Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/123

 112 BLACK cup in his hands, and feeling the vital powers quickly ebbing, he set it down on his knees, which were joined. together, and kept it steady with his hand. In this attitude he expired without struggle or groan, or even a writhe in his countenance; and as though an experiment had been required to prove to his friends the facility with which he departed, not a drop of his drink was spilled. His servant opened the door to tell him that some friend had left his name, but seeing him in that easy posture, supporting his bason on his knees, he supposed that he had fallen asleep, as he sometimes did after his meals. He therefore went back and shut the door; but, before he went down stairs, an anxiety, which he could not account for, induced him to return again. He went up pretty near to his master, and turned to go away perfectly satisfied; but returning again and coming close to him, he found that the vital spark had fled. Such was the end of Dr. Black, similar to his life, mild, gentle, and easy. A man, whose singular suavity of man- ners and obligingness of disposition, ensured him the hearts of all who knew him, and who never lost a friend, except by the stroke of death. His appearance was inte- resting, and his countenance exhibited that expression of inward satisfaction, which, by giving ease to the beholder, never fails to please. His manners were unaffected and graceful, and he readily entered into conversation, whether with the man of science, or with society in general, in which he delighted, for he was beloved in it. He was acquainted with all the elegant accomplishments; his ear was highly musical; his voice was fine and well-managed; and he performed on the flute with great taste and feeling. He had never studied drawing as an art, yet his pencil possessed strong powers of expression, even approximating to the talents of an historical painter. His eye, indeed, was ever on the alert, and even a retort or a crucible, was to him an example of beauty or deformity. In business, every thing was done properly and correctly, every thing