,transcriber's note3     ,this book was 
published in two volumes1 of which this 
is the second4       has been marked    
with underscores4 ,please see the end of
 this     ,project for further notes4   
,,the ,,life     ,,of     ,,sir         
,,humphry ,,davy1     ,,bart4 ,,ll4,d4  
,,late ,,president ,,of ,,the ,,royal   
,,society1 ,,foreign ,,associate        
,,of ,,the ,,royal ,,institute ,,of     
,,france1     c4 c4 c4      ,,by        
,,john ,,ayrton ,,paris1 ,m4,d4         
,,cantab4 ,f4,r4,s4 c4     ,,fellow ,,of
 ,,the ,,royal ,,college ,,of           
,,physicians4      ,,in ,,two ,,volumes4
      ,,vol4 ,,ii4      ,,london3       
,,henry ,,colburn ,,and ,,richard       
,,bentley1     ,,new ,,burlington       
,,street4     ,m ,,dccc ,,xxxi4         
,,contents4       ,,chapter ,x4         
,mr4 ,faraday's introduction to ,sir ,h4
 ,davy4--,a renewed correspondence      
on the subject of the ,gunpowder        
,manufactory4--,davy     obtains        
permission from ,napoleon to visit the  

,continent4--,he embarks     in a       
,cartel from ,plymouth4--,is arrested at
 ,morlaix4--,arrives     at             
,paris4--,visits the ,louvre4--,his     
extraordinary conduct     upon that     
occasion4--,inspects the ,colossal      
,elephant1 and is introduced     to ,m4 
,alavair1 its architect4--,the discovery
 of the dungeons     of the             
,bastile4--,davy's interesting letter to
 ,m4 ,alavair4--,he attends     a       
meeting of the ,institute4--,is visited 
by all the principal savans     of      
,paris4--,the adventure which befell    
,lady ,davy in the ,thuilleries'        
,garden4--,anniversary dinner of the    
,philomatic ,society4--,the     junior  
,chemists of ,france invite ,davy to a  
splendid entertainment4--,how     far   
,davy is entitled to be considered the  
discoverer     of the true nature of    
,iodine4--,napoleon's unlucky experiment
     with the ,voltaic battery4--,davy  
is presented to the ,empress            
,josephine4--,an account of the ,court  

ceremony at ,malmaison4--,remarks     on
 the conduct of ,davy during his visit  
to ,paris4--,he quits the     capital of
 ,france1 and proceeds by way of ,lyons1
 to ,montpellier4--,is     assisted in  
experiments on sea-weed by ,m4          
,berard4--,crosses     the              
,alps4--,arrives at ,genoa4--,institutes
 experiments on     the                 
,torpedo4--,visits ,florence1 and       
accomplishes the combustion     of the  
diamond1 by the great lens in the       
cabinet of ,natural                     
,history4--,experiments on ,iodine4--,he
 examines the colours used by     the   
,ancients4--,visits all the celebrated  
,philosophers of ,italy and             
,switzerland1 with whom he works in     
their laboratories4--,returns     to    
,england                                
#a       ,,chapter ,,xi4                
,collieries of the ,north of            
,england4--,fire-damp4--,the dreadful   
explosion at ,felling ,colliery         
described4--,letters from the ,bishop   

of ,bristol to the ,author4--,a ,society
 is established at ,bishop-,wearmouth   
for preventing accidents in coal        
mines4--,various projects     for       
ensuring the miner's safety4--,the      
,reverend ,dr4 ,gray1 the present       
,bishop of ,bristol1 addresses a letter 
to ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 and     invites his  
attention to the subject4--,sir ,h4     
,davy's reply4--,farther                
,correspondence upon the possibility of 
devising means of security4--,sir       
,h4 ,davy proposes four different kinds 
of lamp for the purpose4--,the          
,safe-lamp--,the ,blowing-lamp--,the    
,piston-lamp--,the                      
,charcoal-lamp4--,his investigation of  
the properties of fire-damp     leads to
 the discovery of a new principle of    
safety4--,his     views developed in a  
paper read before the ,royal ,society on
 the     #ith of ,november #ahae4--,the 
first ,safety-lamp4--,safety-tubes      
superseded     by                       
,safety-canals4--,flame                 

,sieves4--,wire-gauze lamp4--,the       
phenomenon of slow combustion1 and its  
curious application4--,the     invention
 of the ,safety-lamp claimed by a ,mr4  
,stephenson4--,a     deputation of      
,coal-owners wait upon ,sir ,h4 ,davy1  
in order to     express to him the      
thanks of the ,proprietors for his      
discovery4--,mr4     ,buddle announces  
to ,dr4 ,gray 7now ,bishop of ,bristol7 
the intention     of the ,coal-trade to 
present him with a service of           
plate4--,the     ,resolutions are       
opposed1 and the claims of ,stephenson  
urged1     by ,mr4 ,w4 ,brandling4--,a  
dinner is given to ,sir ,humphry1 at    
which     the plate is presented to     
him4--,the ,president and ,council of   
the ,royal     ,society protest against 
the claims still urged by ,mr4          
,stephenson's     friends4--,mr4        
,buddle's letter in answer to several   
queries     submitted to him by the     
,author4--,davy's ,researches on        
,flame4--,he     receives from the      

,royal ,society the ,rumford            
,medals4--,is     created a             
,baronet4--,some observations on the    
apathy of the ,state     in rewarding   
scientific merit4--,the ,geological     
,society of ,cornwall     receives the  
patronage and support of ,sir ,humphry  
#eh       ,,chapter ,,xii4      ,sir    
,humphry ,davy suggests a chemical      
method for unrolling     the ancient    
,papyri4--,he is encouraged by the      
,government to     proceed to ,naples   
for that purpose4--,he embarks at       
,dover4--,his     experiments on the    
,rhine1 the ,danube1 the ,raab1 the     
,save1 the     ,ironzo1 the ,po1 and the
 ,tiber1 in order to explain the        
formation of     mists on rivers and    
lakes4--,his arrival and reception at   
,naples4--,he     visits the excavations
 at ,herculaneum4--,he concludes that it
     was overwhelmed by sand and ashes1 
but had never been exposed     to       
burning matter4--,he commences his      
attempt of unrolling the                

,papyri4--,his failure4--,he complains  
of the persons at the head of     the   
department in the ,museum4--,he analyses
 the waters of the     ,baths of        
,lucca4--,his return to                 
,england4--,death of ,sir ,joseph       
,banks4--,he is elected ,president of   
the ,royal ,society4--,some     remarks 
on that event4--,he visits              
,penzance4--,is honoured by a     public
 dinner4--,electro-magnetic discoveries 
of ,oersted extended     by ,davy4--,he 
examines ,electrical ,phenomena in      
vacuo4--,the     results of his         
experiments questioned4--,he enquires   
into the state     of the water1 and    
ariform matter in the cavities of       
crystals4--,the     interesting results 
of his enquiry confirm the views of the 
,plutonists                             
#afj       ,,chapter ,,xiii4      ,the  
,liquefaction of ,chlorine ,gas first   
effected by ,mr4 ,faraday1     and      
witnessed by the ,author4--,sir ,h4     
,davy continues the                     

investigation4--,his paper on the       
application of ,liquefiable ,gases as   
mechanical agents4--,other probable uses
 of these bodies4--,he     proposes     
several methods to prevent the fumes    
which arise from                        
,smelting-furnaces4--,importance of the 
subject4--,his ,letters to     ,mr4     
,vivian4--,the ,government solicit the  
advice of the ,royal ,society     on the
 subject of protecting the ,copper      
,sheathing of ,ships     from the action
 of sea-water4--,sir ,h4 ,davy charges  
himself with     this enquiry4--,he     
proposes a plan of protection founded on
 ,voltaic     principles4--,his numerous
 experiments4--,he embarks on board     
the ,comet steam-vessel bound to        
,heligoland1 in order to try his        
plan on a vessel in motion4--,he arrives
 at ,mandal1 lands1 and     fishes in   
the lakes4--,the ,protectors washed     
away4--,he teaches     the inhabitants  
of ,christiansand to crimp fish4--,he   
remains a few     days at ,arendal4--,a 

,norwegian dinner4--,the ,protectors are
 examined     and weighed4--,results of 
the experiment4--,the steam-vessel      
proceeds up the ,glommen4--,he visits   
the great waterfall4--,passes     into  
,sweden4--,has an interview with the    
,crown ,prince of     ,denmark1 and     
afterwards with ,prince ,christian at   
,copenhagen4--,he     visits ,professor 
,oersted4--,he proceeds to ,bremen to   
see ,dr4     ,olbers4--,returns to      
,england4--,his third paper read before 
the ,royal     ,society4--,voltaic      
influence of patches of rust4--,a small 
quantity     of fluid sufficient to     
complete the circuit4--,he receives from
 the     ,royal ,society the ,royal     
,medal4--,the ,progress of ,voltaic     
discovery     reviewed4--,the principle 
is of extensive application4--,the      
,author's researches into the cause of  
the solution of ,lead in spring         
water4--,an account of the numerous     
trials of ,protectors4--,failure     of 
the plan4--,report of the ,french on the

 state of the protected     frigate1 ,la
 ,constance4--,dr4 ,revere's new plan of
 ,protection    #bjh       ,,chapter    
,,xiv4      ,the failure of the ,ship   
protectors a source of great vexation to
     ,davy4--,his ,letters to ,mr4      
,poole4--,he becomes unwell4--,he       
publishes his ,discourses before the    
,royal ,society4--,critical ,remarks    
and ,quotations4--,he goes abroad in    
search of health4--,his     ,letter to  
,mr4 ,poole from ,ravenna4--,he resigns 
the ,presidency     of the ,royal       
,society4--,mr4 ,gilbert elected pro    
tempore4--,davy     returns to ,england1
 and visits his friend ,mr4             
,poole4--,salmonia1 or     ,days of     
,fly-fishing4--,an ,analysis of the     
,work1 with various     extracts to     
illustrate its character                
#bhc       ,,chapter ,,xv4      ,sir ,h4
 ,davy's ,paper on the ,phenomena of    
,volcanoes4--,his     experiments on    
,vesuvius4--,theory of ,volcanic        
action4--,his reception                 

abroad4--,anecdotes4--,his last ,letter 
to ,mr4 ,poole from     ,rome4--,his    
paper on the ,electricity of the        
,torpedo4--,consolations     in ,travel1
 or the ,last ,days of a                
,philosopher4--,analysis of the         
work4--,reflections suggested by its    
style and composition4--,davy     and   
,wollaston compared4--,his last         
illness4--,arrival at ,geneva4--,his    
,death                                  
#cda       ,a ,,general ,,review ,,of   
,,the ,,history ,,of ,,chemical         
,,science1     ,,and ,,of ,,the         
,,revolutions ,,produced ,,in ,,its     
,,doctrines ,,by     ,,the ,,discoveries
 ,,of ,,sir ,,humphry ,,davy            
#dae       ,,appendix--,will of ,sir    
,humphry ,davy #deg         ,,the ,,life
     ,,of     ,,sir ,,humphry ,,davy1   
,,bart4 c4 c4     ,,chapter ,x4     ,mr4
 ,faraday's introduction to ,sir ,h4    
,davy4--,a renewed    correspondence on 
the subject of the ,gunpowder           
,manufactory4--,davy obtains permission 

from ,napoleon    to visit the          
,continent4--,he embarks in a ,cartel   
from    ,plymouth4--,is arrested at     
,morlaix4--,arrives at ,paris4--,visits 
the ,louvre4--,his extraordinary conduct
 upon that    occasion4--,inspects the  
,colossal ,elephant1 and is introduced  
to ,m4 ,alavair1 its architect4--,the   
discovery of the dungeons    of the     
,bastile4--,davy's interesting letter to
 ,m4 ,alavair4--,he    attends a meeting
 of the ,institute4--,is visited by all 
the    principal savans of ,paris4--,the
 adventure which befell    ,lady ,davy  
in the ,thuilleries'                    
,garden4--,anniversary dinner    of the 
,philomatic ,society4--,the junior      
,chemists of ,france    invite ,davy to 
a splendid entertainment4--,how far     
,davy is    entitled to be considered   
the discoverer of the true nature    of 
,iodine4--,napoleon's unlucky experiment
 with the ,voltaic    battery4--,davy is
 presented to the ,empress              
,josephine4--,an    account of the      

,court ceremony at ,malmaison4--,remarks
 on    the conduct of ,davy during his  
visit to ,paris4--,he quits    the      
capital of ,france1 and proceeds1 by way
 of ,lyons1 to    ,montpellier4--,is    
assisted in experiments on sea-weed by  
,m4    ,berard4--,crosses the           
,alps4--,arrives at ,genoa4--,institutes
    experiments on the                  
,torpedo4--,visits ,florence1 and       
accomplishes    the combustion of the   
diamond1 by the great lens in the       
cabinet    of ,natural                  
,history4--,experiments on ,iodine4--,he
 examines the    colours used by the    
,ancients4--,visits all the celebrated  
,philosophers of ,italy and             
,switzerland1 with whom he works in     
their laboratories4--,returns to        
,england4   ,it is said of ,bergman1    
that he considered the greatest of his  
discoveries to have been the discovery  
of ,scheele4#a ,amongst the numerous    
services conferred upon ,science by ,sir
 ,humphry ,davy1 we must not pass       

unnoticed that kind and generous        
patronage which first raised ,mr4       
,faraday from obscurity1 and gave to the
 chemical world a philosopher capable of
 pursuing that brilliant path of enquiry
 which the genius of his master had so  
successfully explored4    #a ,see ,note 
at page #db1 vol4 i4  ,the circumstances
 which first led ,mr4 ,faraday to the   
study of chemistry1 and by which he     
became connected with the ,royal        
,institution1 were communicated to me1  
by himself1 in the following letter4    
,,to ,j4 ,a4 ,,paris1 ,m4,d4      ,,my  
,,dear ,,sir1      ,royal ,institution1 
,dec4 #bc1 #ahbi4     ,you asked me to  
give you an account of my first         
introduction    to ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 which
 ,i am very happy to do1 as ,i think the
    circumstances will bear testimony to
 his goodness of heart4     ,when ,i was
 a bookseller's apprentice1 ,i was very 
fond of    experiment1 and very averse  
to trade4 ,it happened that a           
gentleman1 a member of the ,royal       

,institution1 took me to hear    some of
 ,sir ,h4 ,davy's last lectures in      
,albemarle ,street4 ,i took    notes1   
and afterwards wrote them out more      
fairly in a quarto    volume4     ,my   
desire to escape from trade1 which ,i   
thought vicious and    selfish1 and to  
enter into the service of ,science1     
which ,i    imagined made its pursuers  
amiable and liberal1 induced me at      
last to take the bold and simple step of
 writing to ,sir ,h4    ,davy1          
expressing my wishes1 and a hope that1  
if an opportunity    came in his way1 he
 would favour my views2 at the same time
 ,i    sent the notes ,i had taken at   
his lectures4     ,the answer1 which    
makes all the point of my communication1
 ,i    send you in the original1        
requesting you to take great care of    
it1 and to let me have it back1 for you 
may imagine how much ,i    value it4    
,you will observe that this took place  
at the end of the year    #ahab1 and    
early in #ahac he requested to see me1  

and told me    of the situation of      
assistant in the ,laboratory of the     
,royal    ,institution1 then just       
vacant4     ,at the same time that he   
thus gratified my desires as to         
scientific employment1 he still advised 
me not to give up    the prospects ,i   
had before me1 telling me that ,science 
was    a harsh mistress2 and1 in a      
pecuniary point of view1 but    poorly  
rewarding those who devoted themselves  
to her service4    ,he smiled at my     
notion of the superior moral feelings of
    philosophic men1 and said he would  
leave me to the experience    of a few  
years to set me right on that matter4   
,finally1 through his good efforts ,i   
went to the ,royal    ,institution early
 in ,march of #ahac1 as assistant in the
    ,laboratory2 and in ,october of the 
same year1 went with him    abroad as   
his assistant in experiments and in     
writing4 ,i    returned with him in     
,april #ahae1 resumed my station in the 
,royal ,institution1 and have1 as you   

know1 ever since remained    there4     
,i am1 dear ,sir1 very truly yours1     
,m4 ,,faraday4  ,the following is a note
 of ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 alluded to in ,mr4  
,faraday's letter3      ,,to ,,mr4      
,,faraday4      ,,sir1     ,december    
#bd1 #ahab4     ,i am far from          
displeased with the proof you have given
 me    of your confidence1 and which    
displays great zeal1 power of    memory1
 and attention4 ,i am obliged to go out 
of town1 and    shall not be settled in 
town till the end of ,january3 ,i will  
then see you at any time you wish4      
,it would gratify me to be of any       
service to you4 ,i wish it may    be in 
my power4      ,i am1 ,sir1 your        
obedient humble servant1      ,h4       
,,davy4   ,i must now recall the        
reader's attention to the affair of the 
gunpowder manufactory1 to which some    
allusion has been already made4 ,it is  
far from my wish to intrude upon the    
public any account of a private         
transaction2 but the circumstances to   

which ,i must refer are already well    
known1 and ,i believe1 moreover1 that   
they have been the subject of           
misrepresentation4  ,the letters ,i     
shall introduce appear to me highly     
interesting2 and by the warmth of       
feeling with which they repel the bare  
suspicion of his prostituting science to
 the acquisition of wealth1 to develope 
a feature in his character too important
 to be omitted in a memoir of his life4 
,from the following letter1 it would    
appear that ,davy's alarms1 with respect
 to his responsibilities1 were first    
awakened by a sight of the labels1 in   
which his name was introduced4#b    #b  
,i am here bound to state1 from a       
careful examination of all   the        
original documents1 that his name was   
introduced in the very   words which he 
suggested1 and which ,i have at this    
moment before   me in his own           
handwriting3--so differently1 however1  
does the   same sentence strike the eye 
in print and in manuscript1 that an     

author frequently does not recognise his
 own composition4      ,,to ,,john      
,,george ,,children1 ,,esq4      ,,my   
,,dear ,,children1      ,rokeby1 ,july  
-- #ahac4     ,i am very sorry you did  
not come to ,cobham1 as the party was   
very pleasant4     ,your apparatus was  
magnificent1 worthy an ,imperial        
,institute3    there were some swine    
however for the pearls2 at least1 there 
was one1--you cannot suppose ,i mean any
 other than----4     ,i have been much  
disturbed and vexed by enquiries        
respecting    the price of my gunpowder1
 which from the labels ,i find is       
supposed to be sold by me4 ,these labels
 must be altered1 so    as to put in a  
clear point my relations to the         
manufacture2    and it must be          
understood by the public that ,i have   
given my    gratuitous assistance and   
advice only4     ,i have written to ,mr4
 ,burton by post1 giving two forms4 ,i  
shall    do you more good if these are  
adopted than ,i can now2 and ,i    wish 

them to be adopted speedily1 as it may  
otherwise get    abroad that ,i have    
nothing to do with the powder1 and that 
my    name is used in a manner which    
does not meet my approbation4     ,in   
the labels in the windows1 it should not
 be under my    directions1 for this    
implies that ,i am a superintendent     
in the manufactory2 but it should       
be--,,ramhurst ,,gunpowder1             
manufactured by ,messrs4 ,b4 ,c4 and    
,co4 ,in the composition of    this     
powder1 the proprietors have been       
assisted by the advice    and assistance
 of ,sir ,h4 ,davy4     ,a fair         
statement will do the manufacture good4 
,misapprehension    will do it much     
harm4     ,i am now at ,rokeby2 we shall
 be in a few days at ,braham ,castle1   
,lord ,mackenzie's1 near ,dingwall1     
where we shall stay for a    week4      
,after that we shall go to the ,marquis 
of ,stafford's1    ,dunrobin1 near      
,goldspie4      ,i am1 my dear          
,children1      ,very truly and         

affectionately yours1      ,h4 ,,davy4  
,,to ,,the ,,same4      ,,my ,,dear     
,,children1 ,edinburgh1 ,july #bb4      
,i wrote to you from ,rokeby4 ,i        
expressed my feelings respecting    the 
gunpowder4 ,i have been in extreme      
harass and anxiety from    the idea of  
the use of my name1 without the proper  
explanation1    and ,i certainly        
expected that no use would have been    
made    of it without my sanction4 ,i   
never saw the label for the    canister 
till it came to me upon one of them1 and
 ,i immediately    expressed that ,i was
 not satisfied with it4     ,i told ,mr4
 ,burton expressly1 that in all cases in
 which my name    was used it must be in
 my own way4 ,he is now at the head of  
your firm2 but it is to you1 and not to 
him1 that ,i have    given1 and shall   
give my assistance4     ,every feeling  
of friendship and affection prompts my  
wishes to    be useful to you2 ,i have  
not the same relations to ,mr4 ,burton4 
,i am very sorry to give you any trouble

 on this business1 but ,i    am sure you
 cannot wish me to remain in a state of 
anxiety2 and    all the friends with    
whom ,i have consulted think it         
absolutely    necessary for my          
reputation1 that1 when my name is used1 
a    clear statement should be given of 
the true nature of the    connexion4    
,i think it will be more useful to you1 
and increase your    influence and power
 in the partnership1 if my assistance is
    stated as given to you1 and to you  
only--in this way3 ,,ramhurst           
,,gunpowder1 manufactured by ,messrs4   
,burton1 ,children1 and    ,co4 after an
 improved process1 founded upon         
experiments and    investigations made  
by ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 and communicated by  
him to    ,mr4 ,j4 ,g4 ,children1 under 
whose immediate superintendence the     
gunpowder is made4     ,i have fully    
made up my mind on this matter3 and if  
you approve    of the above form1 ,i    
will state it to be the only one to     
which    ,i will consent4     ,if the   

gunpowder is called ,sir ,h4 ,davy's    
powder1 it must be    stated in all     
cases where my name is used1 that it is 
so called    in honour of my discoveries
 in chemistry1 and because ,i have      
given my gratuitous assistance in making
 the experiments and    investigations  
on which the process is founded4     ,i 
have resolved to make no profit of any  
thing connected with    science4 ,i     
devote my life to the public in future1 
and ,i must    have it clearly          
understood1 that ,i have no views of    
profit in    any thing ,i do4 ,i am1 my 
dear ,children1      ,very              
affectionately yours1      ,h4 ,,davy4  
,in subsequent letters1 which it is not 
necessary to publish1 ,davy dwells upon 
the necessity of his engagements as a   
partner being legally cancelled1 as he  
cannot endure the idea of his           
philosophical repose and usefulness     
being disturbed by the cares of         
business1 or the trouble of litigation4 
,it is scarcely necessary to add1 that  

all the parties concerned in this       
transaction most readily and cheerfully 
met ,davy's wishes1 all erroneous       
impressions were effaced1 and the affair
 was adjusted amicably and              
satisfactorily2 and he prepared to quit 
,england with a mind relieved from all  
the fears and anxieties which had so    
unfortunately oppressed it4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,after   
the ,emperor of the ,french had sternly 
refused his passport to several of the  
most illustrious noblemen of ,england1  
it was scarcely to be expected that ,sir
 ,h4 ,davy would have been allowed to   
travel through ,france1 in order to     
visit the extinct volcanoes in          
,auvergne1 and afterwards to examine    
that which was in a state of activity at
 ,naples4  ,no sooner1 however1 had the 
discovery of the decomposition of the   
alkalies and earths1 and its probable   
bearings upon the philosophy of volcanic
 action1 been represented by the        
,imperial ,institute to ,napoleon1 than1

 with a liberality worthy of the        
liberator of ,dolomieu1 and consistent  
with his well-known patronage of        
science1 he immediately and             
unconditionally extended the required   
indulgence4  ,in consequence of this    
permission1 ,sir ,humphry and ,lady     
,davy1 the former accompanied by ,mr4   
,faraday as secretary and chemical      
assistant1 and the latter by her own    
waiting-maid1 quitted ,london on the    
#acth of ,october #ahac1 and proceeded  
to ,plymouth2 at which port they        
immediately embarked in a cartel for    
,morlaix in ,brittany4  ,on landing in  
,france1 they were instantly arrested by
 the local authorities of the town1 who 
very reasonably questioned the          
authenticity of their passports1        
believing it impossible that a party of 
,english should1 under any              
circumstances1 have obtained permission 
to travel over the ,continent1 at a time
 when the only ,english in ,france were 
detained as prisoners4 ,they were       

accordingly compelled to remain during a
 period of six or seven days at the town
 of ,morlaix1 until the necessary       
instructions could be received from     
,paris4 ,as soon1 however1 as a         
satisfactory answer was returned1 they  
were set at liberty2 and they reached   
the ,french capital on the evening of   
the #bgth of the same month4  ,shortly  
after his arrival1 ,davy called upon his
 old friend and associate ,mr4          
,underwood1 who1 although one of the    
dtenus1 had during the whole war enjoyed
 the indulgence of residing in the      
capital4  ,the expected arrival of ,davy
 had been a subject of conversation with
 the ,french savans for more than a     
month4 ,amongst those who were loudest  
in his praises1 was ,m4 ,ampre1 who had 
for several years frequently expressed  
his opinion that ,davy was the greatest 
chemist that had ever appeared4 ,whether
 this flattering circumstance had been  
communicated to the ,english philosopher
 ,i have no means of ascertaining2 but  

,mr4 ,underwood informs me that the very
 first wish that ,davy expressed was to 
be introduced to this gentleman1 whom he
 considered as the only chemist in      
,paris who had duly appreciated the     
value of his discoveries2 an opinion    
which he afterwards took no care to     
conceal1 and which occasioned amongst   
the savans much surprise1 and some      
dissatisfaction4 ,m4 ,ampre1 at the time
 of ,davy's arrival1 was spending the   
summer at a place a few miles from      
,paris1 in consequence of which the     
introduction so much desired was        
necessarily delayed4  ,on the #cjth he  
was conducted by ,mr4 ,underwood to the 
,louvre4 ,the ,english philosopher      
walked with a rapid step along the      
gallery1 and1 to the great astonishment 
and mortification of his friend and     
cicerone1 did not direct his attention  
to a single painting2 the only          
exclamation of surprise that escaped him
 was--,what an extraordinary collection 
of fine frames6--,on arriving opposite  

to ,raphael's picture of the            
,transfiguration1 ,mr4 ,underwood could 
no longer suppress his surprise1 and in 
a tone of enthusiasm he directed the    
attention of the philosopher to that    
most sublime production of art1 and the 
chef d'oeuvre of the collection4 ,davy's
 reply was as laconic as it was         
chilling--,indeed1 ,i am glad ,i have   
seen it2 and then hurried forward1 as if
 he were desirous of escaping from any  
critical remarks upon its excellencies4 
,they afterwards descended to view the  
statues in the lower apartments3 here he
 displayed the same frigid indifference 
towards the higher works of art4 ,a     
spectator of the scene might have well  
imagined that some mighty spell was in  
operation1 by which the order of nature 
had been reversed3--while the marble    
glowed with more than human passion1 the
 living man was colder than stone6 ,the 
apathy1 the total want of feeling he    
betrayed on having his attention        
directed to the ,apollo ,belvidere1 the 

,laocoon1 and the ,venus de ,medicis1   
was as inexplicable as it was provoking2
 but an exclamation of the most vivid   
surprise escaped him at the sight of an 
,antinous1 treated in the ,egyptian     
style1 and sculptured in                
,alabaster4#c--;,gracious powers1 said  
he1 what a beautiful stalactite6    #c  
,the celebrated ,italian antiquary      
,visconti has so denominated   it4      
,what a strange--what a discordant      
anomaly in the construction of the human
 mind do these anecdotes unfold6 ,we    
have here presented to us a philosopher1
 who1 with the glowing fancy of a poet1 
is insensible to the divine beauties of 
the sister arts6 ,let the metaphysician1
 if he can1 unravel the mystery1--the   
biographer has only to observe that the 
,muses could never have danced in chorus
 at his birth4  ,on the following       
morning1 ,mr4 ,underwood accompanied him
 to the ,jardin des ,plantes1 and       
presented him to the venerable          
,vauquelin1 who was the first scientific

 man he had seen in ,paris4 ,on their   
return they inspected the colossal      
,elephant which was intended to form a  
part of the fountain then erecting on   
the site of the ,bastile4 ,davy appeared
 to be more delighted with this         
stupendous work than with any object he 
saw in ,paris3 to its architect1 ,m4    
,alavair1 he formed an immediate        
attachment4 ,it has been observed that1 
during his residence in this city1 his  
likes and dislikes to particular persons
 were violent1 and that they were1      
apparently1 not directed by any         
principle1 but were the effect of sudden
 impulse4  ,in the course of removing   
the foundations1 and in digging the     
canal1 the subterranean dungeons of the 
,bastile were discovered2 they were     
eight in number1 and were called ,les   
,oubliettes4 ,as they were under the    
level of the ditch of the fortress1 any 
attempt to escape from them by piercing 
the wall1 must have inevitably drowned  
the unhappy prisoner together with all  

those who inhabited the contiguous      
cells2 one of which was discovered with 
the entrance walled up4 ,upon           
demolishing this wall there appeared the
 skeleton of the last wretched person   
who had been thus entombed4 ,in all     
these discoveries ,davy took the warmest
 interest4  ,upon the construction of   
the ,elephant1 he wrote a letter to ,m4 
,alavair1 to which ,i am desirous of    
directing the attention of my scientific
 readers4 ,it derives its peculiar      
interest from the opinion which he at   
that period entertained upon the subject
 of the excitement of ,voltaic action by
 the contact of different metals4       
,,to ,m4 ,,antoine ,,alavair4           
,,sir1     ,november #ahac4     ,it will
 give me much pleasure if ,i can repay  
your civility to    me by offering any  
hints that may be useful in the         
execution of    the magnificent work    
constructing under your directions4     
,ten parts of copper to one of tin is an
 excellent composition    for a work    

upon a great scale1 nor do ,i believe   
any proportions    can be better4       
,there is no fear of any decay in the   
armatures1 if they can be    preserved  
from the contact of moisture2 but if    
exposed to air    and moisture1 the     
presence of the bronze will materially  
assist    their decay4 ,wherever the    
iron is exposed to air1 it should1 if   
possible1 be covered with a thin layer  
of bronze4 ,when the iron    touches the
 foundation of lead1 it should in like  
manner be    covered either by lead or  
bronze4 ,a contact between metals has   
no effect of corrosion1 unless a        
,voltaic circle is formed with          
moisture1 and then the most oxidable    
metal corrodes2 and iron    corrodes    
rapidly both with lead and bronze4      
,the cement which will probably be found
 the most durable will    be lime1 fine 
sand1 and scoria of iron4 ,the materials
 should be    very fine and intimately  
mixed4 ,the ancients always made their  
cements for great works some months     

before they were used4 ,i    have the   
honour to be1 ,sir1 with much           
consideration1      ,your obedient      
humble servant1      ,h4 ,,davy4   ,davy
 took up his abode at the ,hotel des    
,princes1 ,rue ,richelieu2 whither the  
principal savans of ,paris hastened to  
pay their respects2 which they did with 
an alacrity and cheerfulness equalled   
only by the courtesy of manner with     
which they expressed their              
congratulations4  ,on the #bnd of       
,november1 ,davy attended the ,first    
,class of the ,institute1 and was placed
 on the right hand of the ,president1   
who on taking the chair announced to the
 meeting that it was honoured by the    
presence of ,le ,chevalier ,davy4       
,while ,davy was at the meeting of the  
,institute1 a curious adventure occurred
 to ,lady ,davy1 the relation of which1 
by showing the state of surveillance in 
which the citizens of ,paris were held  
at that period1 will enable us to       
appreciate the extent of the obligation 

conferred upon ,sir ,humphry by the     
,emperor4  ,her ,ladyship1 attended by  
her maid1 had walked into the           
,thuilleries' ,garden4 ,she wore a very 
small hat1 of a simple cockle-shell     
form1 such as was fashionable at that   
time in ,london2 while the ,parisian    
ladies wore bonnets of most voluminous  
dimensions4 ,it happened to be a saint's
 day1 on which1 the shops being closed1 
the citizens repaired in crowds to the  
garden4 ,on seeing the diminutive bonnet
 of ,lady ,davy1 the ,parisians felt    
little less surprise than did the       
inhabitants of ,brobdignag on beholding 
the hat of ,gulliver2 and a crowd of    
persons soon assembled around the       
unknown exotic2 in consequence of which1
 one of the inspectors of the garden    
immediately presented himself1 and      
informed her ,ladyship that no cause of 
'rassemblement' could be suffered1 and  
therefore requested her to retire4 ,some
 officers of the ,imperial ,guard1 to   
whom she appealed1 replied1 that1       

however much they might regret the      
circumstance1 they were unable to afford
 her any redress1 as the order was      
peremptory4 ,she then requested that    
they would conduct her to her carriage2 
an officer immediately offered his arm1 
but the crowd had by this time so       
greatly increased1 that it became       
necessary to send for a corporal's      
guard2 and the party quitted the garden1
 surrounded by fixed bayonets4          
,november #crd1 ,humboldt and           
,gay-,lussac paid their first visit of  
compliment to ,davy4  #eth4--,m4 ,ampre1
 who came to ,paris expressly for the   
occasion1 was introduced to ,davy by    
,mr4 ,underwood1 and the two            
philosophers appeared equally delighted 
with each other4 ,some years afterwards1
 however1 this feeling of friendly      
regard1 on the part of ,davy1 was turned
 into one of bitter aversion1 in        
consequence1 as it has been supposed1 of
 certain perfidious insinuations1 by    
which some of the savans1 instigated by 

feelings of jealousy1 had contrived to  
prejudice his mind2 and which even led  
him to exert all his efforts to oppose  
the election of ,ampre as a foreign     
member of the ,royal ,society4  ,after  
,ampre's visit1 ,mr4 ,underwood         
accompanied ,sir ,h4 and his lady to the
 ,imperial ,library in the ,rue         
,richelieu1 and afterwards to the       
,cathedral of ,notre ,dame1 where they  
inspected the crown and imperial        
regalia4 ,the splendour of the          
coronation mantle of ,napoleon may be   
imagined1 when it is stated that its    
weight exceeded eighty pounds1 and that 
it was lined with the skins of six      
thousand ermines4  #fth4--,they visited 
the ,museum of ,french ,monuments1 in   
the ,rue des ,petits ,augustines1 which 
contained the tombs and sculptured      
ornaments preserved from the churches   
that were demolished during the         
,revolution4 ,this interesting          
collection1 shortly after the           
restoration of the ,bourbons1 was       

dispersed4 ,it is a singular fact1 that 
,davy expressed more admiration at this 
inferior exhibition of art1 than he did 
at that of the ,greek and ,roman statues
 in the ,museum of the ,louvre4 ,whether
 his taste had been vitiated by the     
inspection of less perfect models in his
 earlier days1 is a question which ,i   
shall leave more competent judges to    
decide4  #ajth4--,they dined with ,count
 ,rumford at ,auteuil1 who showed his   
laboratory to ,davy3 this was exactly   
eight months before the poor            
brokenhearted ,count sank into the      
grave1 the victim of domestic torment1  
and of the persecutions of the ,french  
savans1 instigated by his wife1 the     
widow of the celebrated ,lavoisier4     
#acth4--,the anniversary dinner of the  
,philomatic ,society took place on this 
day1 at a restaurateur's in the ,rue    
,st4 ,honor2 ,m4 ,dumeril in the chair4 
,although it was very unusual to invite 
any stranger upon this occasion1 ,sir   
,h4 ,davy and his ,english friend were  

requested to favour the company by their
 presence4 ,thirty-three members were in
 attendance1 amongst whom were ,ampre1  
,brogniart1 ,cuvier1 ,chevreuil1        
,dulong1 ,gay-,lussac1 ,humboldt1       
,thnard1 c4  ,at this dinner various    
complimentary toasts were proposed3 and 
first1 the ,royal ,society of ,london1  
for which ,davy having returned thanks1 
gave the ,imperial ,institute4 ,the     
,linnan ,society of ,london1 and the    
,royal ,society of ,berlin1 were given  
in succession4 ,but the circumstance    
which evinced the greatest feeling and  
delicacy towards their ,english guest1  
was the company's declining to drink the
 health of the ,emperor4 ,it placed     
their personal safety even in some      
jeopardy2 and not a little apprehension 
was afterwards felt as to how far       
,napoleon might resent such a mark of   
disrespect1 for seven-eighths of the    
members present were placemen4          
,november #agth4--,mr4 ,underwood states
 that on this day he met ,humboldt at   

dinner at ,davy's hotel2 and he adds--,i
 do not know whether you are aware that 
,sir ,humphry had a superstitious       
dislike at seeing a knife and fork      
placed crosswise on a plate at dinner1  
or upon any other occasion2 but ,i can  
assure you that such was the fact2 and  
when it occurred in the company of his  
intimate friends1 he always requested   
that they might be displaced2 whenever  
this could not be done1 he was evidently
 very uncomfortable4#d    #d ,i repeat  
this as ,i received it3 from my own     
personal   knowledge ,i can neither     
confirm nor refute it2 although ,i   am 
inclined to believe that ,davy was      
tinged with a degree   of superstitious 
feeling1 or a certain undefined species 
of credulity1 which shelters itself     
under the acknowledged   inadequacy of  
human reason to connect causes with     
effects4  ,at about this period1 but ,i 
am unable to ascertain the particular   
day1 the junior ,chemists1 with ,thnard 
as their leader1 gave ,davy a sumptuous 

dinner at one of the most celebrated    
restaurateurs in ,paris4 ,the following 
persons formed a committee for that     
purpose3 ,gay-,lussac1 ,thnard1 ,dulong1
 ,chevreul1 ,laugier1 ,robiquet1 and    
,clement4 ,as it was by the chemists    
only that this dinner was given1 neither
 ,arago nor ,ampre was included2 but    
,berthollet1 ,chaptal1 and ,vauquelin   
were invited4  ,on the morning of the   
#bcrd of ,november1#e ,m4 ,ampre called 
upon ,davy1 and placed in his hands a   
small portion of a substance which he   
had received from ,m4 ,clement2 and1    
although it had been in the possession  
of the ,french chemists for more than   
twelve months1 so entirely ignorant were
 they of its true nature and            
composition1 that it was constantly     
spoken of amongst themselves as ,x1 the 
unknown body4    #e ,the date of this   
event is important2 and ,mr4 ,faraday1  
in   referring to his ,journal1 finds it
 to be correctly stated4  ,how far the  
suggestions of ,davy led to the         

discovery of the chemical nature of this
 interesting substance1 which has been  
since distinguished by the name of      
,iodine1 is a question which has given  
rise to much discussion on the          
,continent4 ,it has been moreover       
questioned1 how far the love of science1
 and the fervour of emulation1 can      
justify the interference which ,davy is 
said to have displayed upon the         
occasion4 ,he is accused of having      
unfairly taken the subject out of the   
hands of those who were engaged in its  
investigation1 and to have anticipated  
their results4  ,as his biographer1 ,i  
feel that it is not only due to the     
character of ,davy1 but essential to the
 history of ,science1 that these        
questions should be impartially         
examined2 and ,i have spared no pains in
 collecting facts for their elucidation4
 ,mr4 ,underwood1 who was in the        
constant habit of associating with the  
parties concerned in the enquiry1 has   
furnished me with some important        

particulars1 and his testimony is       
fortified by published documents4  ,the 
substance under dispute was accidentally
 discovered by ,m4 ,courtois1 a         
manufacturer of saltpetre at ,paris1 but
 kept secret by him for several years2  
at length1 however1 he communicated it  
to ,m4 ,clement1 who made several       
experiments on it1 but without any      
favourable result4 ,on the #bcrd of     
,august #ahac1 ,clement exhibited to    
,mr4 ,underwood the beautiful experiment
 of raising it into a violet-coloured   
vapour1 and that gentleman assures me   
that this was the only peculiar property
 which had at that time been recognised 
as distinguishing it4 ,a few days       
previous to this event1 ,m4 ,ampre had  
received a specimen of the substance1   
which he had carefully folded up in     
paper1 and deposited in his pocket1 but 
on arriving at home1 and opening the    
packet1 he was surprised to find that   
his treasure had vanished4 ,clement1    
however1 furnished him with another     

supply1 and it was this parcel that     
,ampre transferred into the hands of    
,davy2 and for which1 says ,mr4         
,underwood1 he told me a few days ago1  
that ,thnard and ,gay-,lussac were      
extremely angry with him4  ,the first   
opinion which the ,french chemists      
entertained respecting the nature of    
,iodine1 was that it was either a       
compound of muriatic acid1 or of        
chlorine1 since it formed with silver   
what appeared to be a muriate1 or a     
chloride of that metal2 but ,davy at    
once observed that the substance so     
produced blackened too quickly in the   
sun to justify that opinion4 ,he1       
however1 determined to submit it to a   
more rigorous examination2 and during   
the latter part of ,november he worked  
upon it at his hotel with his own       
apparatus1 and on the #crd of ,december 
in the laboratory of ,m4 ,chevreul1 at  
the ,jardin des ,plantes1 with whom1 it 
may be stated in passing1 he perhaps    
formed a stricter intimacy than with any

 other chemist during his sojourn in    
,paris4 ,chevreul1 however1 be it known1
 was a brother of the angle2 and ,i     
understand that he still preserves1 as  
sacred trophies1 some artificial flies  
with which ,davy had supplied him4      
,having pointed out the channel through 
which ,iodine first fell into the hands 
of ,davy1 let us pursue its history4    
,the first public notice of its         
existence was read by ,clement at the   
,institute1 on the #bith of ,november   
#ahac4 ,at the meeting of the #fth of   
,december1 ,gay-,lussac1 who had only   
received some ',x' a few days previous  
to this date1 presented a short note1 in
 which he gave the name of ,iode to the 
body1 and threw out a hint as to its    
great analogy to chlorine1 while he     
stated that two hypotheses might be     
formed as to its nature1 that it might  
be considered as a simple substance1 or 
as a compound of oxygen4 ,on the #acth  
of the same month1 a letter addressed to
 ,m4 le ,chevalier ,cuvier1 and dated   

