Percivall Pott - Amiable. Useful. Great.

In memory
of PERCIVALL POTT Esqr FRS
Surgeon of St Bartholomew's Hospital during forty two Years
Who departed this life Decr 22nd 1788 Aged 75
He was Singularly eminent in his profession
To which he added many new resources and which he illustrated
With matchless Writings
Let Posterity revolve the sum of his experience
That the World may still enjoy the benefit of his
successful practice.
He honored the collective wisdom of past ages
The labours of the Ancients were familiar to him
He scorned to teach a Science of which he had not traced the growth
He rose therefore from the Form to the Chair.
Learn, Reader, that the painful Scholar can alone become
The able Teacher.
But his studies had a double issue
Whilst he gathered the knowledge of his Predecessors
He perceived their errors and corrected them;
He discovered their defects and supplied them.
Original in Genius, prompt in Judgement, rapid in Decision,
He directed knowledge to its proper ends,
But pursued them when the aids of information were exhausted;
The last steps therefore and the great improvements
Were his own.
His Integrity is before his Judge;
Without it, his skill might have profitted mankind,
But could have claimed no record within these walls.
His personal Acomplishments and various Talents,
His private Virtues,
His signal Tenderness toward his family
Completed an Example.
Amiable. Useful. Great.

In the same place are deposited the remains
of SARAH POTT, his beloved Wife,
The Partner of his virtues and his intellectual
endowments,
who departed this life January 18th 1811, aged 87.
United once by every living tye,
By Death once severed joined by Death again,
Yet joined to live, O turn the heedful eye
From Deaths short sway, to Lifes eternal reign.