, with a voice which could obey it
in the most perfect manner ; for he sung, and performed on the flute, with great
taste and feeling, and would sing a plain air at sight, which many instrumental
performers cannot do. Without having studied drawing, he had acquired a
considerable power of expression with his pencil, and seemed in this respect to
have the talents of a historical painter. Figure, indeed, of every kind attracted
his attention-even a retort, or a crucible, was to his eye an example of beauty
or deformity. He had the strongest claim to the appellation of a man of propriety
or correctness.”
The house where Dr. Black’resided was afterwards occupied by the Female
Department of the Industrious Blind, in Nicolson Street.
No. XXIII.
DR. JOSEPH BLACK, LECTURING.
THE notice illustrative of the preceding portrait of Dr. Black renders any
description of this Print unnecessary, except to add that his “Lectures on the
Elements of Chemistry, delivered in the University of Edinburgh,” were published
in 2 vols. 4t0, by Professor Robison, in 1803.
1 Biographical Dictinnary,val. v. p. 311. London, 1812, 8vo.
