This individual, many years deceased, was a most remarkable man in his
circle; a great natural genius, which employed itself upon trivial or
not generally interesting matters. He deserved to have been known better
than he was. The last years of his life he resided at Bristol. He was a
great Persian scholar, and published some translations of the poets of
that nation, which were well worthy perusal. He was self-taught, and had
patience and perseverance for any thing. He was somewhat eccentric, but
had the quickest reasoning power, and consequently the greatest
coolness, of any man of his day, who was able to reason. His house took
fire in the night; it was situated near the sea; it was uninsured, and
the flames spread so rapidly nothing could be saved. He saw the
consequences instantly, made up his mind to them as rapidly, and
ascending a hill at some distance in the rear of his dwelling, watched
the picture and the reflection of the flames on the sea, admiring its
beauties, as if it were a holiday bonfire.
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