The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-10

which, after continuing fome years with little
intermiilion, at length wore out his frame and
put period TO his life, on September 81, I77e,
in the seth year OF his age. He died ut Turn
hurt IN Stafordihire, and was buried at New
Chapel, in the fame county.
In appearance and manners, as well rs in
requirements, MIR. Brind,ey was mere psafant,
uniettered and rude of ipeech it was eaiier for
him to deviie means for executing de!ign than
to communicate his'deas concerning tito others.
Formed by nature for the protection he affumed,
IT was there alone that he was in the proper ele-
ment; and 10 occupied was his mind with buff
nefs, that he was incapable of relaxing in any of
the common amuisments of life. As he had
not the ideas of other men TO a6ift him, whene-
yer point of difficulty in continuance occurred,
it was his cuhom to retire to his bed, where, in
perfect iolitrde, he would I've for one, two, or
three days, bordering the matter in his mind,
till the requiiite expedient had prefented itfelf.
This is that true infpiration which poets have
slnott eXcuiively anogated to themielses, but
| which men OF original genius in every walk are
actuated by, when, from the operation of the
mind acting upon itielf, without intrufon OF TO-
reign notions, they create and invent.
a remarkable retentive memory was one of
the eficntial qualities which MIR. Brindley
brought to his mental operations. This enabled
him to execute all the parts, ofthe NOT complex
machine in due order, without any helps of
models Or drawings, provided he had once accu-
rately iettied the whole plan in his mind.
In his calculation of the powers of machines,
he followed plan peculiar to himfelf; but, in
deed, the only one he could follow without in
ftruction in the rules of art. He would work the
queftion fome time in his head, and then fet
down the refult in figures then taking il up in
TINS ftage, he would again proceed by mental
operation TO another refult, and thus he would
go on by itages till the whole was fniihed, only
making ufe of figures to mark the feveral reillts
or his operations. But though by the wonder
tul powers OF native genius, he was thus ena-
bled TO get over his want ofartifcial method to
acertain degree, yet there is no doubt, that
when his concerns became extremely complcat-
ed, with accounts of various kinds to keep, and
calculations OF all forts to form, he could not
void that perpleXity and embarrafiment, which
readinets In the proceies carried on by pen and
paper Can alone obviate. His climates of ex-
pence have generally proved wide of reality :;
and he Teens to have been better qualified to be
the contriver than the manager of great defign
His moral qualities were, however, highly ref
pectable. He was far above envy and iealoufy,
and freely communicated his improvements to
perfons capable of receiving and executing them
taking liberal fatisfa6ion in forming a new
generation of engineers, able to proceed with
the great plans, in the fuccefs of which he was
10 deeply interelted. His integrity and regard
to the advantage ofhis employers were unim-
Peachable. In fine, the name of Brindley will
ever keep place among that fmal number of
mankind, who form aras in the art or fcience,
to which they devote themfelves by a large and
durable extenhon of their limits.