,december #aath1 was read from ,davy to 
the ,institute1 in which he offered a   
general view of its chemical nature and 
relations2#f and on the #bjth of        
,january #ahad1 he communicated to the  
,royal ,society of ,london1 a long and  
elaborate paper1 dated ,paris1 ,december
 #aj1 #ahac1 and entitled1 ,some        
,experiments and ,observations on a new 
,substance1 which becomes a             
violet-coloured gas by ,heat4 ,in this  
paper1 while the author assigned to     
,gay-,lussac all the credit to which his
 communication of the #fth of ,december 
may be supposed to entitle him1 he      
evidently felt that some explanation was
 due to the chemical world for his      
having pursued the enquiry4 ,m4         
,gay-,lussac1 he observes1 is still     
engaged in experiments on this subject1 
and from his activity and great         
sagacity1 a complete chemical history of
 it may be anticipated4 ,but as the mode
 of procuring the substance is now known
 to the chemical world in general1 and  

as the combinations and agencies of it  
offer an extensive field for enquiry1   
and will probably occupy the attention  
of many persons2 and as the             
investigation of it is not pursued by   
the discoverer himself1 nor particularly
 by the gentlemen to whom it was first  
communicated1 ,i shall not hesitate to  
lay before the ,royal ,society an       
account of the investigations ,i have   
made upon it2 and ,i do this with the   
less scruple1 as my particular manner of
 viewing the phenomena has led me to    
some new results1 which probably will   
not be considered by the ,society as    
without interest in their relation to   
the general theory of chemistry1 and in 
their possible application to some of   
the useful arts4    #f ,see ,annales de 
,chimie1 tome #hh1 p4 #cbb4 ,it appears 
from ,mr4   ,faraday's ,journal1 that he
 worked upon ,iodine with a borrowed    
,voltaic pile1 at his hotel1 on the     
morning of the #aath2 and the   results 
of his experiments are described at the 

conclusion of the   above letter4  ,it  
was not until ,august #ahad1 that       
,gay-,lussac read his paper on the      
subject1 which was subsequently         
published in the ,annales de ,chimie4   
,after the above short1 but ,i trust    
honest statement1 can any reasonable    
doubt exist1 that1 if ,davy had not     
visited ,paris1 ,iodine would have      
remained at the end of the year #ahad1  
as it had been for two preceding        
years--the unknown ,x8  ,in a           
communication published in the first    
volume of the ,royal ,institution       
,journal1 ,davy offers the following    
observations upon this subject3 ,with   
regard to ,iodine1 the first ,i had of  
it was from ,m4 ,ampre1 who1 before ,i  
had seen the substance1 supposed that it
 might contain a new supporter of       
combustion4  ,who had most share in     
developing the chemical history of that 
body1 must be determined by a review of 
the papers that have been published upon
 it1 and by an examination of their     

respective dates4 ,when ,m4 ,clement    
showed ,iodine to me1 he believed that  
the hydriodic acid was muriatic acid2   
and ,m4 ,gay-,lussac1 after his early   
experiments1 made originally with ,m4   
,clement1 formed the same opinion1 and  
maintained it1 when ,i first stated to  
him my belief that it was a new and     
peculiar acid1 and that ,iodine was a   
substance analogous in its chemical     
relations to ,chlorine4  ,i was very    
desirous of ascertaining the feeling    
which at present prevails amongst the   
,french chemists upon this subject2 and 
,i therefore requested ,mr4 ,underwood  
to make such enquiries as might elicit  
the required information4 ,in a letter  
from that gentleman1 dated ,paris1      
,august #bb1 #ahcj1 he says1 ,though    
,thnard and ,gay-,lussac retain great   
bitterness of feeling towards ,davy1 on 
account of the affair of ,iodine1       
,chevreul and ,ampre are still1 as they 
ever were1 of opinion1 that such a      
feeling has its origin in a             

misconception2 that what ,davy did1 was 
from the honest desire of promoting     
science1 and not from any wish to       
detract from the merit of the ,french   
chemists4  ,during his visit to ,paris1 
,davy was not introduced to the         
,emperor4 ,lady ,davy observed to me1   
that1 although ,sir ,humphry felt justly
 grateful for the indulgence granted to 
him as a ,philosopher1 he never1 for a  
moment1 forgot the duty he owed his     
country as a ,patriot2 and that he      
objected to attend the levee of her     
bitterest enemy4 ,on the other hand1 it 
is said that ,napoleon never expressed  
any wish to receive the ,english        
chemist2 and those who seek in the      
depths for that which floats upon the   
surface1 have racked their imaginations 
in order to discover the source of this 
mysterious indifference2 but ,i         
apprehend that we have only to revert to
 the political state of ,europe in the  
year #ahac1 and the problem will be     
solved4  ,amongst the reasons for       

supposing that the ,emperor must have   
felt ill disposed towards the ,english  
philosopher1 the following story has    
been told2 which1 as an anecdote1 is    
sufficiently amusing2 and ,i can state  
upon the highest authority1 that it is  
moreover perfectly true4  ,it is well   
known that ,bonaparte1 during his whole 
career1 was in the habit of personal    
intercourse with the savans of ,paris1  
and that he not unfrequently attended   
the sittings of the ,institute4 ,upon   
being informed of the decomposition of  
the alkalies1 he asked1 with some       
impetuosity1 how it happened that the   
discovery had not been made in          
,france8--,we have never constructed a  
,voltaic battery of sufficient power1   
was the answer4 ,then1 exclaimed        
,bonaparte1 let one be instantly formed1
 without any regard to cost or labour4  
,the command of the ,emperor was of     
course obeyed2 and1 on being informed   
that it was in full action1 he repaired 
to the laboratory to witness its powers2

 on his alluding to the taste produced  
by the contact of two metals1 with that 
rapidity which characterised all his    
motions1 and before the attendants could
 interpose any precaution1 he thrust the
 extreme wires of the battery under his 
tongue1 and received a shock which      
nearly deprived him of sensation4 ,after
 recovering from its effects1 he quitted
 the laboratory without making any      
remark1 and was never afterwards heard  
to refer to the subject4  ,it is only an
 act of justice to state that ,davy1    
during his residence in the ,french     
capital1 so far from truckling to       
,french politics1 never lost an         
opportunity of vindicating with temper  
the cause of his own country4 ,at the   
,thtre de la ,porte ,saint ,martin1 a   
melodrame was got up1 with the avowed   
intention of exposing the ,english      
character to the execration of the      
audience4 ,lord ,cornwallis was         
represented as the merciless assassin of
 the children of ,tippoo ,saib4 ,davy   

was highly incensed at the injustice of 
the representation1 and abruptly quitted
 the theatre in a state of great        
indignation4  ,whatever objections might
 have existed in his mind1 as to his    
attending a levee of the ,emperor1 they 
did not operate in preventing his being 
presented to the ,empress at ,malmaison2
 but he could not be prevailed upon to  
appear upon that occasion1 in any other 
than a morning dress2 and it was not    
until after repeated entreaty1 and the  
assurance that he would not be admitted 
into the ,salle de reception1 that he   
consented to exchange a pair of         
half-boots that laced in front1 and came
 over the lower part of his pantaloons1 
for black silk stockings and shoes4 ,his
 constant answer to the remonstrances of
 his friends was1 ,i shall go in the    
same dress to ,malmaison as that in     
which ,i called upon the ,prince ,regent
 at ,carlton ,house4  ,the introduction 
of ,sir ,humphry and ,lady ,davy to the 
,empress ,josephine1 took place at      

,malmaison on the #cjth of ,november4   
,the only ,english present were1 the    
,earl of ,beverley1 a dtenue2 ,general  
,sir ,edward ,paget1 a prisoner of war1 
taken in ,spain1 and ,mr4 ,underwood2   
and it was the first levee at which any 
of our countrymen had been introduced1  
with the exception of ,mr4 ,underwood1  
who had been frequently in the habit of 
paying his court to the ,empress1 and to
 whom1 indeed1 he was indebted for those
 indulgences which have been already    
mentioned4  ,the persons present having 
arranged themselves in a semicircle1 the
 ,empress entered the ,salle de         
reception1 and in her usual gracious    
manner addressed each individual4 ,after
 this court ceremony1 her ,majesty      
retired1 having previously signified to 
a select few1 her desire that they      
should follow her into the private      
apartment4  ,in the ,boudoir1 the       
conversation became general1 and turned 
upon certain works of art2 and upon     
,lady ,davy expressing1 in very florid  

terms1 her admiration of some           
beautifully embellished cups of         
,porcelain1 which were stationed on the 
mantelpiece1 her ,majesty1 with that    
good-nature which ever distinguished    
her1 immediately presented her with a   
specimen4  ,the ,empress then proposed  
that ,lady ,davy should on this occasion
 visit her conservatories1 upon which it
 is well known she had lavished large   
sums1 and was ambitious to be thought to
 possess all that was rare and curious4 
,lady ,davy having expressed some       
apprehensions as to the coldness of the 
day1 and appearing to be but thinly     
clad1 one of the ,dames du ,palais was  
commanded to provide cloaks2 and in a   
short time1 ,mr4 ,underwood says1 a     
mountain of the most costly and         
magnificent furs1 that probably ever    
appeared even in a ,regal ,palace1 were 
displayed before her2 the splendid      
trophies1 we may conclude1 of the ,royal
 conciliation at ,tilsit4  ,it was on   
the #acth of ,december #ahac1 that ,davy

 was elected a corresponding member of  
the ,first ,class of the ,imperial      
,institute2 there were forty-eight      
members present1 and he had forty-seven 
votes3 ,guyton de ,morveau being the    
only person who opposed his election4   
,nothing ever exceeded the liberality   
and unaffected kindness and attention   
with which the savans of ,france had    
received and caressed the ,english      
philosopher4 ,their conduct was the     
triumph of ,science over national       
animosity1--a homage to genius1 alike   
honourable to those who bestowed1 and to
 him who received it2 and it would be an
 act of ingratitude1 a violation of     
historical justice1 on the part of the  
,english biographer1 did he omit to     
express the pride and admiration with   
which every philosopher in his country  
continues to regard it4 ,it would have  
been fortunate for the cause of         
,science1 and fortunate for the         
historian1 could he have terminated the 
subject with these remarks2 but the     

biographer has an act of justice to     
perform1 which he must not suffer his   
friendship to evade1 nor his            
partialities to compromise4#g    #g ,in 
offering these observations1 the reader 
may readily   suppose it has not been   
without much pain that ,i have made this
   sacrifice of personal feeling to     
principle4 ,i am1 however1 bound   to   
observe1 that ,sir ,humphry's sentiments
 towards ,france for the   liberal      
indulgence granted to him were both     
grateful and kindly2   and so strongly  
does ,lady ,davy participate in that    
feeling1 that   ,i perhaps owe it to her
 to state that neither her ,ladyship's  
journals or information have been used  
upon this occasion4  ,it would be an act
 of literary dishonesty to assert that  
,sir ,h4 ,davy returned the kindness of 
the savans of ,france1 in a manner which
 the friends of ,science could have     
expected and desired4 ,there was a      
flippancy in his manner1 a              
superciliousness and hauteur in his     

deportment1 which surprised as much as  
they offended4 ,whatever opinions he    
might have formed as to the talents of  
the leading chemists1 it was weakness to
 betray1 and arrogance to avow them4    
,he had1 by a single blow1 fatally      
mutilated the system which was the pride
 and glory of their nation3 it was      
ungenerous to remind them of his        
triumph4 ,it required but little tact to
 have reconciled the ,french            
philosophers to the revolution he had   
effected2 but1 unfortunately1 that      
cannot be said of ,davy1 which was so   
wittily observed of ,voltaire1--that if 
he trod upon the toes of their          
prejudices1 he touched his hat at the   
same time3 even the affair of ,iodine1  
had it been skilfully managed1 would    
never have left an angry feeling4 ,it   
was not his success1 but the manner in  
which he spoke of it1 that rendered it  
so offensive4 ,he should have acted     
according to the judicious advice given 
to a member of the clerical profession1 

upon his consulting a friend as to the  
propriety of continuing his             
field-sports1 should he become a        
dignitary of the ,church--,you may hunt1
 but you must not holla4  ,it may be    
supposed that the unguarded conduct of  
,davy reached the ear of the ,emperor2  
for in a conversation with one of the   
leading members of the ,institute1      
,napoleon took occasion to observe1 that
 he understood the young ,english       
chemist held them all in low estimation4
  ,having thus candidly avowed the      
errors of ,davy1 ,i may be justified in 
claiming from the reader his confidence 
in the sincerity with which ,i shall    
attempt to palliate them4 ,from my      
personal knowledge of his character1 ,i 
am inclined to refer much of that       
unfortunate manner1 which has been      
considered as the expression of a       
haughty consciousness of superiority1 to
 the desire of concealing a mauvaise    
honte and gaucherie--an ungraceful      
timidity1 which he could never conquer4 

,the bashful man1 if he possess strong  
passions1 will frequently force himself 
into a state of effrontery1 by a        
violence of effort which passes amongst 
ordinary observers for the sallies of   
pride1 or the ebullitions of temper2    
whereas if1 on the contrary1 his        
temperament be cold and passionless1 he 
will exhibit traits of the most painful 
reserve4 ,this proposition cannot1      
perhaps1 be more forcibly illustrated   
than by a comparison of the manners of  
,davy and ,cavendish1 whose temperaments
 were certainly as much opposed to each 
other as fire is to ice3 the latter1    
however1 was shy and bashful1 to a      
degree bordering upon disease2 and      
nothing so much distressed him as an    
introduction to strangers1 or as his    
being pointed out as a person           
distinguished in science4 ,on one of the
 ,sunday evening soires of ,sir ,joseph 
,banks1 he happened to be conversing    
with his friend ,mr4 ,hatchett1 when    
,dr4 ,ingenhouz1 who was rather         

remarkable for pomposity of manner1     
approached him with an ,austrian        
gentleman in his hand1 and introduced   
him formally to ,mr4 ,cavendish4 ,he    
recounted the titles and qualifications 
of his foreign friend at great length1  
and concluded by saying1 that he had    
been particularly anxious to be         
introduced to a philosopher so          
universally celebrated throughout       
,europe as ,mr4 ,cavendish4 ,as soon as 
,dr4 ,ingenhouz had finished1 the       
,austrian gentleman began2 he assured   
,mr4 ,cavendish that one of his         
principal inducements in coming to      
,london1 was to see and converse with   
one whom he considered the most         
distinguished chemist of the age4 ,to   
all these high-flown addresses1 ,mr4    
,cavendish answered not a single word1  
but stood with his eyes cast down upon  
the floor1 in a state of the most       
painful confusion4 ,at length1 espying  
an opening in the crowd1 he darted      
through it with all the speed he could  

command1 and never stopped until he     
reached his carriage1 which immediately 
drove him home4  ,from the same cause1  
probably1 arose ,davy's inattention and 
carelessness in those little observances
 of etiquette1 which many may treat as  
empty and unmeaning ceremonials1 but    
which the members of a polished         
community regard as the delicate        
expressions of feeling1 and the language
 of sentiment4  ,it is said1 that on    
conversing in the chamber of the        
,institute1 he received one of its most 
distinguished and venerable members1 who
 approached him with the air of         
salutation1 without rising from his     
seat2 a circumstance perhaps in itself  
of very trifling importance1 but it was 
considered as a mark of disrespect1     
which is not readily forgiven1 when a   
spirit of rivalry may be supposed to    
sharpen the affront4 ,it will be        
remembered that ,csar might date his    
loss of popularity to the fact of his   
having received the ,senate while       

sitting in the porch of the temple of   
,venus1 and that it formed one of the   
chief pretences of those who organised  
the conspiracy against his person4      
,there were1 besides1 other sources of  
unpopularity1 which we are bound in     
fairness and candour to impute to the   
excellencies1 rather than to the        
defects1 of his character4 ,if we       
believe with ,johnson1 that men have    
sometimes gained reputation from their  
foibles1 we may certainly admit the     
converse of the proposition1 that they  
have occasionally lost it from their    
virtues4 ,davy1 as we have seen1        
possessed from his earliest years a     
frankness of disposition which endeared 
him to all his friends1 but in after    
life it unquestionably exposed him to   
various annoyances1 which by a little   
reserve he would have certainly escaped4
 ,it is quite surprising how much a     
little mystery1 judiciously managed1    
will achieve4 ,seven veils converted the
 fragment of a tile1 ploughed up in the 

neighbourhood of ,florence1 into an     
object of awful devotion4#h    #h       
,gray's ,letters4  ,although it must be 
admitted that our philosopher lost some 
popularity during his visit to the      
,french metropolis1 the savans did not  
the less respect his talents1 or admire 
his discoveries4 ,they appear to have   
been impressed with the same sentiment  
as that which animated ,voltaire1 when  
he asked whether the discovery of       
,racine's weakness made the part of     
,phdra less admirable4  ,m4 ,dumas1 who 
is certainly by no means distinguished  
for the readiness with which he is      
disposed to pay homage to ,british      
talent1 has declared that ,davy was the 
greatest chemical genius that ever      
appeared4  ,in fact1 the more the       
researches of this great experimentalist
 are studied1 the more they must be     
admired3 every attempt to depreciate    
their intrinsic importance will only    
serve to display their exalted merits2  
every attempt to falsify their results  

will only tend to demonstrate their     
accuracy4 ,it is by an elaborate        
examination only1 that the full evidence
 of their truth can be displayed2 there 
are points which the keen eye of genius 
will discern1 that are invisible to a   
grosser sense3 the coldness of criticism
 then will only make them glow the      
brighter2 like his own potassium1 the   
contact even of ice1 so far from        
extinguishing1 will light them up in    
splendour4  ,sir ,humphry left ,paris on
 the morning of the #bith of ,december1 
and proceeded by the way of ,lyons to   
,montpellier1 where he remained for a   
month1 and became acquainted with ,m4   
,,berard1 who afterwards filled the     
chemical chair in that university1 and  
in whose laboratory he worked upon the  
subject of ,iodine1 and examined many of
 the marine productions of the          
,mediterranean1 with the view of        
determining whether they contained that 
body4 ,m4 ,berard directed a            
considerable quantity of the species of 

,ulva1 which abounds on the coast of    
,languedoc1 to be burnt for him2 and    
although the ashes consisted for the    
most part of common salt1 he obtained   
traces of ,iodine in the lixivium4 ,from
 the general results of his experiments1
 however1 he concludes1 that the ashes  
of the fuci and ulv of the              
,mediterranean afford it in much smaller
 quantities than the sea-weed1 from     
which soda is procured2 and it was only 
in a very few instances that he could   
derive any evidence of its existence4   
,in the ashes of the corallines and     
sponges1 he could not obtain the        
slightest indication of its presence4   
,during this period he also extended his
 enquiries respecting the chemical      
agencies of ,iodine1 and the properties 
of several of its compounds1 especially 
of those in which he believed it to     
exist in triple combination with        
alkalies and oxygen1 and for which he   
proposed the name of ,oxy-iodes4#i    #i
 ,these are the ,iodates of the present 

day2 but ,davy1 it   would seem1        
resisted the conviction of ,iodic acid  
being an   oxy-acid1 upon the same      
grounds that he opposed the views of ,m4
   ,gay-,lussac with regard to the      
nature of ,chloric acid4  ,while at     
,montpellier1 ,davy witnessed the       
procession of the ,pope on his return to
 ,rome4 ,his ,holiness appeared in a    
state of great humiliation1 and1 on     
being supplicated by a poor woman to    
cure her child1 he replied1 that she    
must propitiate ,heaven by her prayers1 
for that he was himself a mere mortal1  
without power to heal or to save4  ,he  
quitted ,montpellier on the #gth of     
,february1 and1 accompanied by ,m4      
,berard1 visited the fountain of        
,vaucluse2 he afterwards continued his  
route to ,nice1 crossed the ,col de     
,tende1 to ,turin1 and arrived at ,genoa
 on the #beth of ,february2 from which  
place the following letter is dated4    
,,to ,,mr4 ,,underwood4      ,,my ,,dear
 ,,underwood1     ,genoa1 ,march #d4    

,i have not received the letter you     
announced to me in the    street1       
concerning ,ampre's note1 nor any others
 since ,i left    ,paris4 ,the note came
 to me through the ,prefect of ,nice1   
with an    indorsement by ,m4 ,degerand4
     ,i crossed the ,alps by the ,col de
 ,tende1 stayed at ,turin three    days1
 and came here through snow and ice1    
over the ,bochetta1    where ,i have    
been waiting for a fair wind for        
,tuscany4 ,we have    had no impediments
 except from the snow and the east      
winds4     ,if you can hear any thing of
 the destination of the letters    ,i   
have twice missed1 ,i shall thank you to
 let me know by    addressing me at     
,rome at the ,posta4 ,i shall be most   
happy    to hear some news of you here1 
and shall always feel a lively          
interest in your plans1 and in your     
welfare4     ,i have been making some   
experiments here on the ,torpedo1 but   
without any decisive results2 the       
coldness of the weather    renders the  

powers of the animal feeble2 ,i hope1   
however1 to    resume them at ,naples4  
,tell ,m4 ,ampre1 ,i hope he will not   
give up the subject of the    laws of   
the combination of gaseous bodies1 which
 is so worthy    of being illustrated by
 his talents1 and which offers such     
ample scope for his mathematical powers1
 united as they are    with chemical    
knowledge3--tell him also that ,i hope  
he will    sometimes write to me1 and   
that ,i shall always remember with      
pleasure the hours ,i have passed in his
 society4     ,pray tell me that you are
 well2 and remember me to all that are  
interested in me4 ,my wife desires her  
kind remembrances4 ,i am1    my dear    
,underwood1      ,your very sincere     
friend1      ,h4 ,,davy4   ,besides     
researches on the ,torpedo1 ,davy made  
farther experiments on the ashes of     
,sea-weed1 which were collected for him 
by ,professor ,,viviani1 of ,genoa4  ,he
 left ,genoa by water on the #acth1 and 
arrived at ,florence on the #afth of    

,march4 ,here he worked in the          
laboratory of the ,academia del         
,cimento1 on ,iodine2 but more          
particularly on the combustion of the   
,diamond4 ,the experiments on this      
latter body were performed by means of  
the great lens in the cabinet of        
,natural ,history2 the same instrument  
as that employed in the first trials on 
the action of the solar heat on the     
diamond1 instituted by ,cosmo ,,iii4    
,grand ,duke of ,tuscany3 upon this     
occasion1 he was assisted by ,,count    
,,bardi1 the ,director1 and ,,signior   
,,gazzari1 the ,professor of ,chemistry 
at the ,florentine ,museum4  ,i have    
been informed that the hasty1 and       
apparently careless manner in which he  
conducted his experiments1 and which has
 been already noticed#aj as being       
characteristic of his style of          
manipulation1 greatly astonished the    
philosophers of ,florence1 and even     
excited their alarm for the safety of   
the lens1 which on all occasions had    

been used by them with such fastidious  
caution and delicacy4    #aj ,vol4 i4 p4
 #add4  ,in the very first trials on the
 combustion of the diamond1 he          
ascertained a very curious circumstance 
that had not been before noticed2       
namely1 that the diamond1 when strongly 
ignited by the lens in a thin capsule of
 platinum1 perforated with many         
orifices1 so as to admit a free         
circulation of air1 will continue to    
burn in oxygen gas after being withdrawn
 from the focus4 ,the knowledge of this 
circumstance enabled him to adopt a very
 simple apparatus and mode of operation 
in his researches1 and to complete in a 
few minutes experiments which had been  
supposed to require the presence of a   
bright sunshine for many hours4  ,the   
new facts obtained by the experiments on
 ,iodine1 which he had commenced at     
,montpellier and carried on at          
,florence1 he embodied in a memoir1     
which was read before the ,royal        
,society on the #afth of ,june #ahad4   

,it treated more particularly of the    
triple compounds containing iodine and  
oxygen1--of the hydrionic acid1 and of  
the compounds procured by means of      
it1--of the combinations of iodine and  
chlorine1--of the action of some        
compound gases on iodine1#aa--;and1     
lastly1 of the mode of detecting iodine 
in combinations4 ,if iodine1 he says1   
exists in sea water1 which there is     
every reason to believe must be the     
case1 though in extremely minute        
quantities1 it is probably in triple    
union with oxygen and sodium1 and in    
this case it must separate with the     
first crystals of common salt4    #aa   
,the compounds which he supposed to be  
thus produced are of   a very           
questionable nature2 with respect to    
that formed with the   ,olefiant gas1 he
 was evidently in error4  ,he quitted   
,florence on the #crd1 and having       
visited ,sienna1 entered ,rome on the   
#fth of ,april4 ,the ,continent having  
now become accessible1 he met with many 

of his ,english friends3 but neither the
 extended society by which he was       
surrounded1 nor the classical           
attractions of the city of the ,csars1  
allured him from the pursuits of        
,science4 ,we find that1 shortly after  
his arrival1 he renewed his researches  
on the combustion of different kinds of 
charcoal1 in the laboratory of the      
,academia del ,lyncei1 in which he was  
assisted by ,,sig4 ,,morrichini and     
,,barlocci1 ,professors of the ,college 
,sapienza at ,rome4 ,having arranged the
 results of this investigation1 together
 with those relating to the combustion  
of the diamond1 which he had previously 
obtained at ,florence1 he transmitted a 
paper to the ,royal ,society1 entitled  
,some ,experiments on the ,combustion of
 the ,diamond1 and other carbonaceous   
substances2 which was read on the #bcrd 
of ,june1 and published in the ,second  
,part of the ,philosophical             
,transactions for the year #ahad4  ,no  
sooner had it been established by       

various accurate experiments1 that the  
diamond and common charcoal consumed    
nearly the same quantity of oxygen in   
combustion1 and produced a gas having   
the same obvious qualities1 than various
 conjectures were formed to explain the 
remarkable differences in the sensible  
qualities of these bodies1 by supposing 
some minute difference in their chemical
 composition4 ,,mm4 ,biot and ,arrago1  
from the high refractive power of the   
diamond1 suspected that it might contain
 hydrogen4 ,guyton ,morveau inferred    
from his experiments that it was pure   
carbon1 and that charcoal was an oxide  
of carbon2 whereas ,davy was inclined to
 believe1 from the circumstance of the  
non-conducting power of the diamond1 as 
well as from the action of potassium    
upon it1 that a minute portion of oxygen
 might enter its composition1 although  
such a supposition would be at variance 
with the doctrine of definite           
proportions2 but more lately1 in his    
account of some new experiments on the  

fluoric compounds1 he hazarded the idea 
that it might be the carbonaceous       
principle combined with some new and    
subtile element1 belonging to the same  
class as oxygen1 chlorine1 and fluorine1
 which has hitherto escaped detection1  
but which may be expelled1 or newly     
combined1 during its combustion in      
oxygen4 ,that some chemical difference1 
says ,davy1 must exist between the      
hardest and most beautiful of the gems  
and charcoal1 between a nonconductor and
 a conductor of electricity1 it is      
scarcely possible1 notwithstanding the  
elaborate experiments that have been    
made on the subject1 to doubt3 and it   
seems reasonable to expect1 that a very 
refined or perfect chemistry will       
confirm the analogies of ,nature1 and   
show that bodies cannot be exactly the  
same in composition or chemical nature1 
and yet totally different in all their  
physical properties4  ,with these       
impressions1 we may readily imagine the 
ardour with which he availed himself of 

the use of the great lens at ,florence4 
,he had in various ways frequently      
attempted to fuse charcoal1#ab but      
without success4 ,in a letter addressed 
to ,mr4 ,children is the following      
passage3 ,the great result to be hoped  
for is the fusion of carbon2 and then   
you may use diamond in the manufacture  
of gunpowder4    #ab ,the supposed      
fusion of charcoal by ,professor        
,silliman1 by   means of ,dr4 ,hare's   
galvanic deflagrator1 was a fallacy     
arising   from the earthy impurities of 
the substance4 ,see ,american   ,journal
 of ,science1 vol4 v4 p4 #ajh1 and #cfa4
  ,he tells us that he had long felt a  
desire to make some new experiments on  
the combustion of the diamond and other 
carbonaceous substances2 and that this  
desire was increased by the new fact    
ascertained with respect to iodine1     
which by uniting to hydrogen1 affords an
 acid so analogous to muriatic acid1    
that it was for some time confounded    
with that body4 ,his object in these new

 experiments1 was to examine minutely   
whether any peculiar matter was         
separated from the diamond during its   
combustion1 and to determine whether the
 gas1 formed in this process1 was       
precisely the same in its minute        
chemical nature1 as that formed in the  
combustion of common charcoal4 ,by his  
experiments at ,florence1 he            
satisfactorily accomplished his wishes1 
and established beyond a question the   
important fact1 that the diamond affords
 no other substance by its combustion   
than pure carbonic acid gas2 and that   
the process is merely a solution of     
diamond in oxygen1 without any change in
 the volume of the gas4  ,as one of the 
principal objects in these researches   
was to ascertain whether water was      
formed during the combustion of the     
diamond1 with a view to decide the      
question of the presence of hydrogen1   
every possible source of fallacy was    
excluded4 ,in one experiment there was  
an evident deposition of moisture1 but  

it was immediately discovered to have   
been owing to the production of vapour  
from a cork connected with a part of the
 apparatus1 during the combustion4  ,in 
the progress of this research1 he       
ascertained a fact1 the knowledge of    
which must not only be considered as    
important to the present enquiry1 but as
 highly valuable in excluding error from
 our reasonings upon the delicate       
results of analysis#ac--;,i allude to   
the extremely minute quantity of water  
which becomes perceptible by deposition 
on a polished glass surface4 ,he        
introduced a piece of paper weighing a  
grain into a tube of about the capacity 
of four cubical inches1 the exterior of 
which was gently heated by a candle2    
immediately a slight but perceptible dew
 appeared in the interior of the upper  
part of the tube2 the paper taken out   
and directly weighed in a balance1      
sensible to #a-ajjth of a grain1 had not
 suffered any appreciable diminution4   
,if1 then1 on burning #ahd grains of    

diamond in oxygen gas1 not even a barely
 perceptible dew was produced1 we may   
consider it as fully proved that this   
gem cannot contain hydrogen in its      
composition3 but to render the          
demonstration1 if possible1 still more  
complete1 he kept a small diamond1      
weighing #de of a grain1 in a state of  
intense ignition by the great lens of   
the ,florentine ,museum1 for more than  
half an hour1 in chlorine2 but the gas  
suffered no change1 and the diamond     
underwent no alteration either in weight
 or appearance3 now had the smallest    
portion of hydrogen been developed1     
white fumes of muriatic acid would have 
been visible1 and a certain condensation
 of the gas must have taken place4      
#ac ,it has a more especial bearing upon
 that experimental   research by which  
the nature of chlorine was established1 
as   described at page #ccg1 vol4 i4 to 
which ,i beg to refer the   chemical    
reader4  ,the general tenor of his      
results was equally opposed to the idea 

of the diamond containing oxygen2 for1  
in such a case1 the quantity of carbonic
 acid generated by the combustion1      
would1 on comparison1 have indicated    
that fact4 ,by combining the carbonic   
acid with lime1 and then recovering the 
gas from the precipitate by muriatic    
acid1 he found its proportion to be     
exactly that which was furnished by an  
equal weight of ,carrara marble         
similarly treated4  ,the enquiry next   
proceeds to the examination of other    
forms of carbonaceous matter1 such as   
plumbago1 charcoal formed by the action 
of sulphuric acid on oil of turpentine1 
and that produced during the formation  
of sulphuric ether2 and lastly1 the     
common charcoal of oak4  ,in all these  
bodies1 he detected the presence of     
hydrogen1 both by the water generated   
during their combustion1 and by the     
production of muriatic acid1 when       
ignited in chlorine4 ,the chemical      
difference then between the diamond and 
the purest charcoal1 would appear to    

consist in the latter containing        
hydrogen2 but ,davy very justly asks    
whether a quantity of an element1 less  
in some cases than #a-ejjjth part of the
 weight of the substance1 can occasion  
so great a difference in physical and   
chemical characters8 ,it is certainly   
possible1 says he1 yet it is contrary to
 analogy1 and ,i am more inclined to    
adopt the opinion of ,mr4 ,tennant1 that
 the difference depends upon            
crystallization4 ,in support of such an 
opinion1 he farther adduces the fact1   
that charcoal after being intensely     
ignited in chlorine1 is not altered in  
its conducting power or colour3 in which
 case the carbon is freed from the      
hydrogen1 and yet undergoes no          
alteration in its physical properties4  
,one distinction supposed to exist      
between the diamond and common          
carbonaceous substance1 the researches  
of ,davy have certainly removed1 viz4   
its relative inflammability2 for he has 
shown that the former will burn in      

oxygen with as much facility as         
plumbago4  ,the experiments1 then1 which
 ,davy conducted at ,florence and ,rome1
 have removed several important errors  
with regard to the nature of            
carbonaceous substances2 and though they
 may not encourage the labours of those 
speculative chemists who still hope to  
illustrate the old proverb1#ad by       
manufacturing diamonds out of charcoal1 
they certainty show that they are less  
chimerical than those of the wild       
visionaries who sought to convert the   
baser metals into gold4    #ad ,carbonem
 pro ,thesauro4  ,while at ,rome1 ,davy 
was engaged for several successive days 
in the house of ,morrichini1 for the    
purpose of repeating with that          
philosopher his curious experiments on  
magnetisation4 ,mr4 ,faraday was charged
 with the performance of the            
experiments1 but never could obtain any 
results4  ,on the #hth of ,may he       
entered ,naples1 and remained there for 
three weeks1 during which period he     

visited ,mount ,vesuvius1 and the       
volcanic country surrounding it4 ,he    
describes the crater1 at this time1 as  
presenting the appearance of an immense 
funnel1 closed at the bottom1 with many 
small apertures emitting steam2 while on
 the side towards ,torre del ,greco1    
there was a large aperture from which   
flame issued to a height of at least    
sixty yards1 producing a most violent   
hissing noise4 ,he was unable to        
approach sufficiently near the flame to 
ascertain the results of the combustion2
 but a considerable quantity of steam   
ascended from it2 and he says1 that when
 the wind blew the vapours upon him1    
there was a distinct smell both of      
sulphurous and muriatic acids1 but there
 was no indication of carbonaceous      
matter from the colour of the smoke2 nor
 was any deposited upon the yellow and  
white saline matter which surrounded the
 crater1 and which he found to be       
principally sulphate and muriate of     
soda1 and in some specimens there was   

also a considerable quantity of muriate 
of iron4 ,at this period1 when the      
volcano was comparatively tranquil1 he  
observed the solfaterra to be in a very 
active state1 throwing up large         
quantities of steam1 and some           
sulphuretted hydrogen4  ,at several     
subsequent periods he revisited         
,vesuvius2 and ,i shall hereafter take  
occasion to relate all the principal    
observations he made1 and the           
conclusions at which he arrived1 with   
respect to this the most interesting of 
all the phenomena of mineral nature4    
,he also took great interest in the     
excavations at that time going on at    
,pompeii1 under the direction of ,murat1
 then ,king of ,naples1 who placed at   
his disposal several specimens of art1  
which ,davy received with a view to     
investigate the chemical composition of 
the colours used by the ,ancients4  ,on 
the #beth of ,may he returned to ,rome1 
and again quitted it on the #bnd of     
,june4  ,i regret to say that the       

information ,i have received1 as to the 
future continental travels of our       
philosopher1 is extremely meagre1 and   
will consist of little more than names  
and dates4 ,of this1 however1 the reader
 may be assured1 that nothing which     
relates to his scientific researches has
 been omitted4  ,from ,rome he proceeded
 to ,terni1 and thence to ,bologna1     
where he remained for three days2 then  
to ,mantua1 ,verona1 and ,milan4        
,whether at this or at some subsequent  
period he went to ,pavia1 in order to   
pay his homage to the illustrious       
,volta1 ,i entertain some doubt2 but the
 time is immaterial to the point of the 
anecdote ,i am about to relate4  ,davy  
had sent a letter to ,pavia to announce 
his intended visit2 and on the appointed
 day and hour1 ,volta1 in full dress1   
anxiously awaited his arrival4 ,on the  
entrance of the great ,english          
philosopher into the apartment1 not only
 in dshabille1 but in a dress of which  
an ,english artisan would have been     

ashamed1 ,volta started back in         
astonishment1 and such was the effect of
 his surprise1 that he was for some time
 unable to address him4  ,from ,milan1  
which he left on the #bbnd of ,june1 he 
went to ,como1 ,domo ,d',ossola1 and    
then over the ,simplon1 to ,geneva1     
where he arrived on the #beth of that   
month1 and remained until the #ahth of  
,september4 ,during this visit he made  
various experiments on ,iodine1 at the  
house of ,de ,saussure1 which was       
situated near the edge of the ,lake1 and
 about three miles from ,geneva4 ,he    
also worked at ,m4 ,pictet's house1 on  
the subject of the heat in the solar    
spectrum4 ,here also he met with a      
number of celebrated persons1 whose     
society he greatly enjoyed2 amongst whom
 were ,madame de ,stael1 ,benjamin      
,constant1 ,necker1 and ,talma4         
,lausanne1 ,vevay1 ,payerne1 ,berne1    
,zurich1 ,schaffhausen1 and ,munich1    
were successively visited by him4 ,his  
route was then continued through ,tyrol1

