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82 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. state, after death, makes a folly of posthumous memory. — But man is a noble ammal, splendid in aslies and pompous in the grave, solemnizing na- tivities and deaths with equal lustre, nor omitting ceremonies of bravery in the infamy of his na- ture." In 1671, Browne received the honour of knight- hood from Charles II. at Norwich, where he con- tinued to live in high reputation, till, in his 7 6th year, he was seized with a colic, which, after having tortured him about a week, put an end to his life, October 19, 1682. Of the briUiant qualities of the mind of Sir Tho- mas Browne, the reader may judge by consulting his works ; for an account of his minute peculiari- ties we are indebted to the hand of friendship, Mr. Whitefoot, who knew him intimately, says, " His complexion and hair were, like his name, brown, his stature moderate, his habit of body neither fat nor lean. In his clothing, he had an aver- sion to all finery, and affected plainness both in the fashion and ornament. He kept himself always very warm, and thought it most safe so to do, though he never loaded himself with such a multitude of garments as Suetonius reports of Au- gustus, enough to clothe a good family. He was never seen to be transported with mirth, or dejected with sadness. Always cheerful, but rarely merry; seldom heard to break a jest, and when he did he would be apt to blush at the levity of it : his gravity was natural without affectation. Parsimonious in nothing but his time, whereof he made as much improvement with as little loss as any man in it ; when he had any to spare from his practice, he