or

distinguished alike in botany and medicine; and of whom it was said, years afterwards, when his life was terminating by a lingering consumption, "The Flower of Physic is indeed Withering." Then came Dr. Stoke, profoundly scientific and eminently absent. On one occasion, when the Lunar meeting, "Lunatics," as our butler called them, were seated at dinner, a blazing fire being in the room, we were astonished by hearing a sudden hissing noise, and seeing a large and beautiful yellow and black snake rushing about the room. My dear mother, who saw it was not venomous, said to me: "Mary Anne, go and catch that snake;" which, after some trouble, and thinking all the while of little Harry Sandford and Tommy Merton, I succeeded in accomplishing. We were wondering where it could have come from, when Dr. Stoke said that, as he was riding along, he had seen the poor animal frozen on a bank, and put it in his pocket to dissect, but the snake had thawed, and escaped from his pocket. The doctor praised me very much for my prowess in the capture of the snake, and, as a reward, he made me a present of my prisoner, which I long kept in a glass jar, and carefully tended every day; at last, however, I gave him his freedom.

Another, and, though mentioned last, not the least valuable of these friends, was Dr. Priestley, the father of discoveries on air; a man of admirable

simplicity, gentleness, and kindness of heart, united with great acuteness of intellect. I can never

forget the impression produced on me by the serene expression of his countenance. He, indeed, seemed present with God by recollection, and with man by cheerfulness. I well remember that in the assembly of these distinguished men, amongst whom Mr. Boulton, by his noble manners, his fine countenance (which much resembled that of Louis XIV.), and princely munificence, stood pre-eminently as the great Mecænas, even as a child, I used to feel when Dr. Priestley entered after him, that the glory of the one was terrestrial, that of the other celestial; and utterly far as I am removed from a belief of the sufficiency of Dr. Priestley's theological creed, I cannot but here record this evidence of the eternal power of any portion of truth held in vitality. I believe that no Divine truth can truly dwell in any heart without an external testimony in manner, bearing, and appearance, that must reach the witness within the heart of the beholder, and bear an unmistakable, though silent evidence, to the eternal principle from which it emanates. How often have I wished, in after life, that those who were in possession of far more complete views of Christian truth than Dr. Priestley, had held them half as vitally. I have often thought that some estimable Unitarians whom I have known resembled a living man with

the loss of some important limb, whilst I have unhappily lived to see many orthodox professors who, like a corpse or a mummy, exhibited all the form and lineaments of truth, but were destitute of one vital spark.

Besides the distinguished men I have mentioned, Dr. Parr was a frequent attendant at the Lunar meetings; also Dr. Darwin, who, like Mr. Keir, was a friend of Mr. Edgeworth and Mr. Day. I might name other interesting and distinguished persons of which this Society formed a nucleus; as, for example, Sir W. Herschel and Sir Joseph Banks, Dr. Solander and Dr. Afzelius. Each member of this Society was indeed himself a centre of intellectual friends, as well foreign as English; and every member was at liberty to bring any of his friends with him.

Perhaps it may be well to take this opportunity to make a few further observations on the members of the Lunar Society; for the external bearing and appearance of such eminent men may be interesting at a period when phrenology and physiognomy are by some considered as sciences; and though at that time I was a mere child, yet my observation was very early directed to the study of physiognomy. My acquaintance with this circle continued from the time I was eight years old till I was four or five and twenty, so that the aspect, form, and manner of each

individual was deeply engraven on my memory ; and when many years afterwards I heard phrenological lectures, I could with the greatest ease apply them to my remembrances of some of its more distinguished members. Mr. Boulton was one of those whose characteristics I clearly recollect. He was in person tall, and of a noble appearance; his temperament was sanguine, with that slight mixture of phlegmatic which gives calmness and dignity; his manners were eminently open and cordial; he took the lead in conversations, and with a social heart had a grandiose manner like that arising from position, wealth, and habitual command. He went among his people like a monarch bestowing largess. His forehead was magnificent; the organs of comparison, constructiveness, and of individuality were immense. The characteristics of his partner, Mr. Watt, were altogether different. Mr. Boulton was a man to rule society with dignity; Mr. Watt, to lead the contemplative life of a deeply introverted and patiently observant philosopher. He was one of the most complete specimens of the melancholic temperament. His head was generally bent forward or leaning on his hand in meditation, his shoulders stooping and his chest falling in; his limbs lank and unmuscular, and his complexion sallow. His intellectual development was magnificent; comparison and causality immense, with large ideality and constructiveness, individu

ality, and enormous concentrativeness and caution. Whilst Mr. Boulton's eye and countenance had something of radiance, Mr. Watt's were calm, as if patiently investigating, or quietly contemplating his object. His utterance was slow and unimpassioned, deep and low in tone, with a broad Scottish accent ; his manners gentle, modest, and unassuming. In a company where he was not known, unless spoken to he might have tranquilly passed the whole time in pursuing his own meditations. But this could not well happen; for in point of fact everybody practically knew the infinite variety of his talents and stores of knowledge. When Mr. Watt entered a room, men of letters, men of science, nay, military men, artists, ladies, even little children thronged round him. I remember a celebrated Swedish artist having been instructed by him that rats' whiskers make the most pliant and elastic paintingbrush; ladies would appeal to him on the best means of devising grates, curing smoking chimneys, warming their houses, and obtaining fast colours. I can speak from experience of his teaching me how to make a dulcimer and improve a Jew's harp.

Many years after this, I think it was during the peace of Amiens, Mr. Watt visited Paris. It so happened that while going through one of the palaces, I believe the Tuileries, a French housemaid appeared much perplexed concerning some