 ,inspruck1 ,calmar1 ,bolsenna1 ,trent1 
,bassano1 ,vicenza1 ,padua1 to ,venice2 
where having remained two days1 he      
returned to ,padua on the #afth of      
,october1 and then proceeded to         
,ferrara1 ,bologna1 and ,pietra-,mala2  
near which latter place1 in the         
,apennines1 he examined a fire produced 
by gaseous matter constantly disengaged 
from a schist stratum1 and from the     
results of its combustion1 he concluded 
it to be pure fire-damp4 ,on again      
reaching ,florence1 he found that the   
,professors had been dismissed1 but he  
nevertheless resumed his researches1    
first at home1 and afterwards in the    
laboratory of the ,grand ,duke1 where he
 submitted to analysis some gas which   
had been collected by his attendant ,mr4
 ,faraday1 from a cavity in the earth1  
about a mile from ,pietra-,mala1 then   
filled with water1 and which from the   
quantity of gas disengaged is called    
,aqua ,buja4 ,it was found to be pure   
light carburetted hydrogen1 requiring   

two volumes of oxygen for its           
combustion1 and producing a volume of   
carbonic acid gas4 ,it is very probable1
 says he1 that these gases were         
disengaged from coal strata beneath the 
surface1 or from bituminous schist above
 coal2 and at some future period new    
sources of wealth may be opened to      
,tuscany from this invaluable mineral   
treasure4  ,on the #bith he left        
,florence1 and passing through ,levano1 
,tortona1 and ,terni1 arrived again at  
,rome1 on the #bnd of ,november1 where  
he remained till the #ast of ,march     
#ahae4  ,during this winter he was      
engaged in an elaborate enquiry into the
 composition of ancient colours2 and    
also in experiments upon certain        
compounds of iodine and of chlorine4    
,upon which subjects he transmitted to  
the ,royal ,society three memoirs1 viz4 
one entitled1 ,some ,experiments and    
,observations on the ,colours used in   
,painting by the ,ancients1 which was   
read on the #bcrd of ,february2 a       

second1 ,on a solid compound of ,iodine 
and ,oxygen1 read ,april #aj2 and a     
third1 ,on the action of ,acids on the  
,salts usually called                   
,hyper-oxymuriates1 and on the ,gases   
produced from them1 read ,may #d1 #ahae2
 all of which were published in the     
,philosophical ,transactions for that   
year4  ,although the paintings of the   
great masters of ,greece have been      
entirely destroyed1 either by accident1 
by time1 or by the barbarian conquerors 
at the period of the decline and fall of
 the ,roman ,empire1 yet there is       
sufficient proof that this art attained 
a very high degree of excellence amongst
 a people to whom genius and taste were 
a kind of birthright1 and who possessed 
a perception1 which seemed almost       
instinctive1 of the dignified1 the      
beautiful1 and the sublime4  ,our       
philosopher observes1 that the subjects 
of many of those pictures are described 
in ancient authors1 and that some idea  
of the manner and style of the ,greek   

artists may be gained from the designs  
on the vases improperly called          
,etruscan1 which were executed by       
artists of ,magna ,grcia1 and many of   
which are probably copies from          
celebrated works3 of their execution and
 colouring1 some faint notion may be    
gained from the paintings in fresco     
found at ,rome1 ,herculaneum1 and       
,pompeii2 for1 although these paintings 
are not properly ,grecian1 yet at the   
period when ,rome was the metropolis of 
the world1 the fine arts were cultivated
 in that city exclusively by ,greek     
artists1 or by artists of the ,greek    
school2 while it is evident1 on         
comparing the descriptions of ,vitruvius
 and ,pliny with those of ,theophrastus1
 that the same materials for colouring  
were employed at ,rome and at ,athens4  
,with regard to the nature of these     
pigments1 we may obtain some information
 from the works of ,theophrastus1       
,dioscorides1 ,vitruvius1 and ,pliny2   
but until the present memoir by ,sir ,h4

 ,davy1 no experimental attempt had been
 made to identify them1 or to imitate   
such of them as are peculiar4  ,his     
experiments1 he informs us1 were made   
upon colours found in the ,baths of     
,titus1 and the ruins called the ,baths 
of ,livia1 and in the remains of other  
palaces and baths of ancient ,rome1 and 
in the ruins of ,pompeii4  ,by the      
kindness of his friend ,canova1 who was 
charged with the care of the works      
connected with ancient art in ,rome1 he 
was enabled to select1 with his own     
hands1 specimens of the different       
pigments that were found in vases       
discovered in the excavations made      
beneath the ruins of the palace of      
,titus1 and to compare them with the    
colours fixed on the walls1 or detached 
in fragments of stucco2 and ,signor     
,nelli1 the proprietor of the ,nozze    
,aldobrandine1#ae permitted him to make 
such experiments upon the colours of    
that celebrated picture1 as was         
necessary to determine their nature4    

#ae ,the most celebrated picture of     
antiquity rescued from the   ruins of   
,herculaneum4 ,it represents a virgin on
 her marriage   night1 with her female  
attendants4 ,an engraving of it is to be
   seen in ,sir ,william ,hamilton's    
work on ,herculaneum4  ,without entering
 into the chemical details of the       
subject1 ,i shall offer a general       
history of the nature of the colours he 
examined4  ,of the red colours1 he      
distinguished four distinct kinds1      
viz4--one bright and approaching to     
orange1 which he found to be ,minium1 or
 the red oxide of lead2 a second1 dull  
red1 which he ascertained to be an iron 
ochre2 a third1 a purplish red1 which   
was likewise an ochre1 but of a         
different tint2 and a fourth1 a brighter
 red than the first1 which was          
,vermilion or ,cinnabar1 a sulphuret of 
mercury4 ,on examining the fresco       
paintings in the ,baths of ,titus1 he   
found that all the three first colours  
had been used1 the ochres particularly1 

in the shades of the figures1 and the   
minium in the ornaments on the borders4 
,the fourth red had been employed in    
various apartments1 and formed the basis
 of the colouring of the niche1 and of  
other parts of the chamber in which the 
,laocoon is said to have been found in  
the time of ,raphael2 a circumstance    
which ,davy considers as being          
favourable to the belief that such      
apartments were intended for ,imperial  
use1 since vermilion1 amongst the       
,romans1 was a colour held in the       
highest esteem1 and was always one of   
great costliness4  ,of the yellows1 the 
more inferior were mixtures of ochre and
 different quantities of chalk2 the     
richer varieties were ochres mixed with 
the red oxide of lead4  ,the ancients   
had also two other colours1 which were  
orange1 or yellow2 the auripigmentum1 or
 ,greek3 arsenikon1 said to approach to 
gold in the brilliancy of its tint1 and 
which is described by ,vitruvius as     
being found native in ,pontus1 and which

 ,davy says was evidently sulphuret of  
arsenic2--and a pale sandarach1 said by 
,pliny to have been found in gold and   
silver mines1 and which was imitated at 
,rome by a partial calcination of       
cerusse4 ,he conceives that this must   
have been ,massicot1 or the yellow oxide
 of lead mixed with minium2 ,i suspect1 
however1 that ,davy was mistaken in     
supposing that the ancients always      
applied the term ,sandarach to minium2  
the ,greek3 ,sandarak of ,aristotle was 
evidently an arsenical sulphuret4  ,in  
his examination of the ancient          
,frescoes1 he could not detect the use  
of orpiment2 but a deep yellow1         
approaching to orange1 which covered a  
piece of stucco in the ruins near the   
monument of ,caius ,cestius1 proved to  
be oxide of lead1 and consisted of      
massicot and minium4 ,he considers it   
probable that the ancients used many    
colours from lead of different tints1   
between the usta of ,pliny1 which was   
our minium1 and imperfectly decomposed  

cerusse1 or pale massicot4  ,the        
differently shaded blues1 by the action 
of acids1 uniformly assumed the same    
tint2 from which he concluded that the  
effect of the base was varied by        
different proportions of chalk4 ,this   
base he ascertained to be a frit1 made  
by means of soda and sand1 and coloured 
by oxide of copper4  ,the greens were1  
in general1 combinations of copper2 and 
it seemed probable1 that although they  
appeared in the state of carbonate1 they
 might originally have been laid on in  
that of acetate4 ,the purple of the     
ancients1 the ,greek3 porphora of the   
,greeks1 and the ,ostrum of the ,romans1
 was regarded as their most beautiful   
colour1 and was obtained from           
shell-fish4 ,vitruvius states that it   
was prepared by beating the fish with   
instruments of iron1 freeing the purple 
liquor from the shell containing it1 and
 then mixing it with a little honey4    
,pliny says that1 for the use of the    
painters1 argentine creta1 7probably a  

clay used for polishing silver17 was    
dyed with it1 and both ,vitruvius and   
,pliny state that it was adulterated1 or
 imitations of it made by tinging creta 
with madder2 whence it would appear1    
that the ancients were acquainted with  
the art of making a lake colour from    
that plant1 similar to the one used by  
modern painters4  ,pliny informs us1    
that the finest purple had a tint like a
 deep-coloured rose4 ,in the ,baths of  
,titus1 there was found a broken vase of
 earthenware1 which contained a pale    
rose colour2 and ,davy selected it as an
 appropriate subject for his analytical 
experiments4  ,where this colour had    
been exposed to the action of the air1  
its tint had faded into a cream colour1 
but the interior parts retained a lustre
 approaching to that of carmine4 ,a     
diluted acid was found to dissolve out  
of it a considerable quantity of        
carbonate of lime1 with which the       
colouring principle must have been      
mixed1 as a substance of a bright rose  

colour remained after the process4 ,this
 colouring ingredient was proved to     
contain siliceous1 aluminous1 and       
calcareous earths1 without any sensible 
trace of metallic matter1 except oxide  
of iron4 ,upon heating the substance1   
first in oxygen1 and then with          
hyper-oxymuriate of potash1 ,davy was   
induced to consider the colouring matter
 itself as either of vegetable or animal
 origin2 the results1 however1 were so  
equivocal1 that he renounced the hope of
 determining its nature from the        
products of its decomposition4 ,if it be
 of animal origin1 he thinks it is most 
probably the ,tyrian or marine purple1  
as it is likely that the most expensive 
colour would have been employed in      
ornamenting the ,imperial baths4  ,he   
had not observed any colour of the same 
tint as this ancient lake in the fresco 
paintings2 the purplish reds in the     
,baths of ,titus he ascertained to be   
mixtures of red ochres and the blues of 
copper4  ,the blacks and browns were    

mixtures of carbonaceous matter1 with   
the ores of iron or manganese4 ,the     
black from the ,baths of ,titus1 as well
 as that from some ruins near the ,porta
 del ,popolo1 deflagrated with nitre1   
and presented all the character of      
carbon4 ,this fact agrees with the      
statements of all the ancient authors   
who have described the artificial ,greek
 and ,roman black as consisting of      
carbonaceous matter1 either prepared    
from the powder of charcoal1 from the   
decomposition of resin1 7a species of   
lamp black17 from that of the lees of   
wine1 or from the common soot of wood   
fires4 ,pliny also mentions the inks of 
the cuttle-fish1 but adds1 ,ex his non  
fit4  ,davy informs us1 that1 some years
 before1 he had examined the black      
matter of the cuttle-fish1 and had found
 it to be a carbonaceous substance mixed
 with gelatine4#af    #af ,i find from a
 note addressed by ,davy to ,mr4        
,underwood1 that   he was engaged in    
these experiments in ,october #ahja4    

,pliny1 moreover1 speaks of ivory black 
invented by ,apelles2 of a natural      
fossil black2 and of a black prepared   
from an earth of the colour of sulphur4 
,davy is of opinion1 that both these    
latter pigments were ores of iron and   
manganese2 and he observes that the     
analysis of some purple glass satisfied 
him that the ancients were well         
acquainted with the ores of manganese4  
,the whites which he examined from the  
,baths of ,titus1 as well as those from 
other ruins1 were either chalk1 or fine 
aluminous clay2 and he states that1     
amongst all his researches1 he never    
once met with cerusse4  ,this           
interesting account of the colours used 
by the ancients is followed by          
observations on the manner in which they
 were applied2 and the paper is         
concluded with some general remarks of  
much practical importance4  ,the azure1 
he says1 of which the excellence is     
sufficiently proved by its duration for 
#agjj years1 may be easily and cheaply  

imitated3 he found1 for instance1 that  
fifteen parts of carbonate of soda1     
twenty parts of opaque flint powdered1  
and three parts of copper filings1 by   
weight1 when strongly heated together   
for two hours1 yielded a compound       
substance of exactly the same tint1 and 
of nearly the same degree of fusibility2
 and which1 when powdered1 produced a   
fine deep sky-blue4  ,the azure1 the red
 and yellow ochres1 and the blacks1     
appear to have been the only pigments   
which have not undergone any change in  
the fresco paintings4 ,the vermilion    
presents a darker hue than that of      
recently made ,dutch cinnabar2 and the  
red lead is inferior in tint to that    
sold in the shops4 ,the greens are      
generally dull4  ,the blue frit above   
mentioned1 he considers as a colour     
composed upon the truest principles2 and
 he thinks there is reason to believe1  
that it is the colour described by      
,theophrastus as the one manufactured at
 ,alexandria4 ,it embodies1 says he1 the

 colour in a composition like stone1 so 
as to prevent the escape of elastic     
matter from it1 or the decomposing      
action of the elements upon it4 ,he     
suggests the possibility of making other
 frits1 and thinks it would be worth    
while to try whether the beautiful      
purple given by oxide of gold could not 
be made useful in a deeply tinted glass4
  ,where frit cannot be employed1 he    
observes that metallic combinations     
which are insoluble in water1 and which 
are saturated with oxygen or some acid  
matter1 have been proved by the         
testimony of seventeen centuries to be  
the best pigments4 ,in the red ochres1  
for example1 the oxide of iron is fully 
combined with oxygen and carbonic acid2 
and the colours composed of them have   
never changed4 ,the carbonates of       
copper1 which consist of an oxide and an
 acid1 have suffered but little         
alteration4 ,massicot and orpiment1 he  
considers as those which have been the  
least permanent amongst all the mineral 

colours4  ,he next takes a view of the  
colours which owe their origin to the   
improvements of modern chemistry4 ,he   
considers the patent yellow to be more  
permanent1 and the chromate of lead more
 beautiful1 than any yellow possessed by
 the ,greeks or ,romans4 ,he pronounces 
,scheele's green 7arsenite of copper71  
and the insoluble muriatic combinations 
of copper1 to be more unalterable than  
the ancient greens2 and he thinks that  
the sulphate of baryta offers a white   
far superior to any pigment possessed by
 the ancients4  ,in examining the       
colours used in the celebrated ,nozze   
,aldobrandine1 he recognised all the    
compounds which his analytical enquiries
 had established3 viz4 the reds and     
yellows were all ochres2 the blues1 the 
,alexandrian frit2 the greens1 copper2  
the purple1 especially that in the      
garment of the ,pronuba1 appeared to be 
a compound colour of red ochre and      
copper2 the browns and blacks were      
mixtures of ochres and carbon2 while the

 whites were carbonate of lime4  ,the   
great ,greek painters1 he adds1 like the
 most illustrious artists of the ,roman 
and ,venetian school1 were probably     
sparing in the use of the more florid   
tints in historical and moral painting1 
and produced their effects rather by the
 contrasts of colouring in those parts  
of the picture where a deep and uniform 
tint might be used1 than by brilliant   
drapery4  ,if red and yellow ochres1    
blacks and whites1 were the pigments    
most employed by ,protogenes and        
,apelles1 so they are likewise the      
colours most employed by ,raphael and   
,titian in their best style4 ,the ,st4  
,john and the ,venus1 in the tribune of 
the ,gallery at ,florence1 offer        
striking examples of pictures in which  
all the deeper tints are evidently      
produced by red and yellow ochres1 and  
carbonaceous substances4  ,as far as    
colours are concerned1 these works are  
prepared for that immortality which they
 deserve2 but unfortunately1 the oil and

 the canvass are vegetable materials1   
and liable to decomposition1 and the    
last is even less durable than the wood 
on which the ,greek artists painted     
their celebrated pictures4  ,it is      
unfortunate that the materials for      
receiving those works which are worthy  
of passing down to posterity as eternal 
monuments of genius1 taste1 and         
industry1 are not imperishable marble or
 stone3#ag and that frit1 or unalterable
 metallic combinations have not been the
 only pigments employed by great        
artists2 and that their varnishes have  
not been sought for amongst the         
transparent compounds#ah unalterable in 
the atmosphere4    #ag ,copper1 it is   
evident from the specimens in the ruins 
of   ,pompeii1 is a very perishable     
material2 but modern science might      
suggest some voltaic protection4    #ah 
,davy thinks that the artificial hydrat 
of alumina will   probably be found to  
be a substance of this kind2 and that1  
possibly1 the solution of boracic acid  

in alcohol will form a   varnish4 ,he   
also thinks1 that the solution of       
sulphur in alcohol   is worthy of an    
experiment4  ,in his memoir ,on a solid 
compound of ,iodine and ,oxygen1 he     
enumerates1 amongst the agencies of that
 body1 its singular property of forming 
crystalline combinations with all the   
fluid or solid acids4 ,it will be       
unnecessary to follow him through this  
investigation1 since its results have   
been found to be erroneous4 ,m4         
,serullas#ai has lately shown that the  
crystalline bodies of ,davy are nothing 
more than the iodic acid1 which being   
insoluble in acids1 is necessarily      
precipitated by them4    #ai ,annales de
 ,chimie1 t4 #dc4 p4 #baf4  ,his paper  
,on the action of ,acids on ,salts      
usually called ,hyper-oxymuriates1      
announced the important fact of chlorine
 forming with oxygen a compound1 in     
which the latter element exists in a    
still greater proportion than in the    
body previously described by him under  

the name of ,euchlorine4#bj    #bj ,see 
page #ccj4 vol4 i4  ,before finally     
quitting ,italy1 he spent three weeks at
 ,naples1 during which period he        
experimented on iodine and fluorine in  
the house of ,sementini2 he also paid   
several visits to ,vesuvius1 and found  
the appearances of the crater to be     
entirely different from those which it  
presented in the preceding year3#ba     
there was1 for instance1 no aperture in 
it2 it was often quiet for minutes      
together1 and then burst out into       
explosions with considerable violence1  
sending fluid lava1 and ignited stones  
and ashes1 to a height of many hundred  
feet in the air4    #ba ,see page #db4  
vol4 ii4  ,these eruptions1 says he1    
were preceded by subterraneous thunder1 
which appeared to come from a great     
distance1 and which sometimes lasted for
 a minute4 ,during the four times that  
,i was upon the crater1 in the month of 
,march1 ,i had at last learnt to        
estimate the violence of the eruption   

from the nature of the sound3 loud and  
long-continued subterraneous thunder    
indicated a considerable explosion4     
,before the eruption1 the crater        
appeared perfectly tranquil2 and the    
bottom1 apparently without an aperture1 
was covered with ashes4 ,soon1          
indistinct rumbling sounds were heard1  
as if at a great distance2 gradually1   
the sound approached nearer1 and was    
like the noise of artillery fired under 
our feet4 ,the ashes then began to rise 
and to be thrown out with smoke from the
 bottom of the crater2 and lastly1 the  
lava and ignited matter was ejected with
 a most violent explosion4 ,i need not  
say1 that when ,i was standing on the   
edge of the crater1 witnessing this     
phenomenon1 the wind was blowing        
strongly from me2 without this          
circumstance1 it would have been        
dangerous to have remained in such a    
situation2 and whenever from the        
loudness of the thunder the eruption    
promised to be violent1 ,i always ran as

 far as possible from the seat of       
danger4  ,as soon as the eruption had   
taken place1 the ashes and stones which 
rolled down the crater seemed to fill up
 the aperture1 so that it appeared as if
 the ignited and elastic matter were    
discharged laterally2 and the interior  
of the crater assumed the same          
appearance as before4  ,on the #bast of 
,march1 he quitted ,naples1 and returned
 to ,england by the following route3    
,rome--,narni--,nocere--,fessombone--,im
ola--,mantua--7,march #cj17             
,verona--,pero--,trente--,botzen--,brenn
ah--,inspruck--,zirl--7,april #d17      
,reuti-,menningen--,ulm--7,april #f17   
,stutgard--,heidelburg--,mayence--,boppe
rt--,coblentz--,cologne--7,april #ad17  
,leuch--,brussels--,ostend--,dover--,lon
don1 ,april #bc1 #ahae4     ,,chapter   
,,xi4     ,collieries of the ,north of  
,england4--,fire-damp4--,the dreadful   
explosion at ,felling ,colliery         
described4--,letters from the    ,bishop
 of ,bristol to the ,author4--,a        

,society is established    at           
,bishop-,wearmouth for preventing       
accidents in coal    mines4--,various   
projects for ensuring the miner's       
safety4--,the    ,reverend ,dr4 ,gray1  
the present ,bishop of ,bristol1        
addresses    a letter to ,sir ,h4 ,davy1
 and invites his attention to the       
subject4--,sir ,h4 ,davy's              
reply4--,farther correspondence    upon 
the possibility of devising means of    
security4--,sir    ,h4 ,davy proposes   
four different kinds of lamp for the    
purpose4--,the ,safe-lamp--,the         
,blowing-lamp--,the ,piston-lamp--,the  
,charcoal-lamp4--,his investigation of  
the properties of    fire-damp leads to 
the discovery of a new principle of     
safety4--,his views developed in a paper
 read before the    ,royal ,society on  
the #ith of ,november #ahae4--,the first
    ,safety-lamp4--,safety-tubes        
superseded by ,safety-canals4--,flame   
,sieves4--,wire-gauze lamp4--,the       
phenomenon of slow ,combustion1    and  

its curious application4--,the invention
 of the ,safety-lamp    claimed by a    
,mr4 ,stephenson4--,a deputation of     
,coal-owners    wait upon ,sir ,h4      
,davy1 in order to express to him the   
thanks    of the ,proprietors for his   
discovery4--,mr4 ,buddle announces    to
 ,dr4 ,gray 7now ,bishop of ,bristol7   
the intention of the ,coal    trade to  
present him with a service of           
plate4--,the ,resolutions    are        
opposed1 and the claims of ,stephenson  
urged1 by ,mr4 ,w4    ,brandling4--,a   
dinner is given to ,sir ,humphry1 at    
which the    plate is presented to      
him4--,the ,president and ,council of   
the ,royal ,society protest against the 
claims still urged by    ,mr4           
,stephenson's friends4--,mr4 ,buddle's  
letter in answer    to several queries  
submitted to him by the                 
,author4--,davy's    ,researches on     
,flame4--,he receives from the ,royal   
,society the    ,rumford ,medals4--,is  
created a ,baronet4--,some observations 

on    the apathy of the ,state in       
rewarding scientific merit4--,the       
,geological ,society of ,cornwall       
receives the patronage and    support of
 ,sir ,humphry4   ,a few months after   
the return of ,sir ,humphry ,davy to    
,england1 his talents were put in       
requisition to discover some remedy for 
an evil which had hitherto defied the   
skill of the best practical engineers   
and mechanics of the kingdom1 and which 
continued to scatter misery and death   
amidst an important and laborious class 
of our countrymen4  ,to collect and     
publish a detailed account of the       
numerous and awful accidents which have 
occurred within the last few years1 from
 the explosion of inflammable air1 or   
fire-damp1 in the coal mines of the     
,north of ,england1 would present a     
picture of the most appalling nature4   
,it appears from a statement by ,dr4    
,clanny1 in the year #ahac1bb that1 in  
the space of seven years1 upwards of    
three hundred pitmen had been suddenly  

deprived of their lives1 besides a      
considerable number who had been        
severely wounded2 and that more than    
three hundred women and children had    
been left in a state of the greatest    
distress and poverty2 since which period
 the mines have increased in depth1 and 
until the happy discovery of ,davy1 the 
accidents continued to increase in      
number4    #bb ,phil4 ,transact4 #ahac4 
,it may well be asked how it can        
possibly have happened that1 in a       
country so enlightened by science and so
 distinguished for humanity1 an evil of 
such fearful magnitude1 and of such     
frequent recurrence1 should for so long 
a period have excited but little        
sympathy1 beyond the immediate scene of 
the catastrophe4 ,it would seem that a  
certain degree of doubt and mystery1 or 
novelty1 is essentially necessary to    
create that species of dramatic interest
 by which the passions are excited      
through the medium of the imagination3  
it is thus that the philanthropist      

penetrates unknown regions1 in search of
 objects for his compassion1 while he   
passes unheeded the miserable groups who
 crowd his threshold2 it is thus that   
the statesman pleads the injuries of the
 ,negro with an eloquence that shakes   
the thrones of kings1 while he bestows  
not a thought upon the intrepid         
labourers in his own country1 who for a 
miserable pittance pass their days in   
the caverns of the earth1 to procure for
 him the means of defying the severity  
of winter1 and of chasing away the gloom
 of his climate by an artificial        
sunshine4  ,that the benefits conferred 
upon mankind by the labours of ,sir ,h4 
,davy may be properly appreciated1 it is
 necessary to describe the magnitude of 
the evil which his genius has removed1  
as well as the numerous difficulties    
which opposed his efforts and           
counteracted his designs4  ,the great   
coal field1#bc the scene of those awful 
accidents which will be hereafter       
described1 extends over a considerable  

part of the counties of ,northumberland 
and ,durham4 ,the whole surface has been
 calculated at a hundred and eighty     
square miles1 and the number of         
different beds of coal has been stated  
to exceed forty2 many of which1 however1
 are insignificant in point of          
dimensions4 ,the two most important are 
about six feet in thickness1 and are    
distinguished by the names of ,high     
main1 and ,low main1 the former being   
about sixty fathoms above the latter4   
#bc ,dr4 ,thomson has calculated that   
the quantity of coal   exported yearly  
from this formation exceeds two millions
 of   chaldrons2 and he thinks it may be
 fairly stated1 in round   numbers1     
that1 at the present rate of waste1 it  
will continue   to supply coal for a    
thousand years6 ,mr4 ,phillips1 however1
 is   inclined to deduct a century or   
two from this calculation4  ,from this  
statement1 some idea may be formed of   
the great extent of the excavations1 and
 of the consequent difficulty of        

successfully ventilating the mines4 ,in 
some collieries1 they are continued for 
many miles1 forming numerous windings   
and turnings1 along which the pitmen    
have frequently to walk for forty or    
fifty minutes1 before they arrive at the
 workings2 during which time1 as well as
 when at work1 they have no direct      
communication with the surface of the   
earth4 ,the most ingenious machinery1   
however1 has been contrived for         
conducting pure air through every part  
of the mine1 and for even ventilating   
the old excavations1 which are          
technically called ,wastes2 and unless  
some obstruction occur1 the plan#bd so  
far answers1 as to furnish wholesome air
 to the pitmen1 and to diminish1        
although1 for reasons to be hereafter   
stated1 it can never wholly prevent1 the
 dangers of fire-damp2 the nature of    
which it will be necessary to consider4 
#bd ,in all large collieries1 the air is
 accelerated through   the workings by  
placing furnaces1 sometimes at the      

bottom1 and   sometimes at the top of   
the up-cast shaft2 in aid of which1 at  
,wall's-end ,colliery1 a powerful       
air-pump worked by a steam-engine   is  
employed to quicken the draft3 this     
alone draws out of the   mines a        
thousand hogsheads of air every minute4 
,stoppings and   trapdoors are also     
interposed in various parts of the      
workings1   in order to give a direction
 to the draft4  ,the coal appears to    
part with a portion of carburetted      
hydrogen1 when newly exposed to the     
atmosphere2 a fact which explains the   
well-known circumstance of the coal     
being more inflammable when fresh from  
the pit1 than after long exposure to the
 air4 ,we are informed by the ,rev4 ,mr4
 ,hodgson1 that1 on pounding some common
 ,newcastle coal fresh from the mine1 in
 a cask furnished with a small aperture1
 he found the gas which issued from it  
to be inflammable2 and ,davy1 on        
breaking some lumps of coal under water1
 also ascertained that they gave off    

inflammable gas4 ,the supposition that  
the coal strata have been formed under a
 pressure greater than that of the      
atmosphere1 may furnish a clue to the   
comprehension of this phenomenon4  ,on  
some occasions the pitmen have opened   
with their picks crevices1 or fissures1 
in the coal or shale1 which have emitted
 as much as seven hundred hogsheads of  
fire-damp in a minute4 ,these ,blowers1 
as they are technically termed1 have    
been known to continue in a state of    
activity for many months1 or even years 
together2#be a phenomenon which clearly 
shows that the carburetted hydrogen must
 have existed in the cavities of the    
strata in a very highly compressed1 if  
not actually in a liquid state1 and     
which1 on the diminution of pressure1   
has resumed its elastic form4    #be    
,sir ,james ,lowther found a uniform    
current of this   description produced  
in one of his mines for the space of two
   years and nine months4 ,phil4 ,trans1
 vol4 #ch4 p4 #aab4  ,all the sources of

 carburetted hydrogen would appear to   
unite in the deep and valuable          
collieries situated between the great   
,north road and the sea4 ,their air     
courses are thirty or forty miles in    
length2 and here1 as might be expected1 
the most tremendous explosions have     
happened4 ,old workings1 likewise1 upon 
being broken into1 have not unfrequently
 been found filled with this gas1 and   
which1 by mingling itself with the      
common air1 has converted the whole     
atmosphere of the mine into a magazine  
of fire-damp4  ,on the approach of a    
candle1 it is in an instant kindled3 the
 expanding fluid drives before it a     
roaring whirlwind of flaming air1 which 
tears up every thing in its progress1   
scorching some of the miners to a       
cinder1 and burying others under        
enormous ruins shaken from the roof2    
when thundering to the shafts1 it       
converts the mine1 as it were1 into an  
enormous piece of artillery1 and wastes 
its fury in a discharge of thick clouds 

of coal-dust1 stones1 and timber1       
together with the limbs and mangled     
bodies of men and horses4  ,but this    
first1 though apparently the most       
appalling1 is not the most destructive  
effect of these subterraneous           
combustions4 ,all the stoppings and     
trapdoors of the mine being blown down  
by the violence of the concussion1 and  
the atmospheric current entirely        
excluded from the workings1 such of the 
miners as may have survived the         
discharge are doomed to the more painful
 and lingering death of suffocation from
 the after-damp1 or stythe1 as it is    
termed1 which immediately results from  
the combustion1 and occupies the vacuum 
necessarily produced by it4  ,as the    
phenomena accompanying these explosions 
are always of the same description1 to  
relate the numerous recorded histories  
of such accidents would be only to      
multiply pictures of death and human    
suffering1 without an adequate object3  
it is1 however1 essential to the just   

comprehension of the subject1 that the  
reader should receive at least one      
well-authenticated account1 in all its  
terrific details2 and ,i have           
accordingly selected that which was     
originally drawn up with much accuracy  
and feeling by the ,reverend ,john      
,hodgson1 and which is prefixed to the  
funeral sermon preached on the occasion1
 and subsequently published by that     
gentleman4  ,the accident occurred at   
,felling ,colliery1 near ,sunderland1 on
 the #beth of ,may1 in the year #ahab4  
,this mine was considered by the workmen
 as a model of perfection1 both with    
regard to the purity of its air1 and the
 arrangements of its machinery4 ,the    
concern was in the highest degree       
prosperous2 and no accident1 except a   
trifling explosion which slightly       
scorched two or three pitmen1 had ever  
occurred4  ,two shifts1 or sets of men1 
were constantly employed1 the first of  
which entered the mine at four1 and were
 relieved at their working posts by the 

next set at eleven o'clock in the       
morning2 but such was the confidence of 
the pitmen in the safety of this mine1  
that the second shift of men were often 
at their posts before the first set had 
left them2 and such happened to be the  
case on the following unhappy occasion4 
,about half past eleven1 on the morning 
of the #beth of ,may1 the neighbouring  
villages were alarmed by a tremendous   
explosion4 ,the subterraneous fire broke
 forth with two heavy discharges from   
the shaft called the ',john ,pit1' which
 was one hundred and two fathoms deep1  
and were almost immediately followed by 
one from that termed the ',william pit1'
 ,a slight trembling1 as if from an     
earthquake1 was felt for about half a   
mile around the workings2 and the noise 
of the explosion1 though dull1 was heard
 to the distance of three or four miles1
 and greatly resembled an unsteady fire 
of infantry4  ,immense quantities of    
dust and small coal accompanied these   
blasts1 and rose high into the air1 in  

the form of an inverted cone4 ,the      
heaviest part of the ejected matter1    
such as masses of timber1 and fragments 
of coal1 fell near the pit1 but the     
dust1 borne away by a strong west wind1 
fell in a continued shower to the       
distance of a mile and a half2 and in   
the village of ,heworth1 it caused a    
gloom1 like that of early twilight1 and 
so covered the roads that the footsteps 
of passengers were strongly imprinted on
 them4  ,as soon as the explosion had   
been heard1 the wives and children of   
the pitmen rushed to the working pit4   
,wildness and terror were pictured in   
every countenance4 ,the crowd thickened 
from every side1 and in a very short    
period several hundred persons had      
collected together2 and the air         
resounded with exclamations of despair  
for the fate of husbands1 parents1 and  
children4  ,the machinery having been   
rendered useless by the eruption1 the   
rope of the gin was sent down the shaft 
with all possible expedition4 ,in the   

