Though Dr Brocklesby conducted his affairs with a prudent economy, equally removed from meanness and profusion, yet he was distinguished by that true bone volence and liberality of disposition, which is ever de sirous to possess the means, as well as the inclination, to do good. There is a species of generosity, spring ing no doubt from the noblest motives, which wastes itself in a few unavailing efforts ; but that practical be nevolence which is alone worthy of our praise and imi tation, seems to have been possessed, in a very high decree, by Dr Brocklesby. The frugality which is dic tated by selfish feelings, is one of the meanest failings with which the human character can be stained ; but the economy which husbands the resources of charity, and directs them with caution to proper objects, is a virtue beyond all praise.
No sooner was Dr Brocklesby informed that Dr John son was prevented, by the narrowness of his income, from going to the Continent for the recovery of his health, than he offered him, in the most delicate man ner, an annuity of 100/. during the remainder of his life. When the Doctor declined this offer, his generous friend pressed him to reside in his house, as more suit ed to his health than that in which he then lived. His conduct to Edmund Burke was equally noble and gene rous. Dr Brocklesby transmitted to him 1000/., with the notification, that he intended to leave him this sum at his death, but that he thought it might be of more use to him at present.
At one period of his life, Dr Brocklesby was an en thusiast in politics, and participated in the early pro ceedings of the Whig Club ; but he afterwards aban doned the leaders of that party, along with Mr Burke and the Duke of Richmond.
Dr Brocklesby was, at one time, induced to accept a challenge, which originated in some professional jea lousies. The Doctor having spoken openly against some improper means which he supposed had been employed by Sir John Elliot, in order to procure the favour of a family on which they had jointly attended ; the friends of Sir John incited him to send a challenge to Dr Brocklesby. The parties met in the field to de termine this point of honour ; but they were luckily se parated after the first fire, Ly a centinel on guard.* In addition to the works which we have already men tioned, Dr Brocklesby published, in 1760, his Oratio Harveiana, which he pronounced before the Royal Col lege of Physicians. In the Transactions of the Royal Society for 1747, vol. xliv., lie published a letter " On ;he Indian Poison sent over by Don Antonio de Ulloa." In the Transactions for 1747-8, vol. xlv., he published a paper " On the poisonous root lately found mixed among the Gentian ;" and, in the same work for 1755, vol. xlix., appeared, his Experiments on the Sensibility and Irrita bility of the several parts of Animals. In the third and fourth volumes of the Medical Observations, he pub lished the case of a lady labouring under diabetes ; ex periments relative to the analysis of Seltzer water ; and a case of an encysted tumour in the orbit of the eye. Dr Brocklesby wrote also a Dissertation on the Music of the Ancients, which was published in 1749. (s)