Whilst he presided in the Royal Society, he executed that office, with a
grace, & dignity; conscious of what was due to so noble an Institution; what was expected from his character. when any paper was read, or experiment exhibited, wherein he had any knowledg & it was very rarely otherwise; he never faild to speak to it, with a just commendation; or to point out its defects, where it might be improv'd, where any experiment might be better directed. He would give a concise history of the advances of the subject, very much to its illustration; & to the emolument of the members present.
I remember particularly, that time I officiated for Dr. Halley, a paper was read of the pernicious effects of rooms fresh plaisterd o'er with lime, before dry. Sr. Isaac told us of a terrible catastrophe of that sort, of his own knowledg. a man, his wife, child, & servant-maid, they al lay in one room, when he was a lad at Grantham, which had been newly drawn with fresh lime. & to dry it the sooner, they made a fire, & shut the doors, to prevent them catching cold, as they thought. in the morning they were every one found in the cold arms of