absence of horses1 a number of men1 who 
seemed to acquire strength as the       
necessity for it increased1 applied     
their shoulders to the starts1 or shafts
 of the gin1 and worked it with         
astonishing expedition4  ,by twelve     
o'clock1 thirty-two persons1 all that   
survived this dreadful catastrophe1 had 
been brought to daylight1 but of these  
three boys lived only a few hours4 ,the 
dead bodies of two boys1 miserably      
scorched and shattered1 were also       
brought up at the same time4            
,twenty-nine persons1 then1 were all who
 were left to relate what they had      
observed of the appearances and effect  
of the explosion4 ,one hundred and      
twenty-one were in the mine when it     
happened1 eighty-seven of whom remained 
in the workings4 ,eight persons had     
fortunately come up a short time before 
the accident4  ,those who had their     
friends restored1 hastened with them    
from the scene of destruction1 and for a
 while appeared to suffer as much from  

an excess of joy1 as they had a short   
time before from the depth of despair2  
while those who were yet in the agony of
 suspense1 filled the air with shrieks  
and howlings1 and ran about wringing    
their hands and throwing their bodies   
into the most frantic and extravagant   
gestures4  ,as not one of the pitmen had
 escaped from the mine by the only      
avenue open to them1 the apprehension   
for their safety momentarily increased1 
and at a quarter after twelve o'clock1  
nine persons descended the ,john pit1   
with the faint hope that some might     
still survive4  ,as the fire-damp would 
have been instantly ignited by candles1 
they lighted their way by               
steel-mills2#bf and knowing that a great
 number of the miners must have been at 
the crane when the explosion happened1  
they at once attempted to reach that    
spot3 their progress1 however1 was very 
soon intercepted by the prevalence of   
choak damp1 and the sparks from their   
steel-mill fell into it like dark drops 

of blood3 deprived therefore of light1  
and nearly suffocated by the noxious    
atmosphere1 they retraced their steps   
towards the shaft1 but they were shortly
 stopped by a thick smoke which stood   
like a wall before them4 ,here their    
steel-mills became entirely useless1 and
 the chance of their ever finding any of
 their companions alive entirely        
hopeless2 to which should also be added 
the horror arising from the conviction  
of the mine being on fire1 and the      
probability of a second explosion       
occurring at the next moment1 and of    
their being buried in the ruins it would
 occasion4    #bf ,steel-mills are small
 machines1 which give light by turning  
a cylinder of steel against a piece of  
flint4 ,sir ,james ,lowther   had       
observed early in the last century1 that
 the fire-damp in its   usual form was  
not inflammable by sparks from flint and
 steel2   and it appears that a person  
in his employment invented the   machine
 in question4  ,at two o'clock1 five of 

the intrepid persons who had thus nobly 
volunteered their assistance1 ascended2 
two were still in the shaft1 and the    
other two remained below1 when a second 
explosion1 much less severe1 however1   
than the first1 excited amongst the     
relatives of those entombed in the mine 
still more frightful expressions of     
grief and despair4 ,the persons in the  
shaft experienced but little            
inconvenience from this fresh eruption1 
while those below1 on hearing the       
distant growlings1 immediately threw    
themselves flat on their faces1 and in  
this posture1 by keeping a firm hold on 
a strong wooden prop1 they felt no other
 annoyance from the blast than that of  
having their bodies tossed in various   
directions1 in the manner that a buoy is
 heaved by the waves of the sea4 ,as    
soon as the atmospheric current returned
 down the shaft1 they were safely drawn 
to the light4  ,as each came up1 he was 
surrounded by a group of anxious        
enquirers2 but not a ray of hope could  

be elicited2 and the second explosion so
 strongly corroborated their account of 
the impure state of the mine1 that their
 assertions for the present seemed to   
obtain credit4 ,this impression1        
however1 was but of short               
duration1--hope still lingered2 they    
recollected that persons had survived   
similar accidents1 and that1 upon       
opening the mine1 they had been found   
alive after considerable intervals4     
,three miners1 for instance1 had been   
shut up for forty days in a pit near    
,byker1 and during the whole of that    
period had subsisted on candles and     
horse-beans4 ,persons too were not      
wanting to agitate the minds of the     
relatives with disbelief in the report  
of the pitmen who had lately descended  
to explore the mine4 ,it was suggested  
to them1 that want of courage1 or       
bribery1 might have induced them to     
magnify the danger1 and to represent the
 impossibility of reaching the bodies of
 the unfortunate sufferers4 ,by this    

species of wicked industry1 the grief of
 the neighbourhood began to change its  
gloomy1 for an irritable aspect4 ,the   
proposition to exclude the atmospheric  
air from the mine1 in order to          
extinguish the fire1 was received with  
the cries of ,murder6--and with the     
determination to oppose such a          
proceeding by violence4  ,many of the   
widows lingered about the mouth of the  
pit during the whole of the night with  
the hope of hearing the cries of a      
husband or a son4  ,on ,tuesday the     
#bfth1 that natural propensity in the   
human mind to derive gratification from 
spectacles of horror1 was exemplified in
 a very striking manner4 ,an immense    
crowd of colliers from various parts1   
but more especially from the banks of   
the river ,wear1 assembled around the   
pit1 and were clamorous in their        
reproaches of the persons concerned in  
the management of the mine1 accusing    
them of want of perseverance in their   
attempts to rescue the unhappy          

sufferers4 ,every one had some          
successful adventure to relate2 all were
 liberal in their professions of        
readiness to give assistance2 but not   
one was found hardy enough to enter the 
jaws of the burning cavern4  ,the       
leaders of this outcry1 however1 who had
 been led into error by an impulse which
 did honour to their hearts1 were soon  
brought to listen with patience to a    
relation of all the circumstances of the
 explosion1 and of the reasons for      
concluding that the mine was then       
actually on fire1 and the persons       
enclosed in it beyond the hope of       
recovery4 ,they very candidly allowed1  
after this explanation1 the             
impracticability of any attempt to reach
 the bodies of the sufferers1 until the 
fire was extinguished2 and they         
accordingly urged the propriety of      
excluding from the mine the access of   
air1 as the only means of accomplishing 
the object4 ,at the same time1 the      
proprietors gave the strongest          

assurances to the multitude1 that if any
 project could be devised for the       
recovery of their friends1 no cost or   
labour should be spared in executing it2
 that1 if any person could be found     
willing to enter the mine1 every        
facility and assistance should be       
afforded him2 but1 as they were assured 
by the most eminent ,viewers that the   
workings were inaccessible1 they would  
not hold out any reward for the         
attempt1--they would not be accessary to
 the death of any one1 either by        
persuasion or bribery4  ,at the         
clamorous solicitation1 however1 of the 
populace1 two persons again descended   
the shaft1 and very nearly lost their   
lives in the attempt4 ,the report of    
these last adventurers1 in a great      
measure1 convinced the people of the    
impossibility of their friends' survival
 in so deadly an atmosphere1 and        
reconciled them to the plan of excluding
 the air4 ,the operation was accordingly
 commenced1 and it proceeded without    

interruption2 but from various          
accidents1 more than a month elapsed    
before the mine was in a state to admit 
of examination2 and during this         
interval1 numerous were the idle tales  
which had been circulated throughout the
 country4 ,several of the sufferers1 it 
was said1 had found their way to the    
shafts1 and been recovered4 ,their      
number even had been circumstantially   
told--how they had subsisted on candles1
 oats1 and beans1 and how they had heard
 the different persons who explored the 
mine in the hope of rescuing them4      
,some conjuror too1 it was said1 had set
 his spells and divinations to work1 and
 had penetrated all the secrets of the  
mine4 ,he had discovered one famishing  
group receiving drops of water from the 
roof1 another eating their shoes and    
clothes1 and many other similar pictures
 of horror4 ,these inventions were      
carefully related to the widows1 and    
they produced the effect of daily       
harrowing up afresh their sorrows2      

indeed1 it seemed the chief employment  
of some to indulge in a kind of insane  
sport with their own and their          
neighbours' calamity4  ,the morning of  
,wednesday the #hth of ,july having been
 appointed for exploring the workings1  
the distress of the neighbourhood was   
again renewed at an early hour3 a great 
concourse of people assembled2 some1 out
 of curiosity1 to witness the           
commencement of an undertaking full of  
sadness and danger1--some to excite the 
revenge1 or to aggravate the sorrows1 of
 the relatives by calumnies and         
reproaches1 for the sole purpose of     
mischief2 but the greater part came with
 broken hearts and streaming eyes1 in   
expectation of seeing the mangled corpse
 of a father1 brother1 husband1 or son4 
,the shifts of men employed in this     
doleful and unwholesome work were       
generally about eight in number4 ,they  
were four hours in1 and eight hours out 
of the mine2 so that each individual    
wrought two shifts every twenty-four    

hours4  ,when the first shift of men    
came up1 a message was dispatched for a 
number of coffins to be in readiness at 
the mouth of the pit4 ,ninety-two had   
been prepared1 and they had to pass by  
the village of ,low ,felling1 in their  
way to the mine4 ,as soon as a cart-load
 of them was seen1 the howling of the   
women1 who1 hitherto secluded in their  
dwellings1 had now begun to assemble    
about their doors1 came on the breeze in
 slow fitful gusts1 which presaged a    
scene of the greatest distress and      
confusion4  ,the bodies were found under
 various circumstances3 one miner1 from 
his position1 must have been sleeping   
when the explosion happened1 and had    
never opened his eyes4 ,in one spot were
 found twenty-one bodies in ghastly     
confusion1--some like mummies1 scorched 
as dry as if they had been baked2 one   
wanted its head1 another an arm--the    
scene was most terrific3 the power of   
the fire was visible upon all1 but its  
effects were very various2 while some   

were almost torn to pieces1 there were  
others who appeared as if they had sunk 
down overpowered by sleep4  ,every      
family had made arrangements for        
receiving the dead bodies of their      
kindred2 but ,dr4 ,ramsay having given  
his opinion1 that such a proceeding     
might spread a putrid fever through the 
neighbourhood1 and the first body when  
exposed to observation having presented 
a most horrid and corrupt appearance1   
the people very properly consented to   
have each body interred as soon as it   
was discovered1 on condition that the   
hearse1 in its way to the chapel-yard1  
should pass by the door of the deceased4
  ,from the #hth of ,july to the #aith  
of ,september1 the heart-rending scene  
of mothers and widows examining the     
putrid bodies of their sons and         
husbands1 for marks by which to identify
 them1 was daily renewed2 but very few  
of them were recognised by any personal 
mark--they were too much mangled and    
scorched to retain any of their         

features3 their clothes1 tobacco-boxes1 
and shoes1 were therefore the only      
indications by which they could be      
identified4  ,the total loss from this  
terrible accident was ninety-two pitmen2
 while forty widows1 sixty girls1 and   
twenty-six boys1 comprising in all one  
hundred and twenty six persons1 were    
thrown upon the benevolence of the      
public4  ,it was impossible that an     
event of such awful magnitude should not
 have deeply affected every humane      
person resident in the district4        
,nothing1 in short1 could exceed the    
anxiety which was manifested on the     
occasion2 but1 most unfortunately1 there
 existed an invincible prejudice against
 every proposition that could be        
offered1 from a general impression as to
 the utter hopelessness of any attempt  
to discover a remedy4 ,a few philosophic
 individuals1 however1 did form         
themselves1 as we shall presently learn1
 into an association for the laudable   
purpose of inviting the attention of    

scientific men to the subject1 and of   
obtaining from them any suggestions     
which might lead to a more secure method
 of lighting the mines4  ,to the        
,reverend ,dr4 ,gray1 the present ,lord 
,bishop of ,bristol1 who1 at the period 
to which ,i allude1 was the ,rector of  
,bishop-,wearmouth1 and one of the most 
zealous and intelligent members of the  
association1 ,i beg to offer my public  
acknowledgments and thanks for the      
several highly interesting              
communications and letters with which   
his ,lordship has obliged me1 and by    
means of which ,i have been enabled to  
present to the scientific world a       
complete history of those proceedings   
which have so happily led to a          
discovery1 of which it is not too much  
to say that it is1 at once1 the pride of
 science1 the triumph of humanity1 and  
the glory of the age in which we live4  
,in a letter ,i had lately the honour of
 receiving from that learned prelate1   
his ,lordship says1 ,it was at a time   

when all relief was deemed hopeless1    
that ,mr4 ,wilkinson1 a barrister in    
,london1 and a gentleman distinguished  
for the humanity of his disposition1    
suggested the expediency of establishing
 a society for the purpose of enquiring 
whether any1 and what1 methods of       
security might be adopted for the       
prevention of those accidents so        
frequently occurring in the collieries  
of ,northumberland and ,durham4  ,in    
consequence of this benevolent          
suggestion1 a society was established at
 ,bishop-,wearmouth1 on the #ast of     
,october #ahac1 by ,sir ,ralph          
,milbanke1 afterwards ,sir ,ralph ,noel1
 ,dr4 ,gray1 ,dr4 ,pemberton1 ,mr4      
,robinson1 ,mr4 ,stephenson1 and several
 other gentlemen4 ,it was entitled1 ',a 
,society for preventing ,accidents in   
,coal-,mines2' and it immediately       
obtained the patronage of the ,bishop of
 ,durham1 the ,duke of ,northumberland1 
and other noblemen and gentlemen4  ,a   
very few days before the first meeting1 

twenty-seven persons had been killed in 
a colliery in which ,sir ,ralph         
,milbanke had an interest1 and he was   
called upon at the meeting to state the 
particulars of the accident4 ,at that   
time there was such little expectation  
that any means could be devised to      
prevent the occurrence of these         
explosions1 that the object of the      
gentlemen who convened the meeting1     
however humane in principle1 was        
considered by the persons present as    
chimerical and visionary4 ,the ,society1
 however1 amidst many difficulties and  
considerable discouragement1 and a      
perpetual harass by the offer of        
impracticable schemes from every        
quarter1 nevertheless persevered in     
their meetings1 and succeeded in        
establishing a communication and        
correspondence with other ,societies in 
different parts of the kingdom4#bg      
#bg ,it is unnecessary to enumerate the 
various schemes that   have been        
proposed to prevent accidents from      

fire-damp4 ,some   were unquestionably  
of value1 and might1 by their adoption1 
have   diminished the frequency of      
explosions2 others were visionary1   or 
wholly impracticable4 ,it was proposed1 
for instance1 to fill   the mine with an
 atmosphere of chlorine1 which by       
entering into   chemical union with the 
carburetted hydrogen1 might disarm it of
   its power4 ,dr4 ,murray1 in a paper  
published in the ,transactions   of the 
,royal ,society of ,edinburgh1 suggests 
the use of a lamp   that shall be       
supplied with air from the ground of the
 pit1 by   means of a long flexible     
tube1 upon the false assumption that    
the fire-damp alone occupies the higher 
parts of the mine4 ,mr4   ,w4 ,brandling
 also constructed a ,safe-lamp1 which1  
like that of   ,dr4 ,murray1 was fed by 
air introduced through a long flexible  
tube reaching to the floor of the mine4 
,in addition to which1 he   attached to 
the top of the lantern a pair of double 
bellows1 by   the aid of which he at the

 same time drew out the contaminated    
air from the interior of the lamp1 and  
sucked in1 through the   flexible tube1 
a fresh portion to supply its place4 ,to
 say   nothing of the inefficacy and    
inconvenience of the long tube1 the     
bellows possessed the additional        
objection of frequently puffing   out   
the light4    ,one of the most active   
and intelligent members of the ,society 
for preventing accidents in ,coal       
,mines1 ,dr4 ,clanny1 had for some      
time paid particular attention to the   
object in contemplation4   ,he first    
suggested the idea of an insulated lamp1
 of which an   account appeared in the  
,philosophical ,transactions for #ahac4 
,in #ahae1 he invented a steam          
safety-lamp1 constructed of the         
strongest tinned iron1 with thick flint 
glass in front4 ,in this   machine1 the 
air of the coal mine passes in a current
 through   a tube1 and mixing with the  
steam1 before it can arrive at the      
light1 burns steadily in the wick of the

 lamp alone4 ,this lamp   has the       
valuable property of remaining cool4 ,it
 has been much   used in the ,herrington
 ,mill pit1 the ,whitefield pit1 and the
   ,engine pit4  ,one of the projects   
offered was1 that electrical machines   
should be employed1 with ramifications  
to extend through all the departments of
 the collieries1 and which were to be   
excited in discharging their fluid in   
constant succession1 in order gradually 
to destroy the inflammable air4 ,many   
other suggestions were proposed1 the    
principal of which were formed with the 
intention of purifying the air of the   
pits by chemical processes1 or by       
forcing in large quantities of          
atmospheric air1 through pipes and      
tunnels1 c4  ,the ,society1 although it 
received some distinguished patronage1  
was not furnished with means            
sufficiently ample for exciting         
emulation by premiums1 or even for      
defraying the expenses of intelligent   
artisans2 and it unfortunately lost a   

considerable portion of its funds by the
 failure of the ,wear ,bank4  ,amongst  
the applications which more particularly
 excited the attention of the ,society1 
was that of ,mr4 ,ryan of ,donegal1 who 
objected to the principle upon which the
 working of collieries was carried on4  
,he conceived that they should be       
originally constructed at the           
commencement of the working1 with a view
 to admit the escape of the hydrogen gas
 to the highest parts of the colliery4  
,he proposed to ventilate even the      
foulest pits1 and the attention of the  
gentlemen proprietors1 or occupiers of  
collieries1 in the neighbourhood of     
,newcastle1 was called upon at public   
meetings1 and an enquiry set on foot    
with respect to the validity of his     
pretensions4 ,some gentlemen were even  
deputed to proceed into ,staffordshire  
to ascertain the nature and extent of   
his services in that county1 where he   
had been for some time employed4 ,an    
offer was also made to place under his  

management the ,hecton pit1 at ,hepburn1
 which was particularly foul2 but a     
difference of opinion having arisen as  
to the efficacy of his plan1 he did not 
consider himself sufficiently encouraged
 to proceed1 and he left the country    
dissatisfied4 ,he afterwards received   
the gold medal from the ,society for    
promoting the ,arts and ,sciences4  ,the
 ,society having as yet effected but    
little towards the great object of their
 deliberations1 the chairman of the     
committee1 ,dr4 ,gray1 who was generally
 acquainted with ,sir ,humphry ,davy1   
judged it expedient to direct his       
attention to a subject1 upon which1 of  
all men of science1 he appeared to be   
the best calculated to bring his        
extensive stores of chemical knowledge  
to a practical bearing4  ,as the life of
 this valuable man is now closed1 and as
 every incident in it is interesting as 
connected with the advancement of       
philosophical knowledge1 and especially 
of chemical discoveries important to the

 welfare of mankind1 it may be worth    
while to enter into a review of the     
proceedings which were adopted upon this
 occasion1 in order to trace the        
progress of the discoveries which were  
made1 and the methods by which he       
arrived at his conclusions4  ,dr4 ,gray1
 the chairman of the committee1 having  
addressed to him a letter with a view to
 engage him in an investigation so      
important to society1 received from him 
the following answer4       ,,to ,,the  
,,reverend ,,dr4 ,,gray4      ,,sir1    
,august #c1 #ahae4     ,i had the honour
 of receiving the letter which you      
addressed to    me in ,london1 at this  
place1 and ,i am much obliged to you for
    calling my attention to so important
 a subject4     ,it will give me great  
satisfaction if my chemical knowledge   
can    be of any use in an enquiry so   
interesting to humanity1 and ,i    beg  
you will assure the ,committee of my    
readiness to co-operate    with them in 
any experiments or investigations on the

 subject4     ,if you think my visiting 
the mines can be of any use1 ,i will    
cheerfully do so4     ,there appears to 
me to be several modes of destroying the
    fire-damp without danger2 but the   
difficulty is to ascertain    when it is
 present1 without introducing lights    
which may    inflame it4 ,i have thought
 of two species of lights which    have 
no power of inflaming the gas which is  
the cause of the    fire-damp1 but ,i   
have not here the means of ascertaining 
whether they will be sufficiently       
luminous to enable the    workmen to    
carry on their business4 ,they can be   
easily    procured1 and at a cheaper    
rate than candles4     ,i do not        
recollect any thing of ,mr4 ,ryan's     
plan3 it is possible    that it has been
 mentioned to me in general             
conversation1 and    that ,i have       
forgotten it4 ,if it has been           
communicated to me in    any other way1 
it has made no impression on my memory4 
,i shall be here for ten days longer1   

and on my return ,south1    will visit  
any place you will be kind enough to    
point out to    me1 where ,i may be able
 to acquire information on the subject  
of the coal gas4     ,should the ,bishop
 of ,durham be at ,auckland1 ,i shall   
pay my    respects to his ,lordship on  
my return4     ,i have the honour to be1
 dear ,sir1 with much respect1 your     
obedient humble servant1      ,h4       
,,davy4 ,at ,lord ,somerville's1 near   
,melrose1 ,n4 ,b4      ,,to ,,the       
,,same4      ,,sir1   ,melrose1 ,august 
#ah1 #ahae4     ,i received your letter1
 which followed me to the ,moors1 where 
,i    have been shooting with ,lord     
,somerville4 ,i should have replied     
to it before this time1 but we were in a
 part of the ,highlands    where there  
was no post4 ,i am very grateful to you 
for the    obliging invitation it       
contains4     ,i propose to leave the   
,tweed side on ,tuesday or ,wednesday1  
so    that ,i shall be at ,newcastle    
either on ,wednesday or ,thursday4      

,if you will have the kindness to inform
 me by a letter1    addressed at the    
,post ,office1 where ,i can find the    
gentleman    you mention1 ,i will call  
upon him1 and do any thing in my power  
to assist the investigation in that     
neighbourhood4     ,i regret that ,i    
cannot say positively whether ,i shall  
be at    ,newcastle on ,wednesday or    
,thursday2 for ,i have some business at 
,kelso which may detain me for a night1 
or it may be finished    immediately4   
,i am travelling as a bachelor1 and will
 do myself the honour of    paying my   
respects to you at ,bishop-,wearmouth   
towards the end    of the week4      ,i 
am1 ,sir1 with much respect1     ,your  
obedient humble servant1     ,h4 ,,davy4
  ,the gentleman alluded to in the      
preceding letter1 and to whom ,dr4 ,gray
 wished ,sir ,h4 ,davy to apply1 was    
,mr4 ,buddle1 a person whose extensive  
practical knowledge has justly entitled 
him to be considered as the highest     
authority on all subjects connected with

 the art of mining1 and who has         
conferred inestimable benefits on the   
mining interests by the introduction of 
successful methods of ventilation4 ,the 
account of his interview with ,sir ,h4  
,davy is communicated in the following  
letter4      ,,mr4 ,,buddle ,,to ,,dr4  
,,gray4      ,wall's-end ,colliery1     
,august #bd1 #ahae4      ,,sir1         
,permit me to offer my best             
acknowledgments for the opportunity     
which your attention to the cause of    
humanity has afforded me    of being    
introduced to ,sir ,humphry ,davy4      
,i was this morning favoured with a call
 from him1 and he    was accompanied by 
the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,hodgson4 ,he made       
particular    enquiries into the nature 
of the danger arising from the          
discharge of the inflammable gas in our 
mines4 ,i shall supply    him with a    
quantity of the gas to analyze2 and he  
has given me    reason to expect that a 
substitute may be found for the steel   
mill1 which will not fire the gas4 ,he  

seems also to think it    possible to   
generate a gas1 at a moderate expense1  
which1 by    mixing with the atmospheric
 current1 will so far neutralize the    
inflammable air1 as to prevent it firing
 at the candles of the    workmen4      
,if he should be so fortunate as to     
succeed in either the one or    the     
other of these points1 he will render   
the most essential    benefit to the    
mining interest of this country1 and to 
the    cause of humanity in particular4 
,i have little doubt but it will be     
gratifying to you to be    informed1    
that progress is making towards the     
establishment of    a permanent fund for
 the relief of sufferers by accident and
    sickness in the collieries of this  
district4     ,i have the pleasure to   
remain1 with great respect1 ,sir1 your  
most obedient1 humble servant1          
,john ,buddle4   ,sir ,h4 ,davy on his  
return to ,london1 having been supplied 
by ,mr4 ,buddle with various specimens  
of fire-damp1 proceeded1 in the first   

instance1 to submit to a minute chemical
 examination the substance with which he
 had to contend4  ,in less than a       
fortnight1 he informed ,dr4 ,gray by    
letter1 that he had discovered some new 
and unexpected properties in the gas1   
which had led to no less than four      
different plans for lighting the mines  
with safety4      ,,to ,,the ,,reverend 
,,dr4 ,,gray4      ,royal ,institution1 
,oct4 #cj4      ,,my ,,dear ,,sir1      
,as it was the consequence of your      
invitation that ,i endeavoured    to    
investigate the nature of the fire-damp1
 ,i owe to you the    first notice of   
the progress of my experiments4     ,my 
results have been successful far beyond 
my expectations4    ,i shall enclose a  
little sketch of my views on the        
subject2    and ,i hope in a few days to
 be able to send a paper with the       
apparatus for the committee4     ,i     
trust the ,safe lamp will answer all the
 objects of the    collier4     ,i      
consider this at present as a private   

communication4 ,i wish    you to examine
 the lamps ,i have had constructed1     
before you    give any account of my    
labours to the committee4     ,i have   
never received so much pleasure from the
 result of any    of my chemical        
labours2 for ,i trust the cause of      
humanity will    gain something by it4  
,i beg of you to present my best        
respects to ,mrs4 ,gray1 and to         
remember me to your son4     ,i am1 my  
dear ,sir1 with many thanks for your    
hospitality and    kindness when ,i was 
at ,sunderland1 your obliged servant1   
,h4 ,,davy4      ,,to ,,the ,,same4     
,london1 ,october #ca1 #ahae4      ,,my 
,,dear ,,sir1     ,i sent yesterday a   
sketch of my results on the fire-damp4  
,we have lately heard so much of        
,east#bh ,shields1 that by a    strange 
accident ,i confounded it with          
,bishop-,wearmouth1 and    addressed    
your letter to ,east ,shields4     ,i   
could not find any body to frank it1 and
 you will find it a    heavy packet2    

however1 ,i could not lose a moment in  
giving you    an account of results     
which ,i hope may be useful to humanity4
     ,if my letter has not reached you1 
it will be found at the ,post           
,office1 ,east ,shields4     ,with      
respects to ,mrs4 ,gray1 ,i am1 my dear 
,sir1 very sincerely    yours1      ,h4 
,,davy4    #bh ,quere--,south ,shields4 
,the sketch alluded to in the foregoing 
letter1 has been kindly placed in my    
hands by the ,bishop of ,bristol2 it    
possesses considerable interest as an   
original document1 displaying his       
earliest views1 and tending to          
illustrate the history of their         
progress4     ,the fire-damp ,i find1 by
 chemical analysis1 to be 7as it    has 
been always supposed7 a hydro-carbonate4
 ,it is a chemical    combination of    
hydrogen gas and carbon1 in the         
proportion of #d by    weight of        
hydrogen gas1 and #aa-a_/b of charcoal4 
,i find it will not explode1 if mixed   
with less than six times1    or more    

than fourteen times its volume of       
atmospheric air4 ,air1    when rendered 
impure by the combustion of a candle1   
but in which    the candle will still   
burn1 will not explode the gas from the 
mines2 and when a lamp or candle is made
 to burn in a close vessel    having    
apertures only above and below1 an      
explosive mixture    of gas admitted    
merely enlarges the light1 and then     
gradually    extinguishes it without    
explosion4 ,again1--the gas mixed in any
    proportion with common air1 ,i have 
discovered1 will not explode    in a    
small tube1 the diameter of which is    
less than #a_/hth of an    inch1 or even
 a larger tube1 if there is a mechanical
 force urging    the gas through this   
tube4     ,explosive mixtures of this   
gas with air require much stronger heat 
for their explosion than mixtures of    
common inflammable gas4#bi    ,red-hot  
charcoal1 made so as not to flame1 if   
blown up by a    mixture of the mine gas
 and common air1 does not explode it1   

but    gives light in it2 and iron1 to  
cause the explosion of mixtures of      
this gas with air1 must be made         
white-hot4     ,the discovery of these  
curious and unexpected properties of the
    gas1 leads to several practical     
methods of lighting the mines    without
 any danger of explosion4     ,the first
 and simplest is what ,i shall call the 
,safe lamp1 in    which a candle or a   
lamp burns in a safe lantern which is   
air-tight    in the sides1 which has    
tubes below for admitting air1 a chamber
    above1 and a chimney for the foul   
air to pass through2 and this    is as  
portable as a common lantern1 and not   
much more expensive4    ,in this1 the   
light never burns in its full quantity  
of air1 and    therefore is more feeble 
than that of the common candle4     ,the
 second is the ,blowing lamp4 ,in this1 
the candle or lamp    burns in a close  
lantern1 having a tube below of small   
diameter    for admitting air1 which is 
thrown in by a small pair of bellows1   

and a tube above of the same diameter1  
furnished with a cup filled    with oil4
 ,this burns brighter than the simple   
safe lamp1 and is    extinguished by    
explosive mixtures of the fire-damp4 ,in
 this    apparatus the candle may be    
made to burn as bright as in the air2   
and supposing an explosion to be made in
 it1 it cannot reach to the    external 
air4     ,the third is the ,piston lamp1
 in which the candle is made    to burn 
in a small glass lantern furnished with 
a piston1 so    constructed as to admit 
of air being supplied and thrown into it
    without any communication between   
the burner and the external air3    this
 apparatus is not larger than the       
steel-mill1 but it is more    expensive 
than the other1 costing from twenty-two 
to twenty-four    shillings4     ,these 
lamps are all extinguished when the air 
becomes so polluted    with fire-damp as
 to be explosive4     ,there is a fourth
 lamp1 by means of which any blowers may
 be    examined in air in which         

respiration cannot be carried on3 that  
is1    the ,charcoal lamp4 ,this        
consists of a small iron cage on a      
stand1    containing small pieces of    
very well burnt charcoal blown up to    
a red heat4 ,this light will not inflame
 any mixtures of air with               
fire-damp4#cj     ,of these inventions1 
the ,safe lamp1 which is the simplest1  
is    likewise the one which affords the
 most perfect security1 and    requires 
no more care or attention than the      
common candle1 and    when the air in   
mines becomes improper for respiration1 
it is    extinguished1 and the workmen  
ought immediately to leave the place    
till a proper quantity of atmospheric   
air can be supplied by    ventilation4  
,i have made many experiments on these  
lamps with the genuine    fire-damp     
taken from a blower in the ,hepburn     
,colliery1 collected    under the       
inspection of ,mr4 ,dunn1 and sent to me
 by the ,reverend    ,mr4 ,hodgson4 ,my 
results have been always unequivocal4   

,i shall immediately send models of the 
different lamps to such of    the mines 
as are exposed to danger from explosion2
 and it will be    the highest          
gratification to me to have assisted by 
my efforts a    cause so interesting to 
humanity4    #bi ,olefiant gas1 when    
mixed with such proportions of common   
air as to render it explosive1 is fired 
both by charcoal and   iron heated to a 
dull-red heat4 ,gaseous oxide of carbon1
   which explodes when mixed with two   
parts of air1 is likewise   inflammable 
by red-hot iron1 and charcoal4 ,the case
 is the same   with sulphuretted        
hydrogen4    #cj ,in addition to these  
four lamps1 we learn from an ,appendix  
to his ,paper in the ,philosophical     
,transactions1 that in the   beginning  
of his enquiries1 he constructed a close
 lantern1 which   he called the         
,fire-valve lantern2 in which the candle
 or lamp   burnt with its full quantity 
of air1 admitted from an aperture       
below1 till the air began to be mixed   

with fire-damp1 when1 as   the fire-damp
 increased the flame1 a thermometrical  
spring at the   top of the lantern1 made
 of brass and steel1 riveted together1  
and in a curved form1 expanded1 moved a 
valve in the chimney1   diminished the  
circulation of air1 and extinguished the
 flame4 ,he   did not1 however1 pursue  
this invention1 after he had discovered 
the properties of the fire-damp1 on     
which his ,safety-lamp is   founded4    
,contrary to the wish expressed by ,sir 
,humphry ,davy1 the foregoing           
communication was inadvertently read at 
a public meeting of the ,coal-trade1    
which was held at ,newcastle on the #crd
 of ,november3 a circumstance which     
occasioned some embarrassment at the    
time1 but is satisfactorily explained in
 the following letter from ,sir         
,humphry4      ,,to ,,the ,,reverend    
,,dr4 ,,gray4      #bc1 ,grosvenor      
,street1 ,dec4 #ad1 #ahae4      ,,my    
,,dear ,,sir1     ,my communication to  
---- was1 like that ,i made to you1     

intended    to be private2 he has       
however written to me to apologize for  
having made it known at ,newcastle1     
stating1 that having seen a    notice of
 my results in the paper1 the motive1 as
 he conceived1    for withholding it was
 at an end1 as he considered my only    
reason for wishing to keep back my      
results from the public eye    was the  
conviction that they might be rendered  
more perfect1    and this ,i have now   
fully proved4     ,i trust ,i shall be  
able in a very few days to send you a   
model    of a lantern nearly as simple  
as a common glass lantern1 and    which 
cannot communicate explosion to the     
fire-damp4 ,i will    send another to   
,newcastle1 and ,i will likewise send   
you the    copy of my paper1 which you  
may reprint in any form you please2     
you will find my acknowledgments to you 
publicly stated4     ,my principles are 
these3 ,first1 a certain mixture of     
azote and carbonic acid prevents the    
explosion of the    fire-damp1 and this 

mixture is necessarily formed in the    
safe    lantern2--,secondly1 the        
fire-damp will not explode in tubes     
or feeders of a certain small diameter4 
,the ingress into1 and    egress of air 
from my lantern is through such tubes or
 feeders2    and therefore1 when an     
explosion is artificially made in the   
safe lantern1 it does not communicate to
 the external air4     ,i have made two 
or three lanterns of different forms4   
,experience must determine which will be
 the most convenient4     ,should there 
be a little delay in sending them1 it   
will be the    fault of the             
manufacturer4 ,it is impossible to      
conceive the    difficulty of getting   
any thing made in ,london which is not  
in    the common routine of business2   
and ,i should be very sorry to    send  
you any thing imperfectly executed4     
,with best respects to ,mrs4 ,gray1 ,i  
am1 my dear ,sir1      ,very sincerely  
your obliged servant1     ,h4 ,,davy4   
,the paper alluded to in the preceding  

letter1 entitled1 ,on the ,fire-damp of 
,coal ,mines1 and on methods of lighting
 the mine so as to prevent its          
explosion1 was read before the ,royal   
,society on the #ith of ,november1      
#ahae4  ,in this memoir he communicates 
the results of some chemical experiments
 upon the nature of the fire-damp1 and  
announces the existence of certain      
properties in that gas1 which had       
previously escaped observation1 and     
which leads to very simple methods of   
lighting the mines without danger4  ,he 
confirms the opinion of ,dr4 ,henry1 and
 other chemists1 as to the fire-damp    
being light carburetted hydrogen gas1   
and analogous to the inflammable gas of 
marshes2 but he found that the degree of
 its combustibility differed most       
materially from that of the other common
 inflammable gases1 which it is well    
known will explode by the contact of    
both red-hot iron and charcoal2 whereas 
well-burned charcoal1 ignited to the    
strongest red heat1 did not explode any 

mixture of the air and of the fire-damp2
 and a fire made of well-burned         
charcoal1 that is to say1 of charcoal   
that will burn without flame1 was       
actually blown up to whiteness by an    
explosive mixture containing the        
fire-damp without producing its         
inflammation4#ca ,an iron rod also1 at  
the highest degree of red heat1 and even
 at the common degree of white heat1 did
 not inflame explosive mixtures of the  
fire-damp2 but when in brilliant        
combustion1 it produced the effect4     
#ca ,whence he observes that1 if it be  
necessary to be present   in a part of  
the mine where the fire-damp is         
explosive1 for the   purpose of clearing
 the workings1 taking away pillars of   
coal1 or   other objects1 the workmen   
may be safely lighted by a fire made    
of charcoal1 which burns without flame4 
,he moreover found that the heat        
produced by the combustion of the       
fire-damp was much less than that       
occasioned by most other inflammable    

gases under similar circumstances2 and  
hence its explosion was accompanied with
 comparatively less expansion3 a        
circumstance of obvious importance in   
connection with the propagation of its  
flame4  ,numerous experiments were      
likewise instituted by him with a view  
to determine the proportions of air with
 which the fire-damp required to be     
mixed1 in order to produce an explosive 
atmosphere2 and he found the quantity   
necessary for that purpose to be very   
considerable2 even when mixed with three
 or nearly four times its bulk of air1  
it burnt quietly in the atmosphere1 and 
extinguished a taper4 ,when mixed with  
between five and six times its volume of
 air1 it exploded freely4 ,the mixture  
which seemed to possess the greatest    
explosive power was that of seven or    
eight parts of air to one of gas4  ,on  
adding azote and carbonic acid in       
different proportions to explosive      
mixtures of fire-damp1 it was observed  
that1 even in very small quantities1    

these gases diminished the velocity of  
the inflammation1 or altogether         
destroyed it4 ,in this stage of the     
enquiry1 the important fact was         
discovered1 that explosive mixtures     
could not be fired in metallic tubes of 
certain lengths and diameters4#cb ,in   
exploding1 for instance1 a mixture of   
one part of gas from the distillation of
 coal1 and eight parts of air1 in a tube
 of a quarter of an inch in diameter and
 ,a foot long1 more than a second was   
required before the flame reached from  
one end of the tube to the other2 and   
not any mixture could be made to explode
 in a glass tube of one-seventh of an   
inch in diameter4 ,in pursuing these    
experiments1 he found that1 by          
diminishing its diameter1 he might in   
the same ratio shorten the tube without 
danger2 and that the same principle of  
security was obtained by diminishing the
 length and increasing the number of the
 tubes1 so that a great number of small 
apertures would not pass explosion when 

their depth was equal to their diameter4
 ,this fact led him to trials upon      
sieves made of wire-gauze1 or metallic  
plates perforated with numerous small   
holes1 and he found that it was         
impossible to pass explosions through   
them4#cc    #cb ,mr4 ,tennant had1 some 
years before1 observed that mixtures    
of the gas1 from the distillation of    
coal1 and air1 would not   explode in   
very small tubes4 ,davy1 however1 was   
not aware of this   at the time of his  
researches4    #cc ,the apertures in the
 gauze should not be more than          
one-twentieth of an inch square4 ,as the
 fire-damp is not inflamed   by ignited 
wire1 the thickness of the wire is not  
of importance2   but wire from          
one-fortieth to one-sixtieth of an inch 
in diameter   is the most convenient4   
,in reasoning upon these several        
phenomena1 it occurred to him1 that as a
 high temperature was required for the  
inflammation of the fire-damp1 and as it
 produced in burning1 comparatively1 a  

small degree of heat1 the effect of     
carbonic acid and azote1 as well as that
 of the surfaces of small tubes1 in     
preventing its explosion1 depended upon 
their cooling powers2 that is to say1   
upon their lowering the temperature of  
the exploding mixture to such a degree1 
that it was no longer sufficient for its
 continuous inflammation4 ,in support of
 this theory1 he ascertained that       
metallic tubes resisted the passage of  
the flame more powerfully than glass    
tubes of similar lengths and diameters1 
metal being the better conductor of     
heat2 and that carbonic acid was more   
effective than azote in depriving the   
fire-damp of its explosive power1 in    
consequence1 as he considered1 of its   
greater capacity for heat1 and likewise 
of a higher conducting power connected  
with its greater density4  ,in this     
short statement1 the reader is presented
 with the whole theory and operation of 
the ,safety-lamp1 which is nothing more 
than an apparatus by which the          

inflammable air1 upon exploding in its  
interior1 cannot pass out without being 
so far cooled1 as to deprive it of the  
power of communicating inflammation to  
the surrounding atmosphere4 ,the        
principle having been once discovered1  
it was easy to adopt and multiply       
practical applications of it4  ,from the
 result of these researches1 it became  
at once evident1 that to light mines    
infested with fire-damp1 with perfect   
security1 it was only necessary to use  
an air-tight lantern1 supplied with air 
from tubes of small diameter1 through   
which explosions cannot pass1 and with a
 chimney1 on a similar principle1 at the
 upper part1 to carry off the foul air4 
,a common lantern1 to be adapted to the 
purpose1 merely required to be made     
air-tight in the door and sides1 and to 
be furnished with the chimney1 and the  
system of safety apertures below and    
above the flame of the lamp4 ,such1 in  
fact1 was ,davy's first ,safety-lamp2   
and having afterwards varied the        

arrangement of the tubes in different   
ways1 he at length exchanged them for   
canals1 which consisted of close        
concentric hollow metallic cylinders of 
different diameter1 so placed together  
as to form circular canals of the       
diameter of from one-twenty-fifth to one
 fortieth of an inch2 and of an inch and
 seven-tenths in length2 by which air is
 admitted in much larger quantities than
 by the small tubes1 and they are       
moreover much superior to the latter in 
practical application4 ,he also found1  
that longitudinal air-canals of metal   
might be employed with the same security
 as circular canals2 and that a few     
pieces of tin plate1 soldered together  
with wires to regulate the diameter of  
the canal1 answered the purpose of the  
feeder or safe chimney1 as well as drawn
 cylinders of brass4  ,the subjoined    
explanatory sketches will assist in     
rendering the scheme intelligible1 and  
obviate the possibility of any          
misconception of the subject4           

,illustration  ,,fig4 #a4 represents the
 first ,safe lantern1 with its          
air-feeder and chimney furnished with   
safety metallic canals4 ,the sides are  
of horn or glass1 made air-tight by     
putty or cement4 ,a4 is the lamp through
 which the circular air-feeding canals  
pass4 ,b4 is the chimney containing four
 such canals2 above it is a hollow      
cylinder1 with a cap to prevent dust    
from passing into the chimney4 ,c4 is   
the hole for admitting oil4 ,f4 is the  
rim round the bottom of the lantern1 to 
enable it to bear motion4               
,illustration  ,,fig4 #b4 exhibits an   
enlarged view of the safety concentric  
canals1 which1 if one-twenty-fifth of an
 inch in diameter1 must not be less than
 two inches in exterior circumference1  
and one-seventh of an inch high4        
,illustration  ,,fig4 #c4 exhibits the  
longitudinal safety canals4             
,illustration  ,,fig4 #d4 represents a  
,safety-lamp having a glass chimney1    
covered with tin-plate1 and the safety  

apertures in a cylinder with a covering 
above3 the lower part is the same as in 
the lantern4    ,illustration  ,,fig4   
#e4 ,a glass tube furnished with flame  
sieves1 in which a common candle may be 
burnt4 ,a ,a4 the flame sieves4 ,b4 a   
little plate of metal to prevent the    
upper flame sieve from being acted on by
 the current of hot air4  ,during the   
short visit of ,sir ,humphry ,davy at   
,bishop ,wearmouth1 he saw the lamp     
which ,dr4 ,clanny was then engaged in  
perfecting4 ,it has been already        
observed1 that it was secured against   
the effects of fire-damp by being       
supplied with atmospheric air previously
 conveyed through water4#cd ,the        
machinery of this lamp was far too      
cumbrous to be of general use2 but its  
inventor was justly commended by ,davy  
for his ingenuity and perseverance4 ,it 
unfortunately happened that1 in         
consequence of some erroneous           
representations made to ,dr4 ,clanny1 he
 received the impression that ,sir      

,humphry had not been disposed to treat 
his invention with sufficient respect1  
nor had given him the credit to which he
 was so justly entitled4 ,this          
suspicion1 which had been long          
industriously kept alive1 was however   
ultimately removed4    #cd ,m4 de       
,humboldt conceived and executed the    
plan of a lamp in   #agif1 for giving a 
safe light in mines1 upon a similar     
principle   of entire insulation from   
the air4--,journal des ,mines1 t4 viii4 
p4 #hci4  ,the following letter refers  
to this unfortunate circumstance4 ,i    
have adverted to it in these memoirs1   
for the purpose of showing what an      
unfair spirit of rivalry1 and what a    
succession of petty jealousies were     
excited by those generous and           
disinterested labours of ,davy1 which   
ought to have called forth nothing but  
the most lively expressions of gratitude
 for his services1 and admiration of his
 genius4      ,,to ,,the ,,reverend     
,,dr4 ,,gray4      #bc1 ,grosvenor      

,street1 ,december #ac4      ,,my ,,dear
 ,,sir1     ,a ,friend of mine has sent 
me a newspaper--the ,tyne ,mercury1     
containing a very foolish libel upon me4
 ,it states1 amongst    other things1   
that ,i did not mention ,dr4 ,clanny1 or
 his lamp1    in my late paper read     
before the ,royal ,society2 whereas ,i  
mentioned his lamp as a very ingenious  
contrivance1 and named    him amongst   
the gentlemen who obligingly furnished  
me with    information upon the subject4
     ,it will be needless for me to     
point out to you that my lamp    has no 
one principle in common with that of    
,dr4 ,clanny4 ,he    forces in his air  
through water by bellows4 ,in mine1 the 
air    passes through safety canals     
without any mechanical assistance4      
,mine is a common lantern made close1   
and furnished with safety    canals4    
,i hope ,i shall not hear that ,dr4     
,clanny has in any way    authorized or 
promoted so improper a statement as that
 in the    ,tyne ,mercury2 indeed1 ,i do

 not think it possible4     ,i have at  
last obtained a complete model of my    
lamp1 after many    disappointments from
 the instrument-maker4 ,i hope in a few 
days    to send you a ,safe lantern1 as 
portable as a common-made one1    and   
the perfect security of which is        
demonstrable4      ,i am1 my dear ,sir1 
your sincerely obliged1     ,h4 ,,davy4 
,,to ,,the ,,same4      ,grosvenor      
,street1 ,december #ae4      ,,my ,,dear
 ,,sir1     ,i shall inclose the first  
sheet of my paper1 and shall be glad    
to preface it by some observations when 
you reprint it4     ,i shall forward my 
lanterns and lamps to you in a few days4
    ,they are absolutely safe2 and if   
the miners have any more    explosions  
from their light1 it will be their own  
fault4     ,you will find1 when you see 
my construction1 that the    principles 
as well as the execution are entirely   
new4     ,you will find in the second   
sheet of my paper1 which ,i hope to     
be able to send to-morrow1 the          

principles of security1 and    its      
limits unfolded4     ,i am1 my dear     
,sir1 very sincerely yours1      ,h4    
,,davy4      ,,to ,,the ,,same4         
,london1 ,january #a1 #ahaf4      ,,my  
,,dear ,,sir1     ,i fear you will have 
accused me of procrastination in        
delaying    to send you my papers and my
 lamps4     ,the papers read to the     
,royal ,society have been printed2 but  
during the period that has elapsed since
 ,i last wrote to you1    ,i have made a
 discovery much more important than     
those which ,i    have already had the  
honour of communicating to you4     ,i  
have made very simple and economical    
lanterns1 and candle    guards1 which   
are not only absolutely safe1 but which 
give    light by means of the fire-damp1
 and which1 while they disarm    this   
destructive agent1 make it useful to the
 miner4     ,this discovery is a        
consequence of that which ,i            
communicated    to you in my last letter
 on the wire sieves4 ,i hope to be able 

to send you on ,wednesday the printed   
account of my results1    together with 
models of lamps which will burn and     
consume all    explosive mixtures of the
 fire-damp4     ,i have at last finished
 my enquiries with perfect satisfaction 
to myself1 and ,i feel highly obliged to
 you for having called    my attention  
to a subject where my labours will1 ,i  
hope1 be of    some use4     ,i am1 my  
dear ,sir1 very sincerely yours1        
,h4 ,,davy4   ,it is impossible to      
approach the consideration of this last1
 the most signal and splendid of his    
triumphs1 without feelings of the       
highest satisfaction4 ,he had already1  
as we have seen1 disarmed the fire-damp 
of its terrors1 it only remained for him
 to enlist it into his service4 ,the    
simple means by which this was effected 
are as interesting as their results are 
important4#ce    #ce ,an ,account of an 
,invention for giving ,light in         
explosive   mixtures of ,fire-damp in   
,coal ,mines1 by consuming the          

,fire-damp4   ,read before the ,royal   
,society1 ,jan4 #aa1 #ahaf4  ,davy had  
previously arrived at the fact1 that    
wire-gauze might be substituted as      
air-feeders to the lamp1 in the place of
 his tubes or safety canals2 but not    
until after the lapse of several weeks1 
did the happy idea of constructing the  
lamp entirely of wire-gauze occur to    
him3--the history of this elaborate     
enquiry affords a striking proof of the 
inability of the human mind to apprehend
 simplicities1 without a process of     
complication which works as the         
grappling machinery of truth4  ,his     
original lamp with tubes or canals1 as  
already described1 was perfectly safe in
 the most explosive atmosphere1 but its 
light was necessarily extinguished by   
it2 whereas in the wire-gauze cage1 the 
fire-damp itself continues to burn1 and 
thus to afford to the miner a useful    
light1 while he is equally secured from 
the fatal effects of explosion4         
,illustration  ,all then required for   

his guidance and protection in the      
darkness of the mine1 are candles or    
lamps surrounded by small wire cages1   
which will at once supply air to the    
flame1 and light to the miner2 they may 
be obtained for a few pence1 and be     
variously modified as circumstances may 
render necessary4  ,the reader is here  
presented with a sketch of the gauze    
instrument1 in its first and simplest   
form4 ,the original lamp is preserved in
 the laboratory of the ,royal           
,institution4  ,nothing now remained but
 to ascertain the degree of fineness    
which the wire-gauze ought to possess1  
in order to form a secure barrier       
against the passage of flame4 ,for this 
purpose1 ,davy placed his lighted lamps 
in a glass receiver1 through which there
 was a current of atmospherical air1 and
 by means of a gasometer filled with    
coal gas1 he made the current of air    
which passed into the lamp more or less 
explosive1 and caused it to change      
rapidly or slowly at pleasure1 so as to 

produce all possible varieties of       
inflammable and explosive mixtures2 and 
he found that iron wire-gauze composed  
of wires from one-fortieth to           
one-sixtieth of an inch in diameter1 and
 containing twenty-eight wires1 or seven
 hundred and eighty-four apertures to   
the inch1 was safe under all            
circumstances in atmospheres of this    
kind2 and he consequently employed that 
material in guarding lamps for the coal 
mines1 where1 in ,january #ahaf1 they   
were immediately adopted1 and have long 
been in general use4  ,observations upon
 them in their working state1 and upon  
the circumstances to which they are     
exposed1 have led to a few improvements 
or alterations1 merely connected with   
the modes of increasing light or        
diminishing heat1 which were obvious    
from the original construction4         
,illustration  ,the annexed woodcut     
represents the lamp which is in present 
use4 ,a is a cylinder of wire-gauze1    
with a double top1 securely and         

carefully fastened1 by doubling over1 to
 the brass rim ,b1 which screws on to   
the lamp ,c4 ,the whole is protected by 
strong iron supports ,d1 to which a ring
 is affixed for the convenience of      
carrying it4  ,in a paper read before   
the ,royal ,society1 on the #bcrd of    
,january #ahag1 entitled1 ,some new     
,experiments and ,observations on the   
,combustion of ,gaseous ,mixtures1 with 
an ,account of a method of preserving a 
continued ,light in mixtures of         
inflammable ,gases and ,air without     
,flame1 ,sir ,h4 ,davy announces the    
application of a principle which he had 
discovered in the progress of his       
researches for increasing the utility of
 the ,safety-lamp1 and which1 a century 
ago1 would have unquestionably exposed  
its author to the charge of witchcraft4 
,having ascertained that the temperature
 of flame is infinitely higher than that
 necessary for the ignition of solid    
bodies1 it appeared to him probable     
that1 in certain combinations of gaseous

 bodies1 although the increase of       
temperature might not be sufficient to  
render the gaseous matters themselves   
luminous1 they might nevertheless be    
adequate to ignite solid matters exposed
 to them4 ,during his experiments on    
this subject1 he was led to the         
discovery of the curious phenomenon of  
slow combustion without flame4 ,he      
observes1 that there cannot be a better 
mode of illustrating the fact1 than by  
an experiment on the vapour of ether or 
of alcohol4 ,let a few coils of wire of 
platinum of the one-sixtieth or         
one-seventieth of an inch be heated by a
 hot poker or candle1 and let it be     
brought into the glass2 it will         
presently become glowing1 almost white  
hot1 and will continue so1 as long as a 
sufficient quantity of vapour and of air
 remain in the glass4#cf    #cf ,this   
principle has been applied for          
constructing what has   been termed the 
,aphlogistic ,lamp1 which is formed by  
placing   a small coil of platinum wire 

round the wick of a common spirit       
lamp4 ,when the lamp1 after being       
lighted for a few moments1   is blown   
out1 the platinum wire continues to glow
 for several   hours1 as long as there  
is a supply of spirit of wine1 and to   
give light enough to read by2 and       
sometimes the heat produced   is        
sufficient to rekindle the lamp         
spontaneously4 ,the same   phenomena are
 produced by the vapour of camphor2 and 
an aromatic   fumigating lamp has lately
 been advertised for sale1 which is no  
other than the contrivance above        
described2 and it is evident   that1 if 
the spirit be impregnated with fragrant 
principles1 an   aromatic vinegar will  
be developed during its slow combustion1
   and diffused in fumes through the    
apartment4  ,this experiment on the slow
 combustion of ether is accompanied with
 the formation of a peculiar acrid and  
volatile substance possessed of acid    
properties1 which has been particularly 
examined by ,mr4 ,daniell1 who1 having  

at first regarded it as a new acid1     
proposed for it the name of ,lampic     
acid1 in allusion to the researches     
which led to its discovery2 he has1     
however1 since ascertained that its     
acidity is owing to the acetic acid1    
which is combined with some compound of 
carbon and hydrogen1 different both from
 ether and alcohol4  ,the phenomena of  
slow combustion1 as exhibited in certain
 states of the mine1 by the             
,safety-lamp1 are highly curious and    
interesting4  ,by suspending some coils 
of fine wire of platinum#cg above the   
wick of his lamp1 the miner will be     
supplied with light in mixtures of      
fire-damp no longer explosive2 for      
should his flame be extinguished by the 
quantity of fire-damp1 the little coil  
of platinum will begin to glow with a   
light sufficiently bright to guide him  
in what would otherwise be impenetrable 
darkness1 and to lead him into a purer  
atmosphere1 when the heat thus increased
 will very frequently be sufficient to  

rekindle his lamp6    #cg ,sir ,humphry 
,davy attempted to produce the phenomena
 with   various other metals1 but he    
only succeeded with platinum and        
palladium2 these bodies have low        
conducting powers1 and small            
capacities for heat1 in comparison with 
other metals1 which seem   to be the    
causes of their producing1 continuing1  
and rendering   sensible1 these slow    
combustions4  ,in this case it will be  
readily perceived1 that the combustion  
of the fire-damp is continued so slowly1
 and at so low a temperature1 as not to 
be adequate to that ignition of gaseous 
matter which constitutes flame1 although
 it excites a temperature sufficient to 
render platinum wire luminous4  ,sir    
,humphry ,davy observes1 that there     
never can be any danger with respect to 
respiration1 whenever the wire continues
 ignited2 for even this phenomenon      
ceases when the foul air forms about    
two-fifths of the volume of the         
atmosphere4  ,the experiment1 as        

originally performed by the illustrious 
chemist1 is so interesting and          
instructive1 that ,i shall here relate  
it in his own words4  ,i introduced into
 a wire-gauze ,safe lamp a small cage   
made of fine wire of platinum of        
one-seventieth of an inch in thickness1 
and fixed it by means of a thick wire of
 the same metal about two inches above  
the wick which was lighted4 ,i placed   
the whole apparatus in a large receiver1
 in which1 by means of a gas-holder1 the
 air could be contaminated to any extent
 with coal gas4 ,as soon as there was a 
slight admixture of coal gas1 the       
platinum became ignited2 the ignition   
continued to increase till the flame of 
the wick was extinguished1 and till the 
whole cylinder became filled with flame2
 it then diminished4 ,when the quantity 
of coal gas was increased1 so as to     
extinguish the flame1 at the moment of  
the extinction the cage of platinum     
became white hot1 and presented a most  
brilliant light4 ,by increasing the     

quantity of the coal gas still farther1 
the ignition of the platinum became less
 vivid3 when its light was barely       
sensible1 small quantities of air were  
admitted1 its heat speedily increased2  
and by regulating the admission of coal 
gas and air1 it again became white hot1 
and soon after lighted the flame in the 
cylinder1 which as usual1 by the        
addition of more atmospherical air1     
rekindled the flame of the wick4  ,i    
have thus related1 somewhat in detail1  
the history of a discovery1 which1      
whether considered in relation to its   
scientific importance1 or to its great  
practical value1 must be regarded as one
 of the most splendid triumphs of human 
genius4 ,it was the fruit of elaborate  
experiment and close induction2 chance1 
or accident1 which comes in for so large
 a share of the credit of human         
invention1 has no claims to prefer upon 
this occasion2 step by step1 may he be  
followed throughout the whole progress  
of his research1 and so obviously does  

the discovery of each new fact spring   
from those that preceded it1 that we    
never for a moment lose sight of our    
philosopher1 but keep pace with him     
during the whole of his curious enquiry4
  ,he commenced1 as we have seen1 with  
ascertaining the degree of              
combustibility of the fire-damp1 and the
 limits in which the proportions of     
atmospheric air and carburetted hydrogen
 can be combined1 so as to afford an    
explosive mixture4 ,he was then led to  
examine the effects of the admixture of 
azote and carbonic acid gas2 and the    
result of those experiments furnished   
him with the basis of his first plan of 
security4 ,his next step was to enquire 
whether explosions of gas would pass    
through tubes2 and on finding that this 
did not happen1 if the tubes were of    
certain lengths and diameters1 he       
proceeded to examine the limits of such 
conditions1 and by shortening the tubes1
 diminishing their diameters1 and       
multiplying their number1 he at length  

arrived at the conclusion1 that a simple
 tissue of wire-gauze afforded all the  
means of perfect security2 and he       
constructed a lamp1 which has been truly
 declared to be as marvellous in its    
operation1 as the storied lamp of       
,aladdin1 realizing its fabled powers of
 conducting in safety1 through fiends of
 combustion1 to the hidden treasures of 
the earth4 ,we behold a power which1 in 
its effects1 seemed to emulate the      
violence of the volcano and the         
earthquake1 at once restrained by an    
almost invisible and impalpable barrier 
of network--we behold1 as it were1 the  
dmon of fire taken captive by ,science1 
and ministering to the convenience of   
the miner1 while harmlessly fluttering  
in an iron cage4  ,and yet1 wonderful as
 the phenomenon may appear1 his         
experiments and reasonings have         
demonstrated1 that the interruption of  
flame by solid tissues permeable to     
light and air1 depends upon no recondite
 or mysterious cause1 but simply upon   

their cooling powers1 which must always 
be proportional to the smallness of the 
mesh1 and the mass of the metal4  ,when 
it is remembered that the security thus 
conferred upon the labouring community1 
is not merely the privilege of the age  
in which the discovery was effected1 but
 must be extended to future times1 and  
continue to preserve human life as long 
as coal is dug from our mines1 can there
 be found in the whole compass of art or
 science1 an invention more useful and  
glorious8  ,the wire-gauze lamp has now 
been several years extensively used in  
the mines1 and the most satisfactory and
 unequivocal testimonies have been      
published of the complete security which
 it affords4 ,they have amongst the     
miners obtained the name of ,davys2 and 
such is the confidence of the work men  
in their efficacy1 that by their aid    
they enter the most explosive           
atmospheres1 and explore the most remote
 caverns1 without the least dread of    
their old enemy the fire-damp4  ,into   

the mines of foreign countries the      
,safety-lamp has been introduced with   
similar success2 and the illustrious    
discoverer has been repeatedly gratified
 by accounts of the enthusiasm with     
which his invention has been adopted in 
various parts of ,europe4#ch    #ch ,a  
pamphlet appeared at ,mons1 in the year 
#ahah1 on the   explosions that occur in
 coal mines1 and on the means of        
preventing them by ,davy's ,safety-lamp4
 ,it was published under   the direction
 of the ,chamber of ,commerce and       
,manufactures of   ,mons1 accompanied by
 notes1 and by the results of a series  
of   experiments that had been conducted
 by ,m4 ,gossart1 ,president   of the   
,chamber4 ,the province of ,hainault is 
said to be richer   in coal mines than  
any other part of the ,continent of     
,europe1   and to have no less than one 
hundred thousand persons employed   in  
the working them4 ,the same kind of     
dangerous accidents   occurred in these 
mines as in those of the ,north of      

,england1   and various expedients had  
been adopted for their prevention1      
which1 however1 availed but little in   
obviating them4 ,all the   precautions1 
observe the reporters1 which had been   
hitherto   known or practised1 had not  
been able to preserve the unfortunate   
miners from the terrible effects of     
explosion4 ,it is therefore an          
inappreciable benefit which we confer by
 making known the equally   simple and  
infallible method of preventing these   
accidents1 which   has been discovered  
by the celebrated ,humphry ,davy4    ,m4
 ,gossart gives an ample and accurate   
detail of the properties   of the       
explosive gas1 and confirms the truth of
 ,davy's   experiments1 by which the    
high temperature necessary for its      
inflammation1 and the consequent means  
of preventing it1 by   reducing that    
temperature1 as effected during its     
passage through   wire-gauze1 are       
clearly demonstrated4    ,the lamp      
appears from this report to have been as

 useful in the   mines of ,flanders as  
in those of ,england4 ,the ,pamphlet is 
a   valuable document1 inasmuch as it   
affords an independent proof of   the   
security of the instrument1 and displays
 the high sense of   obligation which   
foreign nations entertain to ,sir       
,humphry ,davy   for his invention4     
,nor is the utility of this invention   
limited to the operations of mining4 ,in
 gas manufactories1 spirit              
warehouses1#ci or druggists'            
laboratories1 and in various other      
situations1 where the existence of an   
explosive atmosphere#dj may expose      
persons to danger1 the ,safety-lamp may 
be advantageously used2 and as science  
proceeds in multiplying the resources of
 art1 this instrument will no doubt be  
found capable of many new applications4 
#ci ,the danger of carrying a naked     
light into an atmosphere   impregnated  
with the fumes of spirit was awfully    
exemplified   by the loss of the ,kent  
,east ,indiaman1 by fire1 in the ,bay of

   ,biscay1 on the #ast of ,march #ahbe4
    #dj ,in cases where there is any    
suspicion of accumulations of           
carburetted hydrogen from the leakage of
 gas pipes1 or from other   sources1 the
 safety-lamp should always be employed4 
,a terrible   accident occurred some    
years since at ,woolwich1 from a room   
filled with the vapour of coal-tar1 for 
the purpose of drying and   seasoning   
timber intended for ship-building4 ,as  
the combustion   arose from the flame   
issuing through the flue1 which ran     
along   the apartment1 at the moment the
 damper was applied at the top   of the 
building1 it is evident that1 had a     
wire-gauze guard   been used1 the       
accident could not have occurred4 ,the  
house was   completely demolished1 and  
nine persons were unfortunately killed4 
,by the permission of the ,president and
 ,council of the ,royal ,society1       
several accounts of these researches1   
and of the invention and use of the     
,safety-lamp were printed1 and          

circulated through the coal districts4  
,it might have been fairly expected     
that1 in a district which had been so   
continually and so awfully visited by   
explosions1 against which no human      
foresight had as yet been able to       
provide a remedy1 the disinterested     
services of the greatest chemist of the 
age would at least have been received   
without a dissentient voice1 and that   
his invention of security would have    
escaped the common fate of all great    
discoveries1 and been accepted with     
every homage of respect and gratitude2  
but the inventor of the ,safety-lamp was
 doomed to encounter a bitter hostility 
from persons whom a spirit of rivalry1  
or a feeling of hopeless emulation1 had 
cemented into a faction4  ,from the     
period of the first announcement of the 
,safety-lamp1 a prejudice against its   
use was industriously circulated amongst
 the miners2 and some persons even      
maintained the monstrous proposition1   
that any protection against the         

explosions of fire-damp would injure    
more than it could serve the collier1 by
 inducing him to resume abandoned works1
 and thus continually to inhale a       
noxious atmosphere4  ,the utility of the
 lamp having been established1 in spite 
of every opposition1 the claims of ,sir 
,h4 ,davy to its invention were next    
publicly challenged4  ,it will hereafter
 be scarcely believed that an invention 
so eminently philosophic1 and which     
could never have been derived but from  
the sterling treasury of science1 should
 have been claimed in behalf of an      
engine-wright of ,killingworth1 of the  
name of ,stephenson--a person not even  
professing a knowledge of the elements  
of chemistry4 ,as the controversy to    
which this claim gave birth has long    
since subsided1 ,i would willingly have 
treated it as a passing cloud1 had not  
its shadow remained4 ,the circumstances1
 however1 of the transaction stand      
recorded in the ,magazines of the day1  
and the biographer of ,davy would       

compromise his rights1 by omitting to   
notice the attempts that have been made 
to invalidate them4  ,the claims which  
were made for the priority of ,mr4      
,stephenson's invention of the          
,safety-lamp were urged in several      
communications in the ,newcastle        
,courant4 ,it has been said in reply1   
that if dates were taken as evidence1   
not merely of priority1 but of          
originality of invention1 it must follow
 that ,mr4 ,stephenson's lamp was       
derived from that of ,sir ,h4 ,davy4    
,with regard to the first of            
,stephenson's lamps1 the only one upon  
which the shadow even of a claim can be 
founded1 it is unnecessary for the      
friends of truth to adopt such a line of
 defence2 indeed1 after a deliberate    
examination of all that has been        
published on the subject1 ,i am very    
willing to believe that ,mr4 ,stephenson
 did construct the lamp which dates its 
origin from the #bast of ,october #ahae1
 without any previous knowledge of the  

conclusions at which ,davy had arrived2 
for it was first announced to the       
,coal-trade by ,mr4 ,r4 ,lambert on the 
#crd of ,november1 to the very meeting  
at which ,sir ,h4 ,davy's private letter
 was inadvertently read4--,but what were
 the principles1 and what the           
construction of this lamp8  ,it would   
appear that ,mr4 ,stephenson had        
entertained some vague notion of the    
practicability of consuming the         
fire-damp as fast as it entered the     
lamp1 and that if admitted only in small
 quantities1 it would not explode the   
surrounding atmosphere3 for effecting   
this object1 he constructed a lamp with 
an orifice1 over which was placed a     
slide1 by the movement of which the     
opening could be enlarged1 or           
diminished1 and the volume of fire-damp 
to be admitted into the lamp regulated  
according to circumstances4 ,now such a 
lamp could be nothing else than an      
exploding lamp2 for to make it burn in  
common air1 the orifice must have been  

so wide that1 on going into an explosive
 atmosphere1 the combustion in the      
interior could not have failed to pass  
it1 and to have exploded the mine4 ,here
 then is a safety-lamp1 which as long as
 it is safe1 will not burn1 and the     
moment it begins to burn1 it becomes    
unsafe6  ,the testimonies in favour of  
the security afforded by this lamp were 
evidently procured from persons who were
 not only ignorant of the principles of 
its construction1 but of the methods to 
be pursued for ascertaining its safety4 
,i am surely justified in such a        
statement1 when1 instead of an explosive
 mixture1 ,i find them throwing in pure 
fire-damp1 which will always extinguish 
flame1 whether burning in a safe or     
unsafe lamp4  ,the importance and       
utility of ,davy's lamp having been     
completely established by the severest  
ordeals1 the general gratitude of the   
country began more publicly to display  
itself1 and a very strong feeling       
prevailed1 that some tribute of respect 

should be paid to its inventor2 in      
accordance with which1 a deputation of  
the ,coal-owners of the rivers ,tyne and
 ,wear1 and of the ports of ,hartley and
 ,blyth1 requested the honour of an     
interview with ,sir ,h4 ,davy2 upon     
which occasion they presented him with  
the following letter1 containing an     
expression of the thanks of the         
,coal-owners4      ,,to ,,sir ,,humphry 
,,davy1 ,,ll4,d4 c4      ,newcastle1    
,march #be1 #ahaf4      ,,sir1     ,as  
chairman of the general meeting of      
proprietors of coal-mines    upon the   
rivers ,tyne and ,wear1 held in the     
,assembly-rooms at    ,newcastle1 on the
 #ahth instant1 ,i was requested to     
express    to you their united thanks   
and approbation for the great and       
important discovery of your ,safety-lamp
 for exploring mines    charged with    
inflammable gas1 which they consider    
admirably    calculated to obviate those
 dreadful calamities1 and the           
lamentable sacrifice of human life1     

which of late years have so             
frequently occurred in the mines of this
 country4     ,they are most powerfully 
impressed with admiration and           
gratitude towards the splendid talents  
and brilliant    acquirements that have 
achieved so momentous and important    a
 discovery1 unparalleled in the history 
of mining1 and not    surpassed by any  
discovery of the present age2 and they  
hope    that1 whilst the tribute of     
applause and glory is showered    down  
upon those who invent the weapons of    
destruction1 this    great and          
unrivalled discovery for preserving the 
lives of our    fellow-creatures1 will  
be rewarded by some mark of national    
distinction and honour4 ,i am1 ,sir1    
,your most obedient humble ,servant1    
,,george ,,waldie1 ,chairman4   ,a plan1
 however1 was under consideration for   
recording the admiration and gratitude  
of the ,coal-owners1 by a more permanent
 and solid memorial4 ,the nature of this
 proposition will be best disclosed by  

inserting the following letter from ,mr4
 ,buddle4      ,,to ,,the ,,rev4 ,,dr4  
,,gray4      ,wall's-,end ,colliery1    
,august #bg1 #ahaf4      ,,sir1     ,as 
,i know that you feel much interest in  
all matters relating    to ,sir ,h4     
,davy's ,safety-lamp1 ,i trust you will 
excuse the    liberty ,i take in        
informing you1 that the ,committee of   
the    ,tyne1 approving highly of the   
suggestion1 that some mark of           
acknowledgment and respect should be    
presented to ,sir ,humphry    by the    
,coal-trade of this country1 for the    
happy invention    of his lamp1 have    
convened a general meeting of           
,coal-owners1    to be holden at my     
office in ,newcastle1 on ,saturday next 
the    #cast instant1 at twelve o'clock1
 to take the subject into               
consideration4     ,i should have sooner
 informed you of this proposed meeting1 
had ,i not been detained in ,cumberland 
until yesterday2 but ,i    shall have   
the pleasure of transmitting to you a   

copy of its    resolutions4     ,i am   
sure that you will be gratified to learn
 that the lamps    continue to go on as 
well as possible4 ,we now have twelve   
dozen    of them in daily use at this   
place4 ,i have the pleasure to          
remain1 with the greatest respect1 ,sir1
      ,your most obedient humble        
,servant1     ,,john ,,buddle4      ,,to
 ,,the ,,same4      ,newcastle1         
,september #g1 #ahaf4      ,,sir1     ,i
 now have the pleasure of sending you a 
copy of the    ,resolutions of the      
general meeting of ,coal-owners on the  
#cast    instant1 and shall take the    
liberty of informing you of the         
future progress of this affair4     ,sir
 ,humphry did me the honour yesterday to
 accompany me    through the workings of
 a coal-pit at ,wall's-,end1 when ,i had
    an opportunity of witnessing several
 interesting experiments    on his      
,safety-lamp2 and ,i have the           
satisfaction to add1 that    ,i believe 
he has now advanced it to the highest   

degree of    perfection4      ,i am1    
respectfully1 ,sir1     ,your humble    
,servant1     ,,john ,,buddle4   ,the   
satisfactory result of this visit ,sir  
,humphry communicated to ,mr4 ,lambton1 
now ,lord ,durham2 and ,i shall take    
this opportunity to state1 that for this
 as well as for several other letters ,i
 shall hereafter have occasion to       
introduce1 ,i am indebted to that noble 
,lord1 through the kind application of  
my friend ,sir ,cuthbert ,sharp4        
,,to ,j4 ,g4 ,,lambton1 ,,esq4 ,m4,p4   
,newcastle1 ,september #i1 #ahaf4       
,,my ,,dear ,,sir1     ,since ,i last   
had the pleasure of seeing you1 ,i have 
examined    the workings in the         
,wall's-,end collieries by the lamps1   
and    have tried them in various       
explosive mixtures4     ,on ,sunday1 ,i 
went with ,mr4 ,buddle to your blower1  
with the    single lamps furnished with 
small tin reflectors4 ,this simple      
modification rendered them perfectly    
safe1 even in the furious    blow-pipe1 

and at the same time increased their    
light4    ,nothing could be more        
satisfactory than all the trials4     ,i
 have left a paper in the hands of the  
,rev4 ,j4 ,hodgson1 which    will be    
printed in a day or two2 and ,i have    
desired him to send    you ten copies1  
or as many more as you may like to have4
     ,i trust ,i have now left nothing  
undone as to the perfect    security of 
the lamps1 under every possible         
circumstance4     ,i feel highly        
gratified that it was at your mines ,i  
effected    the only object that        
remained to be accomplished--that of    
guarding against blowers meeting fresh  
currents of air4     ,i thank you very  
sincerely for the interest you have     
taken in    the lamps1 connected with my
 efforts to render them applicable    in
 all cases4 ,i remain1 c4      ,h4      
,,davy4   ,on the #aith of ,october     
#ahaf1 a letter appeared in the ,durham 
,county ,advertiser1 dated ,gosforth1   
,august #bbnd1 #ahaf1 in the name of    

,mr4 ,w4 ,brandling1 in which1 alluding 
to the ,resolutions of the ,coal-owners 
of the #cast of ,august1 he expresses a 
wish that a strict examination should   
take place previous to the adoption of a
 measure which might convey a decided   
opinion to the public1 as to the person 
to whom the invaluable discovery of the 
,safety-lamp is actually due4 ,the      
conviction1 says he1 upon my mind is1   
that ,mr4 ,george ,stephenson1 of       
,killingworth ,colliery1 is the person  
who first discovered and applied the    
principle upon which safe lamps may be  
constructed2 for1 whether the hydrogen  
gas is admitted through capillary tubes1
 or through the apertures of wire-gauze1
 which may be considered as merely the  
orifices of capillary tubes1 does not1  
as ,i conceive1 in the least affect the 
principle4  ,in the communications ,i   
have seen from ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 no dates 
are mentioned2 and it is by a reference 
to them only that the question can be   
fairly decided4 ,for the information of 

the ,meeting1 therefore1 ,i shall take  
the liberty of enclosing some which ,i  
received from ,mr4 ,stephenson1 to the  
correctness of which1 as far as ,i am   
concerned1 ,i can bear testimony2 at the
 same time ,i beg leave to add1 that the
 principle of admitting hydrogen gas in 
such small detached portions that it    
would be consumed by combustion1#da was1
 ,i understand1 stated by him to several
 gentlemen1 as the idea he had embraced 
two months before his lamp was          
originally constructed4    #da          
,granted3--but what connexion has that  
with the principle of   ,davy's lamp1 or
 with any ,safety lamp8  ,mr4 ,brandling
 then proceeds to state1 that the       
,killingworth lamp1 with a tube to admit
 the air1 and a slide at the bottom of  
such tube to regulate the quantity to be
 admitted1 was first tried in the       
,killingworth pits on ,saturday ,october
 the #bast1 #ahae2 but not being found  
to burn well1 another was ordered the   
same day with three capillary tubes to  

admit the air2 and on being tried in the
 mine on the #dth of ,november          
following1 was found to burn better and 
to be perfectly safe4#db ,on the #agth  
of ,november1 it was tried#dc at        
,killingworth office with inflammable   
air before ,richard ,lambert1 ,esq42 and
 on the #bdth of the same month1 before 
,c4 ,j4 ,brandling1 ,esq4 and ,mr4      
,murray4    #db ,it could not have been 
safe4    #dc ,tried--but how was it     
tried8--by forcing in pure   fire-damp1 
which will extinguish any lamp1 instead 
of exposing   the flame to an explosive 
mixture1 which could alone furnish any  
test of its security4  ,on the #cjth of 
,november1 he says1 a lamp was tried in 
the mine1 in which the air was admitted 
by means of a double row of small       
perforations1 and found to be perfectly 
safe1 and to burn extremely well4#dd    
#dd ,very likely3 but the reader will   
please to recollect1   that ,sir ,h4    
,davy had1 before this1 published an    
account of his   principle of safety by 

systems of tubes or canals4  ,at an     
adjourned ,meeting of the ,coal-owners1 
held on the #aath of ,october #ahaf1 ,j4
 ,g4 ,lambton1 ,esq4 ,m4,p4 in the      
chair2 ,mr4 ,william ,brandling         
moved--,that the meeting do adjourn1    
until1 by a comparison of dates1 it     
shall be ascertained whether the merit  
of the ,safety-lamp belongs to ,sir     
,humphry ,davy or to ,mr4 ,george       
,stephenson4  ,on the question being put
 thereon1 ,,the ,,same ,,passed ,,in    
,,the ,,negative4  ,a great number of   
the ,coal-owners1 instead of pursuing   
the idea which had at first been        
suggested1 of a general contribution on 
the vend1 immediately commenced a       
subscription of individual proprietors  
of coal-mines2 a measure which1 it was  
thought1 would express more distinctly  
and unequivocally the opinion of the    
trade as to the merit of the invention4 
,the plan is developed in the following 
letter4      ,,to ,,the ,,reverend ,,dr4
 ,,gray4      ,wall's-,end ,colliery1   

,october #bg1 #ahaf4      ,,sir1     ,it
 is the anxious wish of almost every    
individual in the trade    to compliment
 ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 in that way which 
may be most    grateful to his feelings4
     ,it has been suggested that the    
object will be best attained by         
substituting an individual 7colliery7   
subscription1 instead of    the proposed
 contribution on the vend2 and it will  
at the same    time show more distinctly
 the real opinion of the trade as to    
the merit of the invention4     ,this   
idea was not suggested till yesterday   
afternoon1 and of    course there has   
been but little time to communicate it  
to    the several ,coal-owners2 but all 
who have heard of the plan    approve of
 it4     ,to facilitate the business1   
the committee have formed the    annexed
 scale of contribution4#de         99   
99       99       99       99     ,i    
trust1 ,sir1 you will excuse the trouble
 which ,i have given    you on this     
subject2 but ,i am aware that you must  

feel    interested in it2 and ,i hope1  
,sir1 you will allow me to add1    that 
,i am fully sensible of the obligation  
which the ,coal trade    is under to    
yourself1 for having drawn ,sir ,h4     
,davy's attention    to that particular 
line of investigation1 which has led to 
the    important discovery of the       
,safety-lamp4 ,i am1 ,sir1 with the     
greatest respect1 your most obedient    
humble servant1     ,,john ,,buddle4    
#de ,i have not thought it necessary to 
enumerate the various   sums which the  
different mines were called upon to     
contribute4  ,some slight alterations   
were afterwards made in this scheme1 in 
consequence of a wish having been       
expressed that the ,bishop of ,durham   
and the ,duke of ,northumberland should 
take the lead in a subscription4 ,the   
following letter conveys some farther   
information upon this subject4      ,,to
 ,,the ,,reverend ,,dr4 ,,gray4         
,newcastle1 ,january #aa1 #ahag4        
,,sir1     ,i have to acknowledge the   

receipt of your letter of the #ith      
instant1 communicating the intention of 
the ,reverend the ,dean    and ,chapter 
of ,durham1 to subscribe fifty guineas  
towards the    plate to be presented to 
,sir ,h4 ,davy1 which1 together with two
    hundred guineas from the            
,coal-owners of the ,wear1 makes the    
subscription amount to nearly #aejj1 and
 ,i shall expect some    farther        
subscriptions4     ,i am sure it will   
afford you satisfaction to learn that   
the    lamps still continue to give the 
most gratifying proofs of    the        
advantages resulting from their         
invention1 and that not a    single inch
 of human skin has been lost by fire1   
wherever they    have been used4        
,sir ,humphry has just made another     
important improvement in the    lamp1 by
 constructing the cylinder of twisted   
wire-gauze4    ,lamps thus constructed1 
possess the singular property of not    
becoming red-hot1 under any             
circumstances of exposure to            

explosive mixtures1 whether urged by a  
blast1 or in a state of    rest4 ,i am  
with great respect1 ,sir1 your most     
obedient humble    servant1     ,,john  
,,buddle4   ,it may be collected from   
the following letter1 that the          
,committee1 in announcing to ,sir ,h4   
,davy the intended present of plate1    
delicately sounded him as to the form in
 which it would be most agreeable to    
him4      ,,to ,n4 ,,clayton1 ,,esq4    
,grosvenor ,street1 ,march #bc1 #ahag4  
,,sir1     ,on my return to town1 after 
an absence of some days1 ,i found    the
 letter of ,march the #acth1 with which 
you honoured me1 at    the ,royal       
,institution4 ,i shall not lose a moment
 in replying    to it1 and in expressing
 my grateful feelings for the very      
flattering communication it contains4   
,the gentlemen interested in the        
coal-mines of the two rivers    ,tyne   
and ,wear1 cannot offer me any testimony
 of their kindness1    which ,i shall   
not receive with infinite pleasure4     

,i hardly know how to explain myself on 
the particular subject    of your       
letter2 but as the ,committee express   
themselves    satisfied as to the       
utility of the ,safety-lamp1 ,i can only
    desire that their present1 as it is 
highly honourable to me1    should be   
likewise useful to my friends1 and a    
small social    circle1 which it would  
be as a dinner-service for ten or twelve
    persons4     ,i wish that even the  
plate from which ,i eat should awaken my
    remembrance of their liberality1 and
 put me in mind of an event    which    
marks one of the happiest periods of my 
life4     ,i cannot find any language   
sufficiently strong to express my       
thanks to the gentlemen for the manner  
in which they have    distinguished my  
exertions in their cause1 and in the    
cause of    humanity4 ,i have the honour
 to remain1 c4      ,h4 ,,davy4   ,to   
revert once again to the faction--for   
such ,i must denominate it--which1 in   
opposition to the most unequivocal      

evidence1 continued to support the      
unjust claims of ,mr4 ,stephenson2 it   
would appear from various letters in my 
possession1 that the feelings of ,davy  
were greatly exasperated by this        
ungenerous conduct4  ,i shall introduce 
one of these letters1 playful in the    
midst of its wrath1 addressed to ,mr4   
,lambton1 the friend#df of his youth1   
and the manly and kind supporter of his 
scientific character1 in the hour of    
persecution4    #df ,it will be         
remembered that they resided together in
 the   house of ,dr4 ,beddoes4 ,see page
 #ei1 vol4 i4 of these memoirs4   ,in   
the library at ,lambton1 there is a     
goodportrait of   ,sir ,humphry4        
,,to ,j4 ,g4 ,,lambton1 ,,esq4 ,m4,p4   
,queen ,square1 ,bath1 ,oct4 #bi1 #ahaf4
      ,,my ,,dear ,,sir1     ,the severe
 indisposition of my wife has altered my
 plans4 ,your    letter slowly followed 
me here4     ,mr4 ---- is one of the    
persons who1 after ,i had advanced a    
principle of security for a lamp1 came  

upon the ground to    endeavour to      
jockey me4 ,i was not looking to a      
prize1 ,i merely    came forward to show
 an animal1 the breed of which might be 
useful1 when ,mr4----1 ,dr4----1 c4     
brought their sorry jades1    which had 
never before been seen or heard of1 to  
kick at my    blood mare4     ,i never  
heard a word of ,george ,stephenson and 
his lamps till    six weeks after my    
principle of security had been          
published2    and the general impression
 of the scientific men in ,london1      
which is confirmed by what ,i heard at  
,newcastle1 is1 that    ,stephenson had 
some loose idea floating in his mind1   
which he    had unsuccessfully attempted
 to put in practice till after my       
labours were made known2--then1 he made 
something like a safe    lamp1 except   
that it is not safe1 for the apertures  
below are    four times1 and those      
above1 twenty times too large2 but1 even
    if ,stephenson's plans had not been 
posterior to my principles1    still    

there is no analogy between his glass   
exploding machine1    and my metallic   
tissue1 permeable to light and air1 and 
impermeable to flame4     ,i am very    
glad that you attended the meeting2 your
 conduct    at no very distant period   
will be contrasted with that of    some 
great coal-proprietors1 who find reasons
 for their    indifference1 as to a     
benefit conferred upon them1 in         
insinuations respecting the claims of   
,dr4 ,clanny1 ,mr4    ,stephenson1 and  
others4     ,where men resolve to be    
ungrateful1 it is natural that they     
should be illiberal2 and illiberality   
often hardens into    malignity4     ,i 
shall receive any present of plate under
 your auspices1 and    those of the     
,committee over which you preside1 with 
peculiar    satisfaction4 ,it will prove
 to me that my labours have not been    
disregarded by men of whose good opinion
 ,i am proud4     ,i hope you will not  
blame me for not taking any notice of   
the    attacks of my enemies in the     

,north4 ,i have no desire to go out     
of my way to crush gnats that buzz at a 
distance1 and do not    bite me1 or to  
quarrel with persons who shoot arrows at
 the    moon1 and believe1 because they 
have for an instant intercepted    a    
portion of her light1 that they have hit
 their mark4 ,i am    sensible to the   
circumstances under which you attended  
the    meeting4     ,i offer you my     
sincere congratulations1 and ardent     
wishes that    you may enjoy all        
possible happiness4     ,believe me1 c4 
,h4 ,davy4   ,on the #acth of ,september
 #ahag1 ,sir ,humphry ,davy being       
expected to pass through ,newcastle on  
his return from ,scotland1 preparations 
were made1 and notice given of a dinner 
which it was proposed should take place 
on the #beth instant1 for the purpose of
 presenting to the illustrious          
philosopher the service of plate which  
had been prepared for his acceptance4   
,upon this gratifying occasion1 a very  
large party assembled at the ,queen's   

,head1 consisting of a numerous and     
respectable body of ,coal-owners1 and   
such other gentlemen as had interested  
themselves during the progress of the   
investigation1 or taken an active part  
in promoting the introduction of the    
lamp into the mines4  ,after the dinner 
had concluded1 and certain toasts of    
form had been drunk1 ,mr4 ,lambton1 who 
filled the chair on the occasion1 rose1 
and on presenting the service of plate  
to the illustrious guest1 addressed him1
 in a tone of great animation and       
feeling1 in nearly the following terms3 
,,sir ,,humphry1--,it now becomes my    
duty to fulfill the object of the       
meeting1 in presenting to you this      
service of plate1 from the ,coal-owners 
of the ,tyne and ,wear1 as a testimony  
of their gratitude for the services you 
have rendered to them and to humanity4  
,your brilliant genius1 which has been  
so long employed in an unparalleled     
manner1 in extending the boundaries of  
chemical knowledge1 never accomplished a

 higher object1 nor obtained a nobler   
triumph4  ,you had to contend with an   
element of destruction which seemed     
uncontrollable by human power2 which not
 only rendered the property of the      
coal-owner insecure1 but kept him in    
perpetual alarm for the safety of the   
intrepid miner in his service1 and often
 exhibited to him the most appalling    
scenes of death1 and heart-sickening    
misery4  ,you have increased the value  
of an important branch of productive    
industry2 and1 what is of infinitely    
greater importance1 you have contributed
 to the lives and persons of multitudes 
of your fellow-creatures4  ,it is now   
nearly two years that your ,safety-lamp 
has been used by hundreds of miners in  
the most dangerous recesses of the      
earth1 and under the most trying        
circumstances4 ,not a single failure has
 occurred--its absolute security is     
demonstrated4 ,i have1 indeed1 deeply to
 lament more than one catastrophe1      
produced by fool-hardiness and          

ignorance1 in neglecting to use the     
safeguard you have supplied2 but these  
dreadful accidents even1 if possible1   
exalt its importance4  ,if your fame had
 needed any thing to make it immortal1  
this discovery alone would have carried 
it down to future ages1 and connected it
 with benefits and blessings4  ,receive1
 ,sir ,humphry1 this permanent memorial 
of our profound respect and high        
admiration--a testimony1 we trust1      
equally honourable to you and to us4 ,we
 hope you will have as much pleasure in 
receiving1 as we feel in offering it4   
,long may you live to use it--long may  
you live to pursue your splendid career 
of scientific discovery1 and to give new
 claims to the gratitude and praise of  
the world6 ,sir ,humphry having received
 the plate1 replied as follows3         
,,gentlemen1--,i feel it impossible to  
reply1 in an appropriate manner1 to the 
very eloquent and flattering address of 
your distinguished ,chairman4           
,eloquence1 or even accuracy of         

language1 is incompatible with strong   
feeling2 and on an occasion like the    
present1 you will give me credit for no 
small degree of emotion4  ,i have been  
informed that my labours have been      
useful to an important branch of human  
industry connected with our arts1 our   
manufactures1 commerce1 and national    
wealth4 ,to learn this from such        
practical authority is the highest      
gratification to a person whose ardent  
desire has always been to apply science 
to purposes of utility4  ,it has been   
also stated1 that the invention which   
you are this day so highly honouring1   
has been subservient to the preservation
 of the lives and persons of a most     
useful and laborious class of men3 this1
 coming from your own knowledge1 founded
 upon such ample experience1 affords me 
a pleasure still more exalted--for the  
highest ambition of my life has been to 
deserve the name of a friend to         
humanity4  ,to crown all1 you have1 as  
it were1 embodied these sentiments in a 

permanent and magnificent memorial of   
your good opinion4 ,i can make only     
imperfect and inadequate efforts to     
thank you4  ,under all circumstances of 
my future life1 the recollection of this
 day will warm my heart2 and this noble 
expression of your kindness will awaken 
my gratitude to the latest moment of my 
existence4  ,sir ,humphry having sat    
down1 and the cheering of the company   
subsided1 the ,chairman proposed the    
health of the illustrious ,chemist1 in  
three times three4  ,gentlemen1 said    
,sir ,humphry1 ,i am overpowered by     
these reiterated proofs of your         
approbation4 ,you have overrated my     
merits4 ,my success in your cause must  
be attributed to my having followed the 
path of experiment and induction        
discovered by philosophers who have     
preceded me3 willingly would ,i divide  
your plaudits with other men of science1
 and claim much for the general glory of
 scientific discovery in a long course  
of ages4  ,gentlemen1 ,i might dwell at 

some length upon the great increase of  
wealth and power to the country1 within 
the last half century1 by scientific    
invention1 which never could have       
existed without coal-mines3--,i shall   
refer only to the improvement in the    
potteries1 to the steam-engine1 and to  
the discovery of the gas lights4  ,what 
an immense impulse has the steam-engine 
given to the arts and manufactures6 ,how
 much has it diminished labour1 and     
increased the real strength of the      
country1 far beyond a mere increase of  
population6 ,by giving facilities to a  
number of other inventions1 it has      
produced even a moral effect in         
rendering capital necessary for the     
perfection of labour1 credit essential  
to capital1 and ingenuity and mental    
energy a secure and dignified species of
 property4  ,science1 ,gentlemen1 is of 
infinitely more importance to a state   
than may at first sight appear possible2
 for no source of wealth and power can  
be entirely independent of it2 and no   

class of men are so well able to        
appreciate its advantages as that to    
which ,i am now addressing myself4 ,you 
have not only derived from it the means 
of raising your subterraneous wealth1   
but those also of rendering it available
 to the public4  ,science alone has made
 pit-coal such an instrument in the     
hands of the chemist and mechanic2 it   
has made the elements of fire and water 
perform operations which formerly       
demanded human labour1 and it has       
converted the productions of the earth  
into a thousand new forms of use and    
beauty4  ,gentlemen1 allow me to        
observe1 in conclusion1 that it was in  
pursuing those methods of analogy and   
experiment1 by which mystery had become 
science1 that ,i was fortunately led to 
the invention of the ,safety-lamp4 ,the 
whole progress of my researches has been
 registered in the ,transactions of the 
,royal ,society1 in papers which that   
illustrious body has honoured by their  
biennial medal2#dg in which ,i can      

conscientiously assert1 that ,i have    
gratefully acknowledged even the        
slightest hints or offers of assistance 
which ,i have received during their     
composition4    #dg ,the ,rumford       
,medal1 to be hereafter noticed4  ,i    
state this1 ,gentlemen1 not from        
vain-glory1 but on account of certain   
calumnious insinuations which have      
arisen--not in the scientific world1 for
 to that the whole progress of my       
researches is well known1 but in a      
colliery4 ,i must ever treat these      
insinuations with contempt2 and after   
the honest indignation which has been   
expressed against them by the           
,coal-owners in general1 ,i cannot feel 
any anxiety on the subject1 nor should  
,i have referred to it at all1 did ,i   
not believe that the very persons       
amongst whom these insinuations         
originated1 were extensively benefited  
by1 and were constantly using the       
invention they would seek to disparage4 
,i could never have expected that such  

persons would have engaged their        
respectable connexions in mean attempts 
to impeach the originality of a         
discovery1 given to them in the most    
disinterested manner1 and for which no  
return was required but an honest       
acknowledgment of the benefit1 founded  
upon truth and justice4  ,i do not envy 
them their feelings1 particularly at the
 present moment3 ,i do not wish to      
enquire into their motives3 ,i do hope1 
however1 that their conduct has been    
prompted by ignorance rather than by    
malevolence1 by misapprehension rather  
than by ingratitude4  ,it was a new     
circumstance to me1 that attempts to    
preserve human life1 and to prevent     
human misery1 should create hostile     
feelings in persons who professed to    
have similar objects in view4           
,gentlemen1 ,i have had some opposition1
 much labour1 and more anxiety1 during  
the course of these researches2 but had 
the opposition1 the labour1 and the     
anxiety been a thousand times as great1 

the events of this day would have been  
more than a compensation4  ,sir         
,humphry1 after drinking the health and 
happiness of the company1 proposed as a 
sentiment--,prosperity to the           
,coal-trade4  ,the healths of the ,duke 
of ,northumberland1 the ,bishop of      
,durham1 and the ,reverend ,dr4 ,gray1  
were drunk in succession4  ,at ten      
o'clock1 ,sir ,humphry1 accompanied by  
the chairman1 retired amidst the        
enthusiastic plaudits of a meeting1 the 
object of which being one of convivial  
benevolence1 the effect was that of     
unclouded hilarity4  ,the party which   
had supported the claims of ,mr4        
,stephenson had also their meeting2 and 
it was held on the #ast of ,november4   
,at this meeting it was resolved1 ,that 
it was the opinion of the persons       
present1 that ,mr4 ,g4 ,stephenson      
having discovered the fact1 that        
explosions of hydrogen gas will not pass
 through tubes and apertures of small   
dimensions1 and having been the first to

 apply the principle to the construction
 of a ,safety-lamp1 is entitled to some 
reward4  ,a committee was accordingly   
formed to carry this resolution into    
effect1 at the head of which was placed 
the name of the ,earl of ,strathmore4   
,the respectable body of ,coal-owners1  
under whose auspices the invention of   
,sir ,humphry ,davy had been introduced 
and rewarded1 felt that they owed it to 
their own characters to repel assertions
 which amounted to a charge against     
themselves of ingratitude and injustice3
 a general meeting was accordingly      
summoned1 at the ,assembly-rooms in     
,newcastle1 on the #bfth of ,november   
#ahag1 ,j4 ,g4 ,lambton1 ,esq4 ,m4,p4 in
 the chair--when it was resolved1  ,that
 the ,resolutions passed at the ,meeting
 of the friends of ,mr4 ,g4 ,stephenson 
on the #eth instant1 impugn the justice 
and propriety of the proceedings of a   
meeting of the ,coal-trade on the #cast 
of ,august #ahaf3  ,that the present    
meeting1 therefore1 feel themselves     

called upon1 as an act of justice to the
 character of their great and           
disinterested benefactor1 ,sir ,humphry 
,davy1 and as a proof that the          
,coal-trade of the ,north in no way     
sanctions the resolutions of ,mr4       
,stephenson's friends1 to state their   
decided conviction1 that the merit of   
having discovered the fact1 that        
explosions of fire-damp will not pass   
through tubes and apertures of small    
dimensions1 and of having applied that  
principle to the construction of a      
,safety-lamp1 belongs to ,sir ,humphry  
,davy alone4  ,that this meeting is also
 decidedly of opinion1 from the evidence
 produced in various publications by    
,mr4 ,george ,stephenson and his        
friends1 subsequently to the meeting of 
the ,coal-trade which was held on the   
#ahth of ,march #ahaf1 as well as from  
the documents which have been read at   
this meeting1 that ,mr4 ,stephenson did 
not discover the fact1 that explosions  
of fire-damp will not pass through tubes

 and apertures of small dimensions2 and 
that he did not apply that principle to 
the construction of a ,safety-lamp2 and 
that the latest lamps made by ,mr4      
,stephenson are evident imitations of   
those of ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 and that1 
even with that advantage1 they are so   
imperfectly constructed as to be        
actually unsafe4  ,that the above       
resolutions be published thrice in the  
,newcastle papers1 and in the ,courier1 
,morning ,chronicle1 and ,edinburgh     
,courant2 and that printed copies       
thereof be sent to the ,lords           
,lieutenants of the two counties1 to the
 ,lord ,bishop of ,durham1 and to the   
principal owners and lessors of         
collieries upon the ,tyne and ,wear4    
,the following letter from ,sir ,humphry
 ,davy announces the farther measures   
which he also had thought proper to     
pursue1 in order to counteract the      
impression which the meeting of ,mr4    
,stephenson's friends might have        
produced on the less informed part of   

the public4      ,,to ,j4 ,g4 ,,lambton1
 ,,esq4 ,m4,p4      ,november #ba1      
#ahag4      ,,my ,,dear ,,sir1     ,i   
shall send off by this post a copy of   
the resolutions1 which    will appear   
to-morrow in the ,chronicle and         
,courier4     ,the men of science who   
have signed these resolutions are the   
first chemists and natural philosophers 
of the country1 with    the ,president  
of the ,royal ,society1 the most        
illustrious body    in ,europe1 at their
 head4     ,it is disagreeable to be    
thus obliged to use artillery for    the
 destruction of bats and owls2 but it   
was necessary that    something should  
be done4     ,the ,messrs4 ---- have for
 a long time been endeavouring to       
destroy my peace of mind2 my offence    
being that of conferring a    benefit4  
,the only persons ,i knew in ,newcastle1
 before ,i gave the    ,safety-lamp to  
the ,coal-owners1 were ,dr4 ,headlam and
 ,mr4 ,bigge1    so that friends ,i had 
none2 and the few persons with whom ,i  

had a slight acquaintance1 and who were 
civil to me before ,i    discovered the 
,safety-lamp1 became my enemies4 ,it    
requires a    deep metaphysician to     
explain this--,can it be that ,i did not
    make them the medium of             
communication to the colliers8--,but ,i 
quit a subject to which ,i have no      
desire to return1 and shall    only     
recollect that day when your eloquence  
touched my feelings    more than it     
flattered my self-love4      ,believe   
me1 c4 c4      ,h4 ,davy4   ,the        
following are the ,resolutions of a     
,meeting adverted to in the preceding   
letter1 and which was held for          
considering the ,facts relating to the  
,discovery of the ,lamp of ,safety4     
,soho ,square1 ,nov4 #bj1 #ahag4     ,an
 advertisement having been inserted in  
the ,newcastle    ,courant1 of          
,saturday1 ,november #g1 #ahag1         
purporting to contain    the            
,resolutions of ',a ,meeting held for   
the purpose of    remunerating ,mr4     

,george ,stephenson1 for the valuable   
service he    has rendered mankind by   
the invention of his ,safety-lamp1 which
    is calculated for the preservation  
of human life in situations    of the   
greatest danger1'     ,we have          
considered the evidence produced in     
various    publications by ,mr4         
,stephenson and his friends1 in support 
of    his claims2 and having examined   
his lamps1 and enquired into    their   
effects in explosive mixtures1 are      
clearly of opinion--     ,first1--,that 
,mr4 ,george ,stephenson is not the     
author of the    discovery of the fact1 
that an explosion of inflammable gas    
will not pass through tubes and         
apertures of small dimensions4          
,secondly1--,that ,mr4 ,george          
,stephenson was not the first to        
apply that principle to the construction
 of a ,safety-lamp1    none of the lamps
 which he made in the year #ahae having 
been    safe1 and there being no        
evidence even of their having been      

made upon that principle4               
,thirdly1--,that ,sir ,humphry ,davy not
 only discovered1    independently of   
all others1 and without any knowledge of
 the    unpublished experiments of the  
late ,mr4 ,tennant on ,flame1 the       
principle of the non-communication of   
explosions through small    apertures1  
but that he has also the sole merit of  
having first    applied it to the very  
important purpose of a ,safety-lamp1    
which has evidently been imitated in the
 latest lamps of ,mr4    ,george        
,stephenson4      7,signed7    ,,joseph 
,,banks1 ,p4,r4,s4                      
,,william ,,thomas ,,brande1            
,,charles ,,hatchett1                   
,,william ,,hyde ,,wollaston4   ,thus   
terminated a controversy1 the discussion
 of which1 ,i am well aware1 many of my 
readers will consider as having been    
protracted to a tedious1 and perhaps to 
an unnecessary extent2 but the          
biographer had no alternative4 ,in      
passing it by without a notice1 he would

 have violated his faith to the public1 
have given a tacit acknowledgment of the
 claims of ,stephenson1 and1 in his     
judgment1 have committed an act of gross
 injustice to the illustrious subject of
 his history2 while by giving only an   
abridged statement1 he would have       
furnished a pretext for doubt1 and an   
opportunity for malevolence4  ,it is due
 also to ,sir ,humphry ,davy to observe1
 that had he practised more reserve in  
the communication of his results1 the   
spirit of rivalry would have expired    
without a struggle1--for it derived its 
only support and power from the         
generosity of its victim4 ,had he       
secured for himself the advantages of   
his invention by patent1 he might have  
realized wealth to almost any extent2   
but to barter the products of his       
intellectual exertions for pecuniary    
profit1 was a course wholly at variance 
with every feeling of ,davy's mind2 and 
we therefore find him1 in the           
advancement1 as at the commencement of  

his fleeting career1 spurning the golden
 apples from his feet1 and hastening to 
the goal for that prize which could     
alone reward all his labours--the meed  
of immortal fame4  ,from a letter dated 
,newcastle1 ,august #ahcj1 which ,i had 
the pleasure to receive from ,mr4       
,buddle1 ,i extract the following       
interesting passage3--  ,in the autumn  
of #ahae1 ,sir ,humphry ,davy           
accompanied me into some of our fiery   
mines1 to prove the efficacy of his     
lamp4 ,nothing could be more gratifying 
than the result of those experiments1 as
 they inspired every body with perfect  
confidence in the security which his    
invention had afforded4  ,sir ,humphry  
was delighted1 and ,i was overpowered   
with feelings of gratitude to that great
 genius which had produced it4  ,i felt1
 however1 that he did not contemplate   
any pecuniary reward2 and1 in a private 
conversation1 ,i remonstrated with him  
on the subject4 ,i said1 ',you might as 
well have secured this invention by a   

patent1 and received your five or ten   
thousand a-year from it4' ,the reply of 
this great and noble-minded man         
was1--',no1 my good friend1 ,i never    
thought of such a thing2 my sole object 
was to serve the cause of humanity2 and1
 if ,i have succeeded1 ,i am amply      
rewarded in the gratifying reflection of
 having done so4' ,i expostulated1      
saying1 that his ideas were much too    
philosophic and refined for the         
occasion4 ,he replied1 ',i have enough  
for all my views and purposes2 more     
wealth might be troublesome1 and        
distract my attention from those        
pursuits in which ,i delight2--more     
wealth1' he added1 'could not increase  
either my fame or my happiness4 ,it     
might1 undoubtedly1 enable me to put    
four horses to my carriage2 but what    
would it avail me to have it said that  
,sir ,humphry drives his                
carriage-and-four8'  ,the present       
,bishop of ,bristol1 to whom the world  
is so greatly indebted for having first 

called the attention of ,sir ,humphry   
,davy to the subject of explosions from 
fire-damp1 and who has kindly interested
 himself in my arduous and anxious      
undertaking1 was desirous to obtain for 
me the latest accounts with respect to  
the ,safety-lamp1 as to the constancy of
 its use1 and the extent of its         
security2 and his ,lordship informs me1 
that having applied to ,mr4 ,buddle and 
,mr4 ,fenwick for information upon these
 points1 their answers have been most   
satisfactory2 at the same time1 his     
,lordship transmitted me much valuable  
information1 which was accompanied by   
the following letter from ,mr4 ,buddle4 
,,to ,,the ,,right ,,reverend ,,the     
,,lord ,,bishop ,,of ,,bristol4         
,wall's-,end1 ,august #aa1 #ahcj4       
,,my ,,lord1     ,i have the honour to  
acknowledge the receipt of your         
,lordship's    letter of yesterday's    
date4 ,i am glad your ,lordship has     
interested yourself in ,doctor ,paris's 
work1 and ,i hope that    he will be    

enabled1 through the assistance of ,sir 
,humphry's    friends1 to do ample      
justice to the genius and worth of that 
excellent man4     ,i should be very    
happy if any letters of mine could      
assist    ,dr4 ,paris in doing justice  
to his merits in the invention of    the
 ,safety-lamp2 and ,i shall with        
pleasure submit to your    ,lordship's  
better judgment and discretion the      
selection of such    of them as may seem
 to be conducive to that object4     ,i 
do not find that any improvement        
whatever has been made1    either in the
 principle or construction of the       
original lamp1    as presented to us by 
,sir ,humphry4 ,his transcendent genius 
seems to have anticipated every thing   
belonging to the subject1    and has    
left nothing more to be done4      ,i   
have the honour to be1     ,my ,lord1   
with great respect1     ,your           
,lordship's most obedient1 humble       
servant1     ,,john ,,buddle4   ,in     
consequence of some late reports of     

accidents in the mines1 ,i requested my 
friend ,sir ,cuthbert ,sharp to make    
certain enquiries in the mining         
districts2 and for this purpose1 ,i sent
 him a string of queries1 to which ,i   
begged him to obtain answers4 ,these    
questions were submitted to ,mr4        
,buddle1 and they produced the following
 letter4      ,,to ,,sir ,,cuthbert     
,,sharp4      ,newcastle1 ,august #bh1  
#ahcj4      ,,my ,,dear ,,sir           
,,cuthbert1     ,i return ,dr4 ,paris's 
letter1 and shall briefly answer his    
enquiries4     ,if the ,davy lamp was   
exclusively used1 and due care taken in 
its management1 it is certain that few  
accidents would occur    in our coal    
mines2 but the exclusive use of the     
,davy is    not compatible with the     
working of many of our mines1 in        
consequence of their not being workable 
without the aid of    gunpowder4     ,in
 such mines1 where every collier must   
necessarily fire1 on    the average1 two
 shots a-day1 we are exposed to the risk

 of    explosion from the ignition of   
the gunpowder1 even if no naked         
lights were used in carrying on the     
ordinary operations of the    mine4     
,this was the case in ,jarrow ,colliery1
 at the time the late    accident       
happened4 ,as the use of gunpowder was  
indispensable1    naked lights were     
generally used1 and the accident was    
occasioned by a 'bag' of inflammable air
 forcing out a large    block of coal1  
in the face of a drift1 from a fissure  
in which    it had been pent up1 perhaps
 from the ,creation1 and firing at      
the first naked light with which it came
 in contact1 after    having been       
diluted down to the combustible point by
 a due    admixture of atmospheric air4 
,as to the number of old collieries and 
old workings which    have been         
renovated1 and as to the quantity of    
coal which has    been1 and will be     
saved to the public by the invention of 
the    ,davy1 it is scarcely possible to
 give an account1 or to    form an      

estimate4     ,in this part of the      
country1 ',walker's ,colliery1' after   
having    been completely worked out1   
according to the former system1    with 
candles and steel-mills1 and after      
having been abandoned    in #ahaa1 was  
reopened in #ahah by the aid of the     
,davy and    has been worked on an      
extensive scale ever since1 and may     
continue to be worked for an almost     
indefinite period4     ,great part of   
the formerly relinquished workings of   
,wall's-end1    ,willington1            
,percy-main1 ,hebburn1 ,jarrow1         
,elswick1 ,benwell1    c4 c41 as well as
 several collieries on the ,wear1 have  
been    recovered1 and are continued in 
work by the invention of the    ,davy4  
,if ,i had only what you know perfectly 
well ,i have not--,,time1 ,i    could   
write a volume on this subject4     ,i  
shall shortly1 through the medium of a  
friend1 get an    important paper on the
 subject of the ,davy1 put into ,dr4    
,paris's hands4      ,believe me1 my    

dear ,sir ,cuthbert1     ,to remain     
yours very faithfully1     ,,john       
,,buddle4   ,the ,bishop of ,bristol has
 placed at my disposal a communication  
from ,mr4 ,fenwick1 a gentleman of much 
practical ability1 which affords        
additional evidence of the utility of   
the lamp2 from which the following is an
 extract4  ,sir ,h4 ,davy's safety-lamp 
has afforded much security in the       
general working of mines1 particularly  
by enabling the coal-owner to work1 in  
several situations1 the pillars of coal 
formerly left therein1 which1 under the 
system of working by candles1 or open   
flame1 was deemed hazardous and         
impracticable2 and1 in consequence1     
one-sixth part more of coal may be      
estimated as obtainable from those mines
 which are subject to hydrogen gas4     
,also in the working of the pillars of  
coal1 7commonly called the second       
working17 great advantages and          
securities1 as well as saving of        
expenses1 have resulted from the use of 

this lamp1 not only to the lessees of   
collieries1 inasmuch as more coal is    
obtained from a given space than before1
 7particularly in collieries subject to 
fire-damp17 but also to the lessor of   
such mines1 by their being more         
productive1 and of course more durable  
than heretofore4  ,another advantage    
results from the use of this            
,safety-lamp1 and in the working of the 
pillars in particular4 ,it is found now1
 through experience1 that the changeable
 state of the atmosphere1 which our     
barometers daily indicate1 has a most   
powerful effect on the noxious air in   
mines2 as1 from a sudden change in the  
atmosphere1 indicated by the rapid fall 
of the mercury in the barometrical tube1
 a rapid discharge of noxious gas into  
the workings and excavations of the mine
 is the consequence1 caused by the want 
of the atmospheric equilibrium3#dh in   
which case the mine becomes suddenly    
surcharged with hydrogen1 and if worked 
by the light of open flame1 an explosion

 may take place before the possibility  
of such a circumstance can even be      
suspected2 but if worked by the         
,safety-lamp1 it is only shown by the   
gas in the lamp becoming a pillar of    
harmless flame4 ,this circumstance      
frequently takes place when any         
atmospheric change causes the mercury in
 the barometer to sink to twenty-eight  
inches and a half or thereabouts4    #dh
 ,this is a very interesting fact1 and  
gives much support to   the theory      
advanced at page #fb of this volume4    
,in the year #ahbe1 ,sir ,humphry ,davy 
had the honour to receive from the      
,emperor ,alexander of ,russia1 a superb
 silver gilt vase1 standing in a        
circular tray enriched with medallions4 
,on the cover was a figure1 of about    
sixteen or eighteen inches in height1   
representing the ,god of ,fire1 weeping 
over his extinguished torch4  ,the      
circumstances under which this vase was 
presented have been communicated to me  
by ,mr4 ,smirnove1 ,secretary to the    

,embassy4      ,,to ,j4 ,a4 ,,paris1    
,m4,d4      ,wigmore ,street1 ,may #bi1 
#ahcj4      ,,dear ,,sir1     ,it was in
 the month of ,april1 or ,may1 #ahae1   
that the late ,sir    ,humphry ,davy    
expressed to ,prince1 then ,count1      
,lieven1 his wish    to offer to the    
,emperor of ,russia a model of his      
,safety-lamp1    which he had recently  
improved1 accompanied by an explanatory 
pamphlet on the subject4     ,prince    
,lieven of course complied with this    
request2 and    the ,emperor having been
 pleased to accept it1 ordered the      
,ambassador1 in ,november of the same   
year1 to thank ,sir ,humphry    for it  
in his ,majesty's name1 and to assure   
him how much his    ,majesty appreciated
 the merit of an invention1 the double  
effect of which was to favour the       
progress of more than one    branch of  
industry1 and to ensure the safety of   
persons    employed in the coal-mines1  
against those fatal accidents    which  
had hitherto so frequently occurred4    

,the ,ambassador1    at the same time1  
delivered to ,sir ,humphry a silver-gilt
    ,vase1#di in the name of the        
,emperor1 in testimony of the high      
satisfaction with which that sovereign  
had been pleased to    accept the object
 in question4 ,i beg you to believe me1 
with    regard and esteem1      ,your   
faithful servant1     ,,john ,,smirnove4
    #di ,of the value of about one      
hundred and eighty guineas4   ,it is    
well known to the friends of ,davy1 that
 in his conversation as well as in his  
correspondence1 he always dwelt with    
peculiar satisfaction and delight upon  
the invention of his ,safety-lamp4  ,mr4
 ,poole1 in a letter lately addressed to
 me1 observes--,how often have ,i heard 
him express the satisfaction which this 
discovery had given him4 ',i value it1' 
said he1 'more than any thing ,i ever   
did4 ,it was the result of a great deal 
of investigation and labour2 but1 if my 
directions be only attended to1 it will 
save the lives of thousands of poor     

labourers4 ,i was never more affected1' 
he added1 'than by a written address    
which ,i received from the working      
colliers1 when ,i was in the ,north1    
thanking me1 in behalf of themselves and
 their families1 for the preservation of
 their lives4' ,i remember how delighted
 he was when he showed me the service of
 plate presented to him by those very   
men and their employers1 as a testimony 
of their gratitude4  ,the following     
letter evinces a similar feeling4       
,,to ,,thomas ,,poole1 ,,esq4           
,queen's ,square1 ,bath1 ,oct4 #bi1     
#ahaf4      ,,my ,,dear ,,poole1     ,it
 is very long since any letters have    
passed between us4 ,the    affections   
and recollections of friendly           
intercourse are of a    very adhesive   
nature2 and ,i think you will not be    
displeased at    being put in mind that 
there is an old friend not very far from
    you1 who will be very glad to see   
you4     ,bath does not suit me much1   
nor should ,i remain here1 but    my    

wife has been indisposed1 and the waters
 seem to benefit    her1 and promise to 
render her permanent service1 and if    
that    happens1 ,i shall be pleased    
even with this uninteresting city4      
,i have seen many countries and nations 
since we met4         99       99       
99       99       99     ,i have just   
come from the ,north of ,england1 where 
it has    pleased ,providence to make me
 an instrument for preserving the       
lives of some of my fellow-creatures4   
,you1 ,i know1 are of that    complexion
 of mind that the civic crown will      
please you more    than even the        
victor's laurel wreath4     ,i have a   
bed1 though a small one1 at your        
service2 if you can    come here for two
 or three days1 ,i assure you we shall  
be most    happy to see you4 ,we shall  
remain in ,bath about three weeks4    ,i
 shall be absent for a few days in the  
beginning of next    week1 and after    
that ,i shall be stationary till the    
middle of    ,november4 ,give me a few  

lines1 and say when we may expect you4  
,i am1 my dear ,poole1 very sincerely   
yours1     ,h4 ,,davy4      ,,to ,,the  
,,same4      ,grosvenor ,street1 ,dec4  
#c1 #ahag4      ,,my ,,dear ,,poole1    
,the late melancholy event#ej has thrown
 a gloom over ,london1    and indeed    
over ,england4 ,the public feeling is   
highly    creditable to the moral tone  
of the people4     ,the loss of a       
,princess1 known only by good qualities1
 living    in a pure and happy state of 
domestic peace1 is in itself            
affecting2 but when it is recollected   
that two generations of    sovereigns of
 the first people in the world have been
 lost at    the same moment1 the event  
becomes almost an awful one4     ,i go  
on always labouring in my vocation4 ,i  
am now at work on a    subject almost as
 interesting as the last which ,i       
undertook4    ,it is too much to hope   
for the same success2 at least ,i will  
deserve it4     ,when you come to town  
in the spring1 which ,i trust you will  

do1    ,i shall show you my service of  
plate4 ,i do not think you will    like 
it the less for the cause of the gift4  
,i am not sure whether ,i shall not take
 a run down to ,nether    ,stowey and   
the west for a few days1 if you         
encourage me with    any hopes of the   
estate#ea and of woodcocks4 ,you will   
fix my    plans4     ,i shall be        
disengaged between the #aeth and        
,christmas1 and shall    like to revisit
 ,lymouth1 and above all to shake you by
 the    hand4     ,lady ,d4 is in better
 health than ,i have ever known her to  
possess4 ,she begs her kind             
remembrances4      ,i am1 my dear       
,poole1 most affectionately yours1      
,h4 ,,davy4     #ej ,the death of the   
,princess ,charlotte4    #ea ,he here   
alludes to an estate in the             
neighbourhood of ,nether   ,stowey1     
which he wished to purchase1 and about  
which he had   requested ,mr4 ,poole to 
make enquiries4  ,in a strictly         
scientific point of view1 the most      

interesting results which have arisen   
out of the investigation for            
constructing a ,safety-lamp1 are perhaps
 those which have made us better        
acquainted with the true nature of      
flame1 and the circumstances by which it
 is modified2 and which have led to some
 practical views connected with the     
useful arts4  ,it is1 ,i think1         
impossible to enter into the details of 
those curious investigations#eb which1  
under the title of ,some ,researches on 
,flame1 were communicated to the ,royal 
,society1 and read before that body on  
the #afth of ,january #ahag1 without    
being forcibly struck with the address  
by which ,davy1 in the first instance1  
brought abstract science to promote and 
extend practical knowledge2 and then1 as
 it were by a species of multiplied     
reflection1 applied the new facts thus  
elicited for the farther extension of   
speculative truth2 which in its wider   
range became again instrumental in      
disclosing a fresh store of useful      

facts4 ,it may be said to have been the 
power of dexterously combining such     
methods which constituted the felicity  
of his genius2 for1 in general1 each of 
them requires for its successful        
application a mind of quite a distinct  
order and construction4 ,mr4 ,babbage   
has very justly observed1 that those    
intellectual qualifications which give  
birth to new principles or to new       
methods1 are of quite a different order 
from those which are necessary for their
 practical application4 ,davy furnished 
the exception that was necessary to make
 good the rule4    #eb ,a short notice  
of them first appeared in the third     
number   of the ,journal of ,science and
 the ,arts1 edited at the ,royal        
,institution4  ,he detects1 in the first
 instance1 the general principle of     
inflammable gas1 in a state of          
combustion1 being arrested in its       
progress by capillary tubes2 he next    
applies it to the construction of a     
,safety-lamp1 and then1 by observing the

 phenomena which this lamp exhibits1 is 
led to novel views respecting the nature
 and properties of flame4--,i shall     
endeavour to offer a popular view of the
 curious and interesting truths         
disclosed by this latter research4  ,he 
had observed that1 when the coal gas    
burnt in the iron cage1 its colour was  
pale1 and its light feeble2 whereas the 
fact is rendered familiar to us all by  
the flame of the gas lights1 that in the
 open air carburetted hydrogen burns    
with great brilliancy4 ,upon reflecting 
on the circumstances of the two species 
of combustion1 he was led to believe    
that the cause of the superiority of the
 light in the latter case might be owing
 to a decomposition of a part of the gas
 towards the interior of the flame1     
where the air was in the smallest       
quantity2 and that the consequent       
deposition of charcoal might first by   
its ignition1 and afterwards by its     
combustion1 contribute to this increase 
of light4 ,a conjecture which he        

immediately verified by experiment4#ec  
#ec ,this theory of ,davy is well       
illustrated by the change   produced in 
the flame of gas-light1 when acted upon 
by the   wind1 as may be seen during an 
illumination4 ,the loss of light   under
 these circumstances evidently arises   
from the more rapid   combustion of the 
gas1 by its more complete admixture with
 air2   in consequence of which the     
decomposition above described does   not
 take place4  ,the intensity therefore  
of the light of flames depends          
principally upon the production and     
ignition of solid matter in combustion1 
so that heat and light are in this      
process independent phenomena4  ,these  
facts1 ,davy observes1 appear to admit  
of many applications2 in explaining1 for
 instance1 the appearance of different  
flames--in suggesting the means of      
increasing or diminishing their light1  
and in deducing from their characters a 
knowledge of the composition of their   
constituent parts4  ,the point of the   

inner blue flame of a candle or lamp    
urged by the blow-pipe1 where the heat  
is the greatest and the light the least1
 is the point where the whole of the    
charcoal is burnt in its gaseous        
combinations1 without previous ignition4
 ,the flames of phosphorus and of zinc  
in oxygen1 and that of potassium in     
chlorine1 afford examples of intensity  
of light depending upon the production  
of fixed solid matter in combustion2    
while on the contrary1 the feebleness of
 the light of those flames1 in which    
gaseous and volatile matter is alone    
produced1 is well illustrated by those  
of hydrogen and sulphur in oxygen1 or by
 that of phosphorus in chlorine4  ,from 
such facts1 he is inclined to think that
 the luminous appearance of shooting    
stars and meteors cannot be owing to any
 inflammation of gas1 but must depend   
upon the ignition of solid matter4 ,dr4 
,halley calculated the height of a      
meteor at ninety miles1 and the great   
,american meteor1 which threw down      

showers of stones1 was estimated at only
 seventeen miles high4 ,the velocity of 
the motion of such bodies must in all   
cases be immensely great1 and the heat  
thus produced by the compression of the 
most rarefied air1 ,davy thinks1 must be
 sufficient to ignite the mass2 and that
 all the phenomena may be explained by  
assuming that falling stars are small   
solid bodies moving round the earth in  
very eccentric orbits1 which become     
ignited only when they pass with immense
 velocity through the upper regions of  
the atmosphere1 and which1 when they    
contain either combustible or elastic   
matter1 throw out stones with explosion4
  ,by the application of such a         
principle did he also infer the         
composition of a body from the character
 of its flame3 thus1 says he1 ,ether1   
during its combustion1 would appear to  
indicate the presence of olefiant gas4  
,alcohol burns with a flame similar to  
that of a mixture of carbonic oxide and 
hydrogen2 so that the first is probably 

a binary compound of olefiant gas and   
water1 and the second of carbonic oxide 
and hydrogen4  ,when the proto-chloride 
of copper is introduced into the flame  
of a candle or lamp1 it affords a       
peculiar dense and brilliant red light1 
tinged with green and blue towards the  
edges1 which seems to depend upon the   
separation of the chlorine from the     
copper by the hydrogen1 and the ignition
 and combustion of the solid copper and 
charcoal4  ,the acknowledged fact of the
 brightest flames yielding the least    
heat is easily reconciled1 when we learn
 that the light depends upon fixed      
matter which carries off the heat4 ,it  
is equally obvious1 that by art we may1 
for practical purposes1 easily modify   
these phenomena4  ,in the next place1   
having observed that wire-gauze cooled  
down flame beyond its combustible point1
 he was led to enquire into the nature  
of pure flame2 and he readily           
demonstrated it to be gaseous matter    
heated so highly as to be luminous2 and 

that the temperature necessary for such 
an effect was much greater than had been
 imagined1 varying1 however1 in         
different cases4 ,the flame of a common 
lamp he proved1 by a very simple        
experiment1 to exceed even the white    
heat of solid bodies1 and which is      
easily shown by the simple fact of      
heating a piece of platinum wire over   
the chimney of an ,argand lamp fed with 
spirit of wine2 when it will be seen    
that air1 which is not of sufficient    
temperature to appear luminous1 is still
 sufficiently hot to impart a white heat
 to a solid body immersed in it4  ,the  
fact of different gaseous bodies        
requiring different degrees of heat to  
raise them into flame1 was an inference 
immediately deducible from the phenomena
 of his safety gauze4 ,a tissue of one  
hundred apertures to the square inch1   
made of wire of one-sixtieth1 will1 at  
common temperatures1 intercept the flame
 of a spirit-lamp1 but not that of      
hydrogen2 and1 when strongly heated1 it 

will no longer arrest the flame of the  
spirit-lamp4 ,a tissue which1 when      
red-hot1 will not interrupt the flame of
 hydrogen1 will still intercept that of 
olefiant gas2 and a heated tissue1 which
 would communicate explosion from a     
mixture of olefiant gas and air1 will   
stop an explosion of fire-damp4         
,fortunately for the success of the     
,safety-lamp1 carburetted hydrogen      
requires so high a temperature to carry 
on its combustion1 that even metal1 when
 white-hot1 is far below it2 and hence  
red-hot gauze1 in sufficient quantity1  
and of the proper degree of fineness1   
will abstract heat enough from the flame
 to extinguish it4  ,the discovery of   
the high temperature which is necessary 
for the maintenance of flame1 suggested 
to the philosopher the reason of its    
extinction under various circumstances4 
,he considers1 that the common operation
 of blowing out a candle principally    
depends upon the cooling power of the   
current of air projected into the       

flame2#ed and he observes1 that the     
hottest flames are those which are least
 easily blown out4 ,he farther          
illustrated this subject by surrounding 
a very small flame with a ring of metal1
 which had the effect of cooling it so  
far as to extinguish it2 but a ring of  
glass1 of similar dimensions and        
diameter1 being a less perfect conductor
 of heat1 produced no such effect4      
#ed ,quere4 ,is this theory correct8    
,may not the effect be   mechanical1 the
 appulse of the air separating the flame
 from   the wick4--,upon the principle  
suggested by ,davy1 how are we to       
explain the fact of rekindling the flame
 by a blast8  ,it had been long known   
that flame ceased to burn in highly     
rarefied air2 but the degree of         
rarefaction necessary for this effect   
had been very differently stated4 ,the  
cause of the phenomenon was generally   
supposed to depend upon a deficiency of 
oxygen4  ,in the commencement of his    
enquiry into this subject1 ,davy        

observed that the flame of hydrogen gas1
 the degree of rarefaction and the      
quantity of air being the same1 burnt   
longer when it issued from a larger than
 a smaller jet1--a fact the very reverse
 of that which must have happened had   
the flame expired for want of oxygen2 he
 moreover observed1 that when the larger
 jet was used1 the point of the glass   
tube became white-hot1 and continued    
red-hot till the flame was extinguished3
 he therefore concluded1 that the heat  
communicated to the gas by this tube was
 the cause of its protracted combustion1
 and that flame expired in rarefied air1
 not for want of nourishment from       
oxygen1 but for want of heat1 and that  
if its temperature could be preserved by
 some supplementary aid1 the flame might
 be kept burning4 ,the experiment by    
which he confirmed this theory was as   
beautiful as it was satisfactory4  ,he  
burnt a piece of camphor in a glass     
tube1 under the receiver of an air-pump1
 so as to make the upper part of the    

tube red-hot2 its inflammation was found
 to continue when the rarefaction was   
nine times2 but by repeating the        
experiment in a metallic tube1 which    
could not be so considerably heated by  
it1 it ceased after the rarefaction     
exceeded six times4  ,it follows then   
that by artificially imparting heat1#ee 
bodies may be made to burn in a rarefied
 air1 when under other circumstances    
they would be extinguished4    #ee ,it  
is upon this principle that1 in the     
,argand lamp1 the   ,liverpool lamp1 and
 in the best fire-places1 the increase  
of   effect does not merely depend upon 
the rapid current of air1   but likewise
 upon the heat preserved by the         
arrangement of   the materials of the   
chimney1 and communicated to the matters
   entering into inflammation4 ,the art 
of making a good fire   depends also    
upon the same principle of economising  
the heat4  ,the following may be        
considered as an experimentum crucis1 in
 proof of the fact that combustibility  

is neither increased nor diminished by  
rarefaction4  ,he introduced the flame  
of hydrogen1 in which was inserted a    
platinum wire1 into a receiver of       
rarefied air1 and he found that1 as long
 as the metal remained at a dull        
red-heat1 the flame continued to burn3  
now it so happens that the temperature1 
at which platinum approaches a red-heat1
 is precisely that at which hydrogen    
inflames under the ordinary pressure of 
the atmosphere2 whence it follows1 that 
its combustibility is not altered by    
rarefaction4  ,the same law was found to
 apply to the flames of other bodies2   
those requiring the least heat for their
 combustion always sustaining the       
greater rarefaction without being       
extinguished4#ef    #ef ,from a         
calculation of the ratio in which the   
density of the   atmosphere decreases   
with its altitude1 and from that of the 
relative combustibility of different    
bodies1 it follows that   the taper     
would be extinguished at a height of    

between nine and   ten miles--hydrogen1 
between twelve and thirteen--and        
sulphur1   between fifteen and sixteen4 
,hitherto he had only considered the    
effects of rarefaction1 when produced by
 the diminution of pressure2 he had next
 to investigate the phenomena of        
rarefaction when occasioned by expansion
 from heat4  ,the experiments of ,m4 de 
,grotthus had apparently shown that     
rarefaction by heat destroys the        
combustibility of gaseous mixtures2     
those of ,davy1 however1 proved that it 
enables them to explode at a lower      
temperature4  ,in the progress of this  
research1 while passing mixtures of     
hydrogen and oxygen through heated      
tubes1 the heat being still below       
redness1 he observed that steam was     
formed without any combustion4  ,here   
was a slow combination without          
combustion1 as long since observed with 
respect to hydrogen and chlorine1 and   
oxygen and metals2 and he believes that 
such a phenomenon will happen at certain

 temperatures with most substances that 
unite by heat4 ,on trying charcoal1 he  
found that at a temperature which       
appeared to be a little above the       
boiling point of quicksilver1 it        
converted oxygen pretty rapidly into    
carbonic acid1 without any luminous     
appearance1 and that1 at a dull         
red-heat1 the elements of olefiant gas  
combined in a similar manner with       
oxygen1 slowly and without explosion4   
,it occurred to ,davy1 in the progress  
of these experiments1 that1 during this 
species of slow combination1 although   
the increase of temperature might not be
 sufficient to render the gaseous       
matters luminous1 or to produce flame1  
it might still be adequate to ignite    
solid matters exposed to them4 ,it was  
while engaged in devising experiments to
 ascertain this fact1 that he was       
accidentally led to the discovery of the
 continued ignition of platinum wire1   
during the slow combination of coal gas 
with atmospheric air2 the circumstances 

of which have been already related1 as  
well as the curious invention to which  
the application of the fact gave        
origin4#eg    #eg ,see page #ajj of this
 volume4  ,for this and his preceding   
papers on the subjects of flame and     
combustion1 the ,president and ,council 
of the ,royal ,society adjudged to ,sir 
,humphry ,davy the gold and silver      
medals1 on the donation of ,count       
,rumford2#eh and never1 ,i will venture 
say1 did a society in awarding a prize  
more faithfully comply with the         
intentions of its founder4    #eh ,at   
the ,anniversary of the ,royal ,society1
 ,november #agif1   ,count ,rumford     
transferred one thousand pounds1 ,three 
per ,cent4   ,consols1 to the use of the
 ,society1 on condition that a premium  
should be biennially awarded to the     
author of the most important            
discovery1 or useful invention1 made    
known in any part of ,europe   during   
the preceding two years1 on the subject 
of ,,heat ,,and ,,light4   ,in regard to

 the form in which this premium was to  
be conferred1   he requested that it    
might always be given in two medals1    
struck   in the same die1 the one of    
gold1 and the other of silver4          
,should not any discovery or improvement
 be made during any terms   of years1 he
 directed that the value of the medals  
should be   reserved1 and being laid out
 in the purchase of additional stock1   
go in augmentation of the capital of    
this premium4    ,medals upon this      
foundation have been successively voted 
to   ,professor ,leslie1 for his        
,experiments on ,heat1 published in     
his work entitled ,an ,experimental     
,enquiry into the ,nature   and         
,properties of ,heat2--,to ,mr4 ,william
 ,murdoch1 for his   publication ,on the
 ,employment of ,gas and ,coal for the  
purpose of   ,illumination2--to ,m4     
,malus1 for his discoveries of certain  
new   properties of reflected light2--to
 ,dr4 ,wells1 for his ,essay on         
,dew2--to ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 as above 

stated2--to ,dr4 ,brewster1 for   his   
,optical ,investigations2--and1 lastly1 
to ,mr4 ,fresnel1 for his   optical     
researches4  ,on the completion of these
 laborious enquiries1 it was thought    
expedient to give a wider circulation to
 their results than the publication of  
them in the ,philosophical ,transactions
 was calculated to afford2 and ,sir     
,humphry ,davy was therefore induced to 
reprint his principal memoirs1 so as to 
form an octavo volume1#ei which might be
 accessible to the practical parts of   
the community4    #ei ,on the           
,safety-lamp for ,coal ,mines1 with some
 ,researches on   ,flame4--,london1     
#ahah4  ,the enlightened friends of     
science very reasonably expected that a 
service of such importance to society as
 the invention of the ,safety-lamp1     
would have commanded the gratitude of   
the ,state1 and obtained for its author 
a high parliamentary reward2 nor were   
there wanting zealous and disinterested 
persons to urge the claims of the       

,philosopher3 but a ,government which   
had bestowed a splendid pension upon the
 contriver of an engine#fj for the      
destruction of human life1 refused to   
listen to any proposition for the reward
 of one who had invented a machine for  
its preservation4 ,it is true that1 in  
consideration of various scientific     
services1 they tardily and inadequately 
acknowledged the claims of ,davy1 by    
bestowing upon him the dignity of       
,baronetcy#fa--;a reward1 it must be    
confessed1 that neither displayed any   
regard to his condition1 nor implied the
 just estimate of his merits4 ,the      
measure of value1 however1 enables us to
 judge of the standard by which the     
,state rates the various services to    
society2 and deeply is it to be lamented
 that the disproportioned exaltation of 
military achievement1 crowned with the  
highest honours1 depresses respect for  
science1 and raises a false and         
fruitless object of ambition4    #fj    
,sir ,william ,congreve1 in addition to 

other marks of favour1   received a     
pension of twelve hundred a-year1 for   
the invention of   his ,rocket2 or1 in  
the exact terms of the grant1 for       
inventions   calculated to destroy or   
annoy the enemy4    #fa ,he was created 
a ,baronet on the #bjth of ,october1    
#ahah4  ,the passion for arms is a      
relict of barbarity derived from the    
feudal ages2 the progress of            
civilization1 and the cultivation of the
 mind1 should have led us to prefer     
intellectual to physical superiority1   
and to recognise in the successes of    
science the chief titles to honour4     
,this reversal of the objects of        
importance can never be redressed until 
the aristocracy shall be possessed of a 
competent share of scientific knowledge1
 and instructed to appreciate its value4
 ,to effect such a change1 the system of
 education so blindly and obstinately   
continued in our great public schools1  
must be altered2 for minds exclusively  
applied to classical pursuits1 and      

trained to recognise no other objects of
 liberal study1 are indisposed and      
indeed disqualified for enquiries       
ministering to the arts of life1 and    
arrogantly despised for their very      
connexion with utility4 ,it is in the   
early ignorance of the rudiments of     
science that the after negligence of    
science has its source4  ,the instances 
in proof of the extent of the ignorance 
and indifference ,i have noted1 and of  
their pernicious effects upon the most  
important interests of society1         
especially legislation1 and the         
administration of justice1 are abundant4
 ,in ,parliament1 how is a question of  
science treated8 ,in our courts of law1 
and criminal investigation1 it is       
lamentable to observe the frequent      
defeat of justice1 arising from         
erroneous conception1 or from the utter 
absence of the requisite knowledge4 ,in 
the ordinary affairs of life1 we see    
conspicuous1 amongst the dupes of       
quackery and imposture1 those whose     

stations should imply the best          
instruction1 and whose conduct1         
unfortunately1 has the effect of        
example4  ,a contempt far-spreading1 and
 proceeding from the well-springs of    
truth1 is rapidly rising against this   
exalted ignorance2 the industrious      
classes of society are daily becoming   
more imbued with knowledge upon         
scientific subjects1 and the nobility1  
if they would preserve their superiority
 in social consideration1 must descend  
to the popular improvement4         99  
99       99       99       99  ,before  
concluding the present chapter1 ,i must 
carry back my history to the year #ahae1
 for the purpose of recording a         
circumstance in the life of ,davy1      
which1 while it exemplifies his general 
love of science1 evinces the local      
attachment he retained for the town of  
his birth4  ,in the year #ahac1 the     
,geological ,society of ,cornwall was   
established at ,penzance4 ,its objects  
are to cultivate the sciences of        

,mineralogy and ,geology1 in a district 
better calculated perhaps for such      
pursuits than any other spot in         
,europe1--to register the new facts     
which are continually presenting        
themselves in the mines1 and to place   
upon permanent record1 the history of   
phenomena which had hitherto been       
entrusted to oral tradition2 but1 above 
all1 its object was to bring science in 
alliance with art2 to prevent the       
accidents which had so frequently       
occurred from explosion in the operation
 of blasting rocks2 and1 in short1 to   
render all the resources of speculative 
truth subservient to the ends of        
practical improvement4  ,no sooner had  
the establishment of so useful an       
institution been communicated to ,davy1 
than he testified his zeal for its      
welfare by a handsome donation to its   
funds2 which was followed by a present  
of a very extensive suite of specimens1 
illustrative of the volcanic district of
 ,naples1 and which had been collected  

by himself4 ,he also afterwards         
communicated to the ,society a memoir on
 the ,geology of ,cornwall1 which has   
been published in the first volume of   
its ,transactions4  ,in this paper1 he  
discusses several of the more difficult 
questions connected with the origin of  
veins4  ,he first observed the granitic 
veins1 which have called forth so much  
attention from geologists1 about the    
year #agig2 probably before they had    
excited much scientific notice3 he is   
disposed to regard them as peculiar to  
the low metalliferous granite and mica  
formations2 he had seen several cases of
 granite veins near ,dublin1 in the     
,isle of ,arran1 and in other parts of  
,scotland2 he had also observed several 
instances near ,morlaix in ,brittany1   
but he had in vain searched for them in 
the points of junction of the schist and
 granite1 both in the ,maritime1 ,savoy1
 ,swiss1 and ,tyrolese ,alps1 and       
likewise in the ,oriental ,pyrenees4    
,the serpentine district of ,cornwall1  

he thinks1 has not yet met with the     
attention it deserves4 ,i have seen no  
formation1 says he1 in which the nature 
of serpentine is so distinctly          
displayed4 ,the true constituent parts  
of this rock appear to be resplendent   
hornblende and felspar2 it appears to   
differ from sienite only in the nature  
of the hornblende1 and in the chemical  
composition of its parts1 and in being  
intersected by numerous veins of        
steatite and calcareous spar4  ,the     
nature and origin of the veins of       
steatite in serpentine1 he considers as 
offering a very curious subject for     
enquiry4 ,were they originally          
crystallized1 he asks1 and the result of
 chemical deposition8 or have they been1
 as for the most part they are now      
found1 mere mechanical deposits8 ,he is 
inclined to the latter opinion4 ,the    
felspar in serpentine1 he observes1 is  
very liable to decomposition1 probably  
from the action of carbonic acid and    
water on its alkaline1 calcareous1 and  

magnesian elements2 and its parts washed
 down by water and deposited in the     
chasms of the rocks1 he thinks would    
necessarily gain that kind of loose     
aggregation belonging to steatite4  ,he 
had some years before made a rude1      
comparative analysis of the felspar in  
serpentine1 and of the soap-rock1 when  
he found the same constituents in both  
of them1 except that there was not any  
alkali or calcareous earth in the latter
 substance4 ,it is very difficult to    
conceive1 he says1 that steatite was    
originally a crystallized substance     
which has been since decomposed2 for1 in
 that case1 it ought to be found in its 
primitive state in veins which are      
excluded from the action of air and     
water2 whereas it is easy to account for
 the hardness of some species of        
steatite on the former hypothesis2 for  
mere mechanical deposits1 when very     
finely divided1 and very slowly made1   
adhere with a very considerable degree  
of force4 ,a remarkable instance of this

 kind occurred to him amongst the       
chemical preparations of the late ,mr4  
,cavendish1 which1 on the decease of    
that illustrious philosopher1 had been  
presented to him by ,lord ,george       
,cavendish3 there was a bottle which had
 originally contained a solution of     
silica by potash2 the cork1 during the  
lapse of years1 had become decayed1 and 
the carbonic acid of the atmosphere had 
gradually precipitated the earth1 so    
that it was found in a state of solid   
cohesion2 the upper part was as soft as 
the steatite1 but the lower portion was 
extremely hard1 was broken with some    
difficulty1 and presented an appearance 
similar to that of chalcedony4  ,in     
speaking generally of the mineralogical 
interest of ,cornwall1 he observes1 that
 it may be regarded1 ,greek3 kat'       
exochn1 as the country of veins2 and    
that it is in veins that the most useful
 as well as the most valuable minerals  
generally exist1 that the pure specimens
 are found which serve to determine the 

mineralogical species1 and that the     
appearances seem most interesting in    
their connexion with geological theory4 
,thus veins1 which now may be considered
 in the light of the most valuable      
cabinets of nature1 were once her most  
active laboratories2 and they are       
equally important to the practical      
miner1 and to the mineralogical         
philosopher4  ,with regard to the       
general conformation of ,cornwall1 he   
states it to be in the highest degree   
curious1 and he considers that the facts
 which it offers are illustrative of    
many important points of geological     
theory4 ,it exhibits very extraordinary 
instances of rocks broken in almost     
every direction1 but principally from   
east to west1 and filled with veins     
again broken in1 diversified by cross   
lines1 and filled with other veins1 and 
exhibiting marks of various successive  
phenomena of this kind4  ,respecting the
 agents that produced the chasms in the 
primary strata1 and the power by which  

they were filled with stony and metallic
 matter1 it would be easy to speculate1 
but very difficult to reason by         
legitimate philosophical induction4  ,in
 the concluding passage1 however1 he    
very freely admits his preference for   
the doctrine of fire4  ,it is amongst   
extinct volcanoes1 the surfaces of which
 have been removed by the action of air 
and water1 and in which the interior    
parts of strata of lavas are exposed1   
that the most instructive examples of   
the operation of slow cooling upon      
heated masses are to be found4 ,it is   
difficult to conceive that water could  
have been the solvent of the different  
granitic and porphyritic formations2    
for1 in that case1 some combinations of 
water with the pure earths ought to be  
found in them4 ,quartz ought to exist in
 a state of hydrate1 and ,wavellite1 not
 ,corundum1 ought to be the state of    
alumina in granite4  ,to suppose the    
primary rocks1 in general1 to have been 
produced by the slow cooling of a mass  

formed by the combustion of the metallic
 bases of the earths1 appears to me the 
most reasonable hypothesis2 yet aqueous 
agency must not be entirely excluded    
from our geological views4 ,in many     
cases of crystallization1 even in       
volcanic countries1 this cause operates2
 thus in ,ischia1 siliceous tufas are   
formed from hot springs2 and in the lake
 ,albula1 or the lake of ,solfaterra1   
near ,tivoli1 crystals of calcareous    
spar and of sulphur separate from water 
impregnated with carbonic acid and      
hepatic gas2 and large strata of        
calcareous rocks1 formed evidently in   
late times by water impregnated with    
carbonic acid1 exist in various parts of
 ,europe4 ,the ,travertine marble       
7,marmor ,tiburtinum7 is a production of
 this kind2 and it is of this species of
 stone that the ,colosseum at ,rome1 and
 the cathedral of ,st4 ,peter1 are      
built4 ,it is likewise employed in the  
ancient temple of ,pstum1 and it rivals 
in durability1 if not in beauty1 the    

primary marble of ,paris and ,carrara4  
,,chapter ,,xii4     ,sir ,humphry ,davy
 suggests a chemical method for         
unrolling    the ancient ,papyri4--,he  
is encouraged by the ,government    to  
proceed to ,naples for that             
purpose4--,he embarks at                
,dover4--,his experiments on the ,rhine1
 the ,danube1 the ,raab1    the ,save1  
the ,ironzo1 the ,po1 and the ,tiber1 in
 order to    explain the formation of   
mists on rivers and lakes4--,his        
arrival and reception at ,naples4--,he  
visits the excavations    at            
,herculaneum4--,he concludes that it was
 overwhelmed by    sand and ashes1 but  
had never been exposed to burning       
matter4--,he commences his attempt of   
unrolling the ,papyri4--,his            
failure4--,he complains of the persons  
at the head of the    department in the 
,museum4--,he analyses the waters of the
    ,baths of ,lucca4--,his return to   
,england4--,death of ,sir ,joseph       
,banks4--,he is elected ,president of   

the ,royal ,society4--,some    remarks  
on that event4--,he visits              
,penzance4--,is honoured by    a public 
dinner4--,electro-magnetic discoveries  
of ,oersted    extended by ,davy4--,he  
examines ,electrical ,phenomena in      
vacuo4--,the results of his experiments 
questioned4--,he enquires    into the   
state of the water1 and ariform matter  
in the    cavities of crystals4--,the   
interesting results of his enquiry      
confirm the views of the ,plutonists4   
,our history now proceeds to exhibit    
,sir ,humphry ,davy in quite a new field
 of enquiry2--engaged in investigating1 
amidst the ruins of ,herculaneum1 the   
nature and effects of the volcanic      
eruption which overwhelmed that city in 
the reign of ,titus2 and in attempting1 
by the resources of modern science1 to  
unfold and to render legible the        
mouldering archives which have been     
recovered from its excavations1 and     
deposited in the ,museum at ,naples4    
,having witnessed the unsuccessful      

attempts of ,dr4 ,sickler to unroll some
 of the ,herculaneum manuscripts1 it    
occurred to him that a chemical         
examination of their nature1 and of the 
changes they had undergone1 might       
suggest some method of separating the   
leaves from each other1 and of rendering
 legible the characters impressed upon  
them4 ,on communicating this opinion to 
,sir ,thomas ,tyrwhitt1 he immediately  
placed at his disposal fragments which  
had been operated upon by ,mr4 ,hayter  
and by ,dr4 ,sickler3 at the same time1 
,dr4 ,young presented him with some     
small pieces1 which he himself had      
formerly attempted to unroll4  ,davy was
 very soon convinced by the products of 
their distillation1 that the nature of  
these manuscripts had been generally    
misunderstood2 that they had not1 as was
 usually supposed1 been carbonized by   
the operation of fire1 but were in a    
state analogous to peat1 or to ,bovey   
coal1 the leaves being generally        
cemented into one mass by a peculiar    

substance which had formed1 during the  
fermentation and chemical change of the 
vegetable matter composing them1 in a   
long course of ages4 ,the nature of this
 substance being once known1 the        
destruction of it would become a subject
 of obvious chemical investigation4  ,it
 occurred to him1 that as chlorine and  
iodine do not exert any action upon pure
 carbonaceous substances1 while they    
possess a strong attraction for         
hydrogen1 these bodies might probably be
 applied with success for the purpose of
 destroying the adhesive matter1 without
 the possibility of injuring the letters
 of the ,papyri1 the ink of the         
ancients1 as it is well known1 being    
composed of charcoal4 ,he accordingly   
exposed a fragment of a brown           
manuscript1 in which the layers were    
strongly adherent1 to an atmosphere of  
chlorine2 there was an immediate action1
 the papyrus smoked1 and became yellow1 
and the letters appeared much more      
distinct4 ,after which1 by the          

application of heat1 the layers         
separated from each other1 and fumes of 
muriatic acid were evolved4 ,the vapour 
of iodine had a less distinct1 but still
 a very sensible action4 ,by the simple 
application of heat to a fragment in a  
close vessel filled with carbonic acid1 
or with the vapour of ether1 so         
regulated as to raise the temperature   
very gradually1 and as gradually to     
reduce it1 there was a marked           
improvement in the texture of the       
papyrus1 and its leaves were more easily
 unrolled4 ,in all these preliminary    
trials1 however1 he found that the      
success of the experiment absolutely    
depended upon the nicety with which the 
temperature was regulated4  ,different  
papyri having exhibited different       
appearances1 he concluded that the same 
process would not apply in all cases2   
but even a partial success he considered
 as a step gained1 and it served to     
increase his anxiety to examine in      
detail the numerous specimens preserved 

in the ,museum at ,naples1 as well as to
 visit the excavations that still       
remained open at ,herculaneum4  ,mr4    
,hamilton1 to whom these views were     
communicated1 with that ardour which    
belongs to his character1 entered warmly
 into a plan which might enable ,sir    
,humphry ,davy to accomplish his        
objects2 and on his representation of   
them1 the ,earl of ,liverpool and       
,viscount ,castlereagh placed at his    
disposal such funds as were requisite   
for paying the persons whom it was      
necessary to engage in the process4  ,at
 the same time1 ,sir ,humphry ,davy had 
the honour of an audience of his late   
,majesty1 then ,prince ,regent2 and on  
witnessing the results1 his ,royal      
,highness was pleased to express his    
approbation1 and graciously condescended
 to patronize the undertaking4 ,exulting
 in the prospect of success1 and        
sanguine as to the importance of its    
results to literature1 ,davy embarked at
 ,dover for the ,continent1 in order to 

proceed to ,naples1 on the #bfth of ,may
 #ahah4  ,during his journey1 he was    
engaged in making observations on the   
comparative temperature of air incumbent
 upon land and water1 with a view to    
account for the formation of mists over 
the beds of rivers and lakes4 ,the      
results of this enquiry were embodied in
 a memoir1 which was read before the    
,royal ,society on the #beth of         
,february #ahai1 and published in the   
,philosophical ,transactions of that    
year4 ,this paper1 while it records the 
course of his observations1 informs us  
of the direction of his route to the    
southern shores of ,italy4  ,on the     
#cast of ,may1 while passing along the  
,rhine from ,cologne to ,coblentz1 we   
find him examining the relative         
temperature of the air1 and of the water
 of that river4 ,on the #ith1 #ajth1 and
 #aath of ,june1 he was making similar  
observations on the ,danube1 during a   
voyage from ,ratisbonne to ,vienna4 ,on 
the #aath of ,july1 he was similarly    

engaged on the ,raab1 near ,kermond in  
,hungary4 ,in the end of ,august he was 
on the ,save in ,carniola2 in the middle
 of ,september on the ,ironzo in the    
,friul2 in the end of that month1 on the
 ,po1 near ,ferrara2 and in the         
beginning of ,october1 repeatedly on the
 ,tiber1 and on the small lakes in the  
,campagna of ,rome1 extending and       
multiplying his observations upon the   
formation of mists3 from the results of 
which he established the law1 that the  
formation of mist1 on a river or lake1  
never takes place1 if the temperature of
 the water be lower than that of the    
atmosphere2 not even though the latter  
should be even saturated with vapour4   
,possessed of this fact1 he was enabled 
to explain a phenomenon which all       
persons who have been accustomed to the 
observation of ,nature must have        
frequently witnessed1 although it had   
never yet been philosophically          
explained1 nor even fully discussed1    
viz4--the formation of mists over the   

beds of rivers and lakes1 in calm and   
clear weather1 after sunset4  ,sir      
,humphry ,davy thinks that whoever has  
considered the phenomena in relation to 
the radiation and communication of heat 
and nature of vapour1 since the         
publication of the researches of ,,mm4  
,rumford1 ,leslie1 ,dalton1 and ,wells1 
can scarcely have failed to discover    
their true causes4  ,as soon as the sun 
has disappeared from any part of the    
globe1 the surface begins to lose heat  
by radiation1 and in greater proportions
 as the sky is clearer2 but the land and
 water are cooled by this operation in a
 very different manner3 the impression  
of cooling on the land is limited to the
 surface1 and very slowly transmitted to
 the interior2 whereas in water above   
#de ,fah41 as soon as the upper stratum 
is cooled1 whether by radiation or      
evaporation1 it sinks in the mass of    
fluid1 and its place is supplied by     
warmer water from below1 and till the   
temperature of the whole mass is reduced

 nearly to #dj1 the surface cannot be   
the coolest part4#fb ,it follows1       
therefore1 that wherever water exists in
 considerable masses1 and has a         
temperature nearly equal to that of the 
land1 or only a few degrees below it1   
and above #de at sunset1 its surface    
during the night1 in calm and clear     
weather1 will be warmer than that of the
 contiguous land2 and the air above the 
land will necessarily be colder than    
that above the water2 and when they both
 contain their due proportion of aqueous
 vapour1 and the situation of the ground
 is such as to permit the cold air from 
the land to mix with the warmer air     
above the water1 mist or fog will be the
 result2 which will be so much the      
greater in quantity1 as the land        
surrounding or inclosing the water is   
higher1 the water deeper1 and the       
temperature of the water1 which will    
coincide with the quantity or strength  
of vapour in the air above it1 greater4 
#fb ,water1 when cooled down to #dj1    

expands in volume1 and thus   becomes   
specifically lighter2 and therefore at  
that temperature   remains at the       
surface4  ,it will be remembered1 that  
the rivers ,inn and ,ilz flow into the  
,danube below ,passau2 a circumstance   
which afforded ,davy an excellent       
opportunity of confirming1 by           
observation and experiment1 the truth of
 his theory4 ,on examining the          
temperature of these rivers1 at six     
o'clock ,a4 ,m4 ,june #aa1 that of the  
,danube was found to be #fb1 that of the
 ,inn #ef4e1 and that of the ,ilz #ef3  
the temperature of the atmosphere on the
 banks1 where their streams mixed1 was  
#ed4 ,the whole surface of the ,danube  
was covered with a thick fog2 on the    
,inn there was a slight mist2 and on the
 ,ilz barely a haziness1 indicating the 
deposition of a very small quantity of  
water4 ,about one hundred yards below   
the conflux of the rivers1 the          
temperature of the central part of the  
,danube was #ei2 and here the quantity  

of mist was less than on the bed of the 
,danube before the junction2 but about  
half a mile below1 the warmer water had 
again found its place at the surface1   
and the mist was as copious as before   
the union of the three rivers4  ,after  
mists have been formed above rivers and 
lakes1 ,davy considers that their       
increase may not only depend upon the   
constant operation of the cause which   
originally produced them1 but likewise  
upon the radiation of heat from the     
superficial particles of water composing
 the mist1 which produces a descending  
current of cold air in the very body of 
the mist1 while the warm water          
continually sends up vapour4 ,it is to  
these circumstances1 he says1 that the  
phenomena must be ascribed of mists from
 a river or lake sometimes arising      
considerably above the surrounding      
hills4 ,he informs us that he had       
frequently witnessed such an appearance 
during the month of ,october1 after very
 still and very clear nights1 in the    

,campagna of ,rome above the ,tiber1 and
 on ,monte ,albano1 over the lakes      
existing in the ancient craters of this 
extinguished volcano2 and in one        
instance1 on the #agth of ,october1     
before sunrise1 there not being a breath
 of wind1 a dense white cloud1 of a     
pyramidal form1 was seen on the site of 
,alban ,lake1 and rising far above the  
highest peak of the mountain4 ,its form 
gradually changed after sunrise2 its    
apex first disappeared1 and its body1 as
 it were1 melted away in the sunbeams4  
,great dryness of the air1 or a current 
of dry air passing across a river1 he   
found1 as we might have expected1 to    
prevent the formation of mist even when 
the temperature of the water was much   
higher than that of the atmosphere4     
,thus did our philosopher1 during the   
course of his journey to ,naples1 by a  
series of observations and experiments1 
investigate a phenomenon connected with 
the deposition of water from the        
atmosphere1 and which is not without an 

effect in the economy of nature2 for    
verdure and fertility1 in hot climates1 
generally follow the courses of rivers1 
and by the operation of the law he      
established1 they are extended to the   
hills1 and even to the plains           
surrounding their banks4  ,on his       
arrival at ,naples1 ,sir ,h4 ,davy found
 that a letter from his ,royal ,highness
 the ,prince ,regent to the ,king1 and a
 communication made from the ,secretary 
of ,state for ,foreign ,affairs to the  
,neapolitan ,government1 had prepared   
the way for his enquiries1 and procured 
for him every possible facility in the  
pursuit of his objects4  ,the different 
rolls of papyri presented very various  
appearances4 ,they were of all shades1  
from a light chestnut brown to a deep   
black2 some externally were of a glossy 
black1 like jet1 which the              
superintendents called varnished2       
several contained the umbilicus1 or     
rolling-stick1 in the middle1 converted 
into dense charcoal4 ,in their texture1 

also1 they were as various as in their  
colours4  ,the persons to whom the care 
of these ,,mss4 are confided1 or who    
have worked upon them1 have always      
attributed these different appearances  
to the action of fire1 more or less     
intense1 according to the proximity of  
the lava1 which has been imagined to    
have covered the part of the city in    
which they were found2 but the different
 conclusion at which ,davy had arrived1 
from a chemical examination in ,england1
 was confirmed by a visit to the        
excavations that still remained open at 
,herculaneum4  ,these excavations are in
 a loose tufa1 composed of sand1        
volcanic ashes1 stones1 and dust1       
cemented by the operation of water1     
which1 at the time of its action1 was   
probably in a boiling state4 ,the       
theatre1 and the buildings in the       
neighbourhood1 are incased in this tufa1
 and1 from the manner in which it is    
deposited in the galleries of the       
houses1 there can be little doubt that  

it was the result of torrents laden with
 sand and volcanic matter1 and          
descending1 at the same time1 with      
showers of ashes and stone still more   
copious than those that covered         
,pompeii4 ,the excavation in the house  
in which the ,,mss4 were found1 had been
 filled up2 but a building1 which was   
said by the guides to be this house1 and
 which1 as is evident from the engraved 
plan1 must at least have been close to  
it1 at once convinced ,davy that the    
parts nearest the surface1 and1         
fortiori1 those more remote from it1 had
 never been exposed to any considerable 
degree of heat4 ,he found a small       
fragment of the ceiling of one of the   
rooms1 containing lines of gold leaf and
 vermilion1 in an unaltered state1 which
 never could have happened had they been
 acted upon by any temperature          
sufficiently great to convert vegetable 
matter into charcoal4  ,the different   
states of the ,,mss4 exactly coincide   
with this view1 and furnish evidence of 

their having undergone a gradual process
 of decomposition4 ,the loose chestnut  
papyri1 he observes1 were probably never
 wetted1 but merely changed by the      
reaction of their elements1 assisted by 
the operation of a small quantity of    
air2 the black ones1 which easily       
unroll1 may be supposed to have remained
 in a moist state1 without any          
percolation of water2 while it is likely
 that the dense ones1 containing earthy 
matter1 have been acted on by warm      
water1 which not only carried into the  
folds earthy matter suspended in it1 but
 likewise dissolved the starch and      
gluten used in preparing the papyrus and
 the glue of the ink1 and distributed   
them through the substance of the ,,mss4
  ,as many of the papyri appear to have 
been strongly compressed when moist1 in 
different positions1 he thinks it       
probable that they had been placed on   
shelves of wood1 which were broken down 
when the roofs of the houses yielded to 
the superincumbent mass4 ,that the      

operation of fire is not at all         
necessary for producing such an         
imperfect carbonization of vegetable    
matter as that displayed by the ,,mss41 
is at once proved by an inspection of   
the houses at ,pompeii1 which was       
covered by a shower of ashes that must  
have been cold1 as they fell at the     
distance of seven or eight miles from   
the crater of ,vesuvius2 and yet the    
wood of its buildings is uniformly found
 converted into charcoal1 while the     
colours on the walls1 most of which     
would have been destroyed or altered by 
heat1 are perfectly fresh4 ,where papyri
 have been found in these houses1 they  
have appeared in the form of white      
ashes1 as of burnt paper1 an effect     
produced by the slow action of the air  
penetrating through the loose ashes1 and
 which has been impeded or prevented in 
,herculaneum by the tufa1 which1 as it  
were1 hermetically sealed up the town1  
and prevented any decay1 except such as 
occurs in the spontaneous decomposition 

of vegetable substances exposed to the  
limited operation of water and air--for 
instance1 peat and ,bovey coal4  ,davy  
ascertained1 that what the ,neapolitans 
called varnish1 was decomposed skin that
 had been used to infold some of the    
papyri1 and which by chemical changes   
had produced a brilliant animal         
carbonaceous substance1 which afforded  
by distillation a considerable quantity 
of ammonia1 and left ashes containing   
much phosphate of lime4  ,only one      
method1 and that a simple and           
mechanical1 though a highly ingenious   
one1 had been adopted for unrolling the 
,,mss4 ,it was invented1 in the middle  
of the last century1 by ,padre ,piaggi1 
a ,roman1 and consists in attaching a   
thin animal membrane1 by a solution of  
glue1 to the back of the ,,mss4 and then
 carefully elevating the layers by silk 
threads1 which are gradually moved by   
the revolution of wooden pegs4 ,davy1   
shortly after his arrival1 desired that 
the process of unrolling might be       

continued in his presence2 and in       
considering the method in its general   
application1 it occurred to him that    
some expedient might be used to         
facilitate the separation of the layers4
 ,for this purpose1 he proposed to mix  
the solution of glue with a sufficient  
quantity of alcohol to gelatinize it1 in
 order that it might not penetrate      
through three or four layers1 which it  
was liable to do1 when the texture of   
the papyrus was loose or broken1 and the
 glue employed was in a liquid state4   
,he also suggested the application of   
warm air for drying the papyrus1 in the 
operation of attaching the membrane4 ,it
 is not my intention to follow the      
chemist through all the various         
processes which he instituted for       
accomplishing his object2 they may1     
however1 be found in his paper entitled 
,some ,observations and ,experiments on 
the ,papyri found in the ,ruins of      
,herculaneum1 which was read before the 
,royal ,society on the #aeth of ,march  

#ahba1 and published in the             
,transactions of that year4  ,it only   
remains to be stated that ,davy was not 
successful2 but though the process of   
unrolling hitherto applied may not have 
received any considerable improvement   
from his science1 and though he may not 
have succeeded in rendering any of the  
manuscripts legible1 the failure is not 
to be attributed to his want of zeal1 or
 to his want of skill1 but solely1 as it
 is generally admitted1 to the          
unfortunate condition of the papyri4    
,it will be readily supposed that a     
failure in an investigation1 from which 
he had anticipated so much advantage1   
was not sustained by a person naturally 
quick and irritable1 without some       
demonstrations of impatience and        
dissatisfaction4  ,it was probably under
 the influence of such feelings1 that he
 composed the conclusion of his memoir4 
,during the two months that ,i was      
actively employed in experiments on the 
papyri at ,naples1 ,i had succeeded1    

with the assistance of six of the       
persons attached to the ,museum1 and    
whom ,i had engaged for the purpose1 in 
partially unrolling twenty-three ,,mss41
 from which fragments of writing were   
obtained1 and in examining about one    
hundred and twenty others1 which        
afforded no hopes of success2 and ,i    
should gladly have gone on with the     
undertaking1 from the mere prospect of a
 possibility of discovering some better 
result1 had not the labour1 in itself   
difficult and unpleasant1 been made more
 so1 by the conduct of the persons at   
the head of this department in the      
,museum4 ,at first1 every disposition   
was shown to promote my researches2 for 
the papyri remaining unrolled were      
considered by them as incapable of      
affording any thing legible by the      
former methods1 or1 to use their own    
word1 disperati2 and the efficacy and   
use of the new processes were fully     
allowed by the ,svolgatori1 or unrollers
 of the ,museum2 and ,i was some time   

permitted to choose and operate upon the
 specimens at my own pleasure4 ,when1   
however1 the ,reverend ,peter ,elmsley1 
whose zeal for the promotion of ancient 
literature brought him to ,naples for   
the purpose of assisting in the         
undertaking1 began to examine the       
fragments unrolled1 a jealousy with     
regard to his assistance was immediately
 manifested2 and obstacles1 which the   
kind interference of ,sir ,william      
,a',court was not always capable of     
removing1 were soon opposed to the      
progress of our enquiries2 and these    
obstacles were so multiplied1 and made  
so vexatious towards the end of         
,february1 that we conceived it would be
 both a waste of the public money and a 
compromise of our own characters to     
proceed4         99       99       99   
99       99  ,while in ,italy1 ,sir ,h4 
,davy visited the baths of ,lucca1 and  
examined the waters which have given to 
that place so much celebrity4 ,the      
results of his analysis formed the      

subject of a paper1 which was published 
in the ,memoirs of the ,royal ,academy  
of ,sciences at ,naples1 of which       
,society he was a member4  ,at the spot 
where the temperature of the water was  
the highest1 that is1 in what are termed
 the ,caldi1 or hot baths1 a            
considerable quantity of a substance is 
ejected1 which produces a deposit of a  
brownish-yellow colour4 ,having         
collected a quantity of this deposit1 he
 ascertained it to consist of oxide of  
iron and silica1 in the proportion of   
about four parts of the former to three 
of the latter2 and although the iron1 at
 the time of its deposition1 proved to  
be a peroxide1 he thinks it probable    
that it existed in the water in the     
state of protoxide4 ,he also supposes1  
that the oxide of iron and the silica   
had been dissolved together in the      
water1 and been deposited from it in    
combination4 ,he conceives that the fact
 which he had some years before noticed1
 of the analogy between the base of     

silica1 and that of boracic acid1       
together with those observed by         
,berzelius1 furnish sufficient reasons  
for classing silica amongst the acids1  
and for rendering it probable1 that the 
oxide of iron and silica undergo a real 
chemical combination in the warm water1 
and that they are separated from the    
latter in consequence of the reduction  
of its temperature1 after it has issued 
from the mountain4  ,a small portion of 
oxide of iron1 he observes1 is found in 
the waters of ,bath1 in which case it is
 also accompanied by silica2 and he     
believes that1 in many other instances1 
the oxide of iron is dissolved in water 
through the same agency3 he moreover    
regards such facts as throwing          
considerable light upon the manner in   
which ochre is generated4  ,sir ,humphry
 ,davy returned to ,england in #ahbj2   
and1 on the #aith of ,june1 in the same 
year1 his venerable friend ,sir ,joseph 
,banks1 who1 notwithstanding his        
increasing infirmities1 had continued to

 discharge the duties of ,president of  
the ,royal ,society to the latest period
 of his life1 expired at his villa at   
,spring ,grove1 at the advanced age of  
seventy-seven4  ,discussions necessarily
 arose as to the appointment of a proper
 successor1 when persons of high and    
even exalted rank were proposed as      
candidates2 but the more influential    
members of the ,society at once found1  
in their own ,council-chamber1 two      
philosophers1 whom they considered      
equally entitled to the honour of the   
situation1 and equally well calculated  
for the discharge of its duties--,sir   
,humphry ,davy1 and ,dr4 ,wollaston2 but
 the latter having signified his fixed  
determination to decline competition1   
gave the whole weight of his influence  
to the former2 and1 under that          
arrangement1 he received from the       
,council the compliment of being placed 
in the chair1 until the general election
 of officers at the ensuing anniversary4
  ,as the period of election approached1

 a few ,fellows of the ,society         
attempted to raise a clamour in favour  
of some more aristocratic candidate4 ,to
 this circumstance1 ,davy alludes in the
 following letter4      ,,to ,,thomas   
,,poole1 ,,esq4      ,grosvenor ,street1
 ,june #ahbj4      ,,my ,,dear ,,poole1 
,i regret very much that you could not  
join me at dinner this    day4          
,to-morrow and the following day ,i     
shall be occupied    by pressing        
affairs2 but ,i shall be at home        
to-morrow till    half-past eleven1 and 
be most happy to see you4     ,i am not 
very anxious to remove mists1 for ,i    
feel that the    ,president's chair1    
after ,sir ,joseph1 will be no light    
matter2    and unless there is a strong 
feeling in the majority of the    body  
that ,i am the most proper person1 ,i   
shall not sacrifice my    tranquillity  
for what cannot add to my reputation1   
though it    may increase my power of   
being useful4     ,i feel it a duty that
 ,i owe to the ,society to offer myself2

 but    if they do not feel that they   
want me1 7and the most active           
members1 ,i believe1 do7 ,i shall not   
force myself upon them4      ,i am1 my  
dear ,poole1 very sincerely yours1      
,h4 ,,davy4  ,on the day of election1   
7,november #cj1 #ahbj17 there was a     
feeble expression in favour of ,lord    
,colchester1 who was abroad at the time1
 and had not even been made acquainted  
with the intention of his supporters4   
,davy was therefore elected by an       
immense majority of votes4 ,he was      
conducted into the meeting-room by his  
two friends1 ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert and  
,mr4 ,hatchett1 and1 to the             
gratification of every lover of science1
 he ascended the chair of ,newton4  ,the
 value which he himself attached to this
 triumph1 may be seen in his answer to a
 letter of congratulation from his      
friend ,mr4 ,poole4      ,,to ,,thomas  
,,poole1 ,,esq4      ,grosvenor ,street1
 ,dec4 #aj4      ,,my ,,dear ,,poole1   
,i am much obliged to you for your      

congratulations4 ,the contest    to my  
election defeated itself1 for there were
 only thirteen    votes for ,lord       
,colchester out of nearly one hundred   
and sixty2    and1 had it been known    
that the attempt would have been made1  
,i should have had at least double the  
number4 ,the overwhelming    majority   
has1 however1 shown the good opinion of 
the ,society1    which ,i trust and feel
 has not been diminished by my conduct  
in    the chair4     ,i have never      
needed any motive to attach me to       
science1 which    ,i have pursued with  
equal ardour under all circumstances1   
for    its own sake1 and for the sake of
 the public1 uninfluenced by    the     
fears of my friends1 or the calumnies of
 my enemies4 ,i    glory in being in the
 chair of the ,royal ,society1 because  
,i    think it ought to be a reward of  
scientific labours1 and not an          
appendage to rank or fortune2 and       
because it will enable me to    be      
useful in a higher degree in promoting  

the cause of science4    ,to this cause1
 however1 ,i should have been always    
attached1    even had ,i not been in    
such good humour with the public1 as ,i 
have reason to be4     ,dr4 ,wollaston1 
my only formidable opponent in the      
beginning of    the business1 behaved   
like a true philosopher and friend of   
science2 and ,mr4 ,gilbert gave me his  
warmest support4     ,i am sorry that ,i
 have said so much about myself1 but    
your long letter called for something4  
,i wish ,i could say    anything        
satisfactory on the subject of ,captain 
,parry and his    officers4#fc ,i have  
every reason to believe ,lord ,melville 
will do all he can on the occasion2 no  
recommendation will    be wanting from  
the ,royal ,society that can be given2  
but the    ,admiralty is bound by       
certain general rules1 and will not do  
more in this instance than they would do
 in the case of a    brilliant combat2  
but these brave and scientific          
navigators    will be rewarded by a more

 durable species of glory4     ,lady    
,davy joins me in kind remembrances4    
,i am1 my dear ,poole1 sincerely yours1 
,h4 ,,davy4     #fc ,mr4 ,poole informs 
me1 that he had been anxious to interest
   him1 as ,president of the ,royal     
,society1 in favour of those brave   and
 scientific navigators1 particularly    
,lieutenant1 now ,captain1   ,liddon1   
who commanded the ,griper1 in ,captain  
,parry's first   voyage4  ,it was a     
question anxiously discussed by the     
friends of ,davy1 how far his elevation 
to the chair of the ,royal ,society was 
calculated to advance the cause of      
science1 or to increase the lustre of   
his own fame4 ,it will be readily       
perceived that this is a question       
perplexed by various conflicting        
interests1 for it not only involves     
considerations relating to the character
 of the person1 but to that also of the 
constitution and objects of the ,society
 over which he is called upon to        
preside4  ,it is still doubtful whether 

the ,royal ,society1 in the present     
advanced state of science1 can derive   
advantage from possessing in its        
,president1 a philosopher actively      
engaged in any one branch of            
experimental enquiry4 ,sir ,humphry     
,davy1 in his first address from the    
chair1 took occasion to observe1 that in
 the early periods of the establishment1
 when apparatus was procured with       
difficulty1 when the greatest           
philosophers were obliged to labour with
 their own hands to frame their         
instruments1 it was found expedient to  
keep in the rooms of the ,society a     
collection of all such machines as were 
likely to be useful in the progress of  
experimental knowledge2 and curators and
 operators were employed1 by whom many  
capital experiments were made under the 
eyes of the ,society4#fd ,but since the 
improvement of the mechanical and       
chemical arts has afforded greater      
facilities as to the means of carrying  
on experimental research1 the           

transactions of the ,fellows1 recorded  
by the ,society1 have1 with some few    
exceptions1 been performed in their own 
laboratories1 and at their own expense4 
#fd ,the ,charter of the ,royal ,society
 states that it was   established for   
the improvement of ,,natural science4   
,this epithet   natural was originally  
intended to imply a meaning of   which  
very few persons1 ,i believe1 are aware4
 ,at the period of   the establishment  
of the ,society1 the arts of witchcraft 
and   divination were very extensively  
encouraged2 and the word natural   was  
therefore introduced1 in                
contradistinction to super-natural4     
,although ,sir ,walter ,scott1 in his   
,demonology1 alludes to   the influence 
of this ,society in diminishing the     
reigning   superstition1 he does not    
appear to have been acquainted with the 
circumstance here alluded to4  ,in      
deciding upon the qualifications        
necessary for a ,president1 this altered
 state of the ,society must not be      

overlooked2 nor can it be concealed1    
that the great discoveries of modern    
science have been achieved without any  
direct assistance from the ,royal       
,society4 ,davy would have discovered   
the laws of electro-chemistry1 and      
applied them for the decomposition of   
the alkalies--and the genius of ,dalton 
would1 by his atomic doctrine1 have     
snatched the science from the chaos of  
indefinite combination1 and have bound  
it in the chains of number1 had the     
,society never existed4 ,at the same    
time1 it must be allowed that1 although 
it may not have directly advanced the   
progress of science1 it has materially  
assisted its cause1 by perpetuating the 
spirit of philosophical enquiry1 and the
 love of scientific glory--by keeping   
alive upon the altar the sacred flame   
that genius may have kindled4  ,in the  
present state of science1 the ,royal    
,society imparts an inspiring principle 
to its various branches1 by affording a 
rallying point1 a centre of             

communication1 to the philosophers of   
all nations1 to whom kindred pursuits   
may render personal intercourse         
beneficial2 and it becomes the paramount
 duty of the chief of this great        
republic so to preside over its         
arrangements1 as to foster and encourage
 such an alliance4 ,to this end1 he must
 promote feelings of mutual kindness and
 liberality2 and as the friend and      
umpire to all parties1 it is his office 
to settle disagreement1 to soothe       
disappointment1 to kindle hope1 and to  
subdue the vehemence which engenders    
strife1 in order that rivalship shall   
not pass into hostility1 nor emulation  
degenerate into envy4 ,it is evident    
that the talents and qualifications     
necessary for the discharge of such     
duties are of the highest order1        
extensive in their range1 and           
diversified in their character4 ,to     
which1 however harshly the word may     
grate upon the ear of the philosopher1  
,,wealth must be considered as an       

essential and indispensable condition4  
,it may be fairly asked1 whether a      
philosopher actively engaged in the     
pursuit of any branch of science1 is so 
well adapted for the performance of such
 varied duties1 as the person who       
possesses a general acquaintance with   
every department1 but is not exclusively
 devoted to the investigation of any one
 branch2 for1 however correct may be his
 decisions1 or unbiassed his judgment1  
the conduct of the former will ever be  
open to the charge of partiality1 and   
the bare existence of such a suspicion1 
though it may be wholly groundless1 will
 carry with it a train of evils4 ,it is 
not in human nature to believe that the 
looker-on1 and he who plays the game1   
are alike indifferent to the cards4#fe  
#fe ,i state this opinion with the      
greater confidence1 from a   conviction 
that it is not singular4 ,on conversing 
lately upon   the subject with a        
gentleman to whom the ,royal ,society is
 deeply   indebted for the sound        

judgment and discretion he displayed on 
occasions greatly affecting its         
interests1 he replied1 ,sir1 we         
require not an ,achilles to fight our   
battles1 but an ,agamemnon to   command 
the ,greeks4  ,on the other hand1 it may
 be urged with some force1 that the     
,presidency of the ,royal ,society      
should be reserved as the fair reward of
 scientific labours1 and not as an      
appendage to rank or to wealth3--that in
 ,england1 we may in vain search amongst
 the aristocracy for one who feels a    
dignified respect for the sciences1 and 
who is willing to afford that time which
 the faithful discharge of its duties   
would require4  ,to assert that ,davy   
retained his popularity1 or to deny that
 he retired from the office under the   
frown of a considerable party1 would be 
dishonest4 ,i would willingly dismiss   
this part of his life without too nice  
an examination2 but ,i am writing a     
history1 not an eloge4  ,as a           
philosopher1 his claims to admiration   

and respect were allowed in all their   
latitude2 but when he sought for the    
homage due to patrician distinction1    
they were denied with indignation4 ,how 
strange it is1 that those whom ,nature  
has placed above their fellow men by the
 god-like gift of genius1 should seek   
from their inferiors those distinctions 
which are generally the rewards of      
fortune4 ,when we learn that ,congreve1 
in his interview with ,voltaire1 prided 
himself upon his fashion rather than    
upon his wit2 that ,byron was more vain 
of his heraldry than of his ,pilgrimage 
of ,childe ,harold2 that ,racine pined  
into an atrophy1 because the monarch    
passed him without a recognition in the 
ante-room of the palace1 and that ,davy 
sighed for patrician distinction in the 
chair of ,newton1 we can only lament the
 weakness from which the choicest       
spirits of our nature are not exempt4   
,will philosophers never feel1 with     
,walpole1 that a genius transmits more  
honour by blood than he can receive8    

,had the blood of forty generations of  
nobility flowed in the veins of ,davy1  
would his name have commanded higher    
homage1 or his discoveries have excited 
greater admiration8 ,but great minds    
have ever had their points of weakness3 
an inordinate admiration of hereditary  
rank was the cardinal deformity of      
,davy's character2 it was the centre    
from which all his defects radiated1 and
 continually placed him in false        
positions2 for the man who rests his    
claims upon doubtful or ill-defined     
pretensions1 from a sense of his        
insecurity1 naturally becomes jealous at
 every apparent inattention1 and he is  
suspicious of the sincerity of that     
respect which he feels may be the fruit 
of usurpation4 ,if with these           
circumstances we take into consideration
 the existence of a natural timidity of 
character1 which he sought to conquer by
 efforts that betrayed him into         
awkwardness of manner1 and combine with 
it an irritability of temperament which 

occasionally called up expressions of   
ill-humour1 we at once possess a clue by
 which we may unravel the conduct of our
 philosopher1 and the consequences it   
brought upon himself during his         
presidency of the ,royal ,society4 ,nor 
must we leave out of sight that         
inattention to certain forms which1     
amongst those who are incapable of      
penetrating beyond the surface of       
character1 passes for the offensive     
carelessness of superiority4 ,davy1     
after the example of ,sir ,joseph       
,banks1 opened his house on one evening 
of the week for the reception of the    
,fellows of the ,royal ,society1 and of 
other persons who were actively engaged 
in any scientific pursuit2 but the      
invitations to these soires were so     
irregularly managed1 that they          
frequently gave offence1 where they were
 intended to convey a compliment4       
,conflicting opinions1 respecting the   
management of the ,royal ,institution1  
most unfortunately also arose1 and the  

,president of the ,royal ,society1      
presuming upon his former alliance with 
that establishment1 and upon the high   
obligations conferred upon it by the    
splendid discoveries he had achieved    
within its walls1 was encouraged to     
exercise an authority which provoked an 
angry dissatisfaction2--schisms arose1  
and the party-spirit thus kindled in    
,albemarle ,street soon spread to       
,somerset ,house4--,but let us turn to  
the brighter part of the picture4 ,in   
the discharge of the more important     
duties of his office1 the ,society      
received the full benefit of his talents
 and his virtues4 ,at its meetings1 he  
was constant in attendance1 and         
dignified in his conduct and deportment2
 in its councils1 he was firm in his    
resolves1 correct in his judgments1     
zealous in his plans1#ff and impartial  
in his decisions4 ,it has been said that
 he unduly favoured the pursuits of     
chemistry1 to the injury and depression 
of the other branches of science3 this  

is not the fact1 as a reference to the  
,philosophical ,transactions will amply 
testify2 and the awards of the ,copley  
medals will moreover show1 that he alike
 extended the animating influence of his
 patronage to every part of natural     
philosophy4 ,i am authorised by ,sir    
,james ,south to state1 that during his 
negotiations with the ,government1 for  
the purpose of securing to the ,british 
,nation the unalienable use of his      
splendid instruments1 by the erection of
 a permanent observatory1 ,sir ,humphry 
,davy was indefatigable in his exertions
 to accomplish so important an object2  
and that on one occasion1 in the midst  
of severe illness1 he travelled at no   
inconsiderable risk to ,london1 from the
 distant seat of his friend ,mr4        
,knight1 to advocate a cause so         
essential1 in his judgment1 to the      
interests of ,astronomy4    #ff ,it was 
well known to his friends that1 had his 
health not   declined1 he would have    
carried into effect a reform which he   

had long contemplated1 and by which the 
,royal ,society would have   become1 at 
once1 more dignified and more useful4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,in the ,autumn of #ahba1 ,davy visited 
his mother and relatives at ,penzance2  
upon which occasion he received from the
 inhabitants of the town1 and from the  
gentlemen resident in its neighbourhood1
 a flattering testimony of respect1     
which made a deep and lasting impression
 upon his heart4  ,at a ,general        
,meeting1 summoned for the purpose of   
taking into consideration some mode by  
which his fellow-townsmen might express 
their sense of his transcendent talents1
 and of the lustre which his genius had 
cast upon the place of his              
nativity3--,it was unanimously          
,,resolved--  ,that a public dinner be  
given to ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 and that  
the ,mayor be desired to wait upon him  
forthwith1 in order to communicate the  
,resolution1 and respectfully to request
 that he would appoint the day1 on which

 it would be agreeable to him to meet   
their wishes4  ,on the day appointed1 a 
deputation of ,gentlemen proceeded in   
their carriages to the house of his     
mother1 for the purpose of conducting   
him to the hotel1 where an appropriate  
entertainment had been provided for the 
occasion4  ,the following letter evinces
 the sincere satisfaction which this    
visit afforded him4      ,,to ,,thomas  
,,poole1 ,,esq4      ,penzance1 ,july   
#bh1 #ahba4      ,,my ,,dear ,,poole1   
,an uncontrollable necessity has brought
 me here4 ,close to the    ,land's-end  
,i am enjoying the majestic in nature1  
and living    over again the days of my 
infancy and early youth4     ,the living
 beings that act upon me are interesting
 subjects    for contemplation4         
,civilization has not yet destroyed in  
their    minds the semblance of the     
great ,parent of good4     ,nature has  
done much for the inhabitants of        
,mount's ,bay1 by    presenting to their
 senses all things that can awaken in   

the    mind the emotions of greatness   
and sublimity4 ,she has placed    them  
far from cities1 and given them forms of
 visible and    audible beauty4     ,i  
am now reviving old associations1 and   
endeavouring to attach    old feelings  
to a few simple objects4      ,i am1 c4 
,h4 ,,davy4  ,although the letter which 
follows is without date1 ,i am unwilling
 to withhold it4      ,,to ,,thomas     
,,poole1 ,,esq4      ,,my ,,dear        
,,poole1     ,i have been for some weeks
 absent from ,london1 and have only     
just received your letter4 ,when ,i     
return in the winter1 ,i shall    be    
glad to see ,mr4 ,a4--,i regret that    
your niece is so much    indisposed4    
,lady ,davy has been obliged to change  
her climate in    consequence of a      
long-continued cough1 but ,i am happy in
 being    able to say she is now quite  
well4     ,after the fatigues of a long 
season in ,london1 ,i am now    enjoying
 the ,highland scenery and sports with a
 purer pleasure1    and ,i find1 after  

the ,alps and ,pyrenees1 even the       
mountains of    ,scotland possessing    
some peculiar beauties4 ,you ought to   
come    and see this country1 which you 
would enjoy1 both as a lover of         
nature and of man4 ,the one is grand and
 beautiful2 the other1    moral1 active1
 and independent4      ,i am1 my dear   
,poole1 your obliged friend1      ,h4   
,,davy4  ,the ,philosophical            
,transactions1 during the ,presidency of
 ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 evince the        
alacrity with which he redeemed the     
pledge given to the ,society in his     
address on taking the chair--  ,and     
though your good opinion has1 as it     
were1 honoured me with a rank similar to
 that of ,general1 ,i shall be always   
happy to act as a private soldier in the
 ranks of ,science4         99       99 
99       99       99  ,many years before
 even the identity of lightning and     
electricity was suspected1 it had been  
observed1 on several occasions1 that the
 magnetism of the compass needle was not

 only destroyed1 which might have been  
attributed to heat1 but that it was even
 reversed by lightning4#fg    #fg ,davy 
observes1 that there are many facts     
recorded in the   ,philosophical        
,transactions1 which prove the          
magnetising powers   of lightning3 one  
in particular1 where a stroke of        
lightning   passing through a box of    
knives1 rendered most of them powerful  
magnets4--,philosophical ,transactions1 
,no4 #aeg1 p4 #ebj1 and ,no4   #dcg1 p4 
#eg4  ,in the progress of electrical    
discoveries1 the similarity between     
electricity and magnetism had not       
escaped observation1#fh and some        
philosophers had even attempted to      
establish the existence of an identity  
or intimate relation between these two  
forces4 ,the experiments of ,ritter1    
however1 alone appeared to offer any    
confirmation of the supposed analogy2   
but so obscure was his language1 and so 
wild and hypothetical his views1 that   
few1 if any1 of them were repeated      

either in ,france or ,england1 and their
 results were for a long time wholly    
disregarded4    #fh ,the phenomena of   
many crystallized minerals which become 
electric by heat1 and develope opposite 
electric poles at   their two           
extremities1 offered an analogy so      
striking to the   polarity of the       
magnet1 that it seemed hardly possible  
to doubt   a closer connection of the   
two powers4 ,the developement of a      
similar polarity in the ,voltaic pile   
pointed strongly to the   same          
conclusion2 and experiments had even    
been made with a view   to ascertain    
whether a pile in a state of excitement 
might   not manifest a disposition to   
place itself in the magnetic            
meridian4--,herschel's ,discourse1 p4   
#cdj4  ,in a work1 entitled ,recherches 
sur l'identit des ,forces ,chimiques et 
,electriques1 published by ,m4 ,oersted 
in the year #ahjg1 the subject was      
resumed1 and the author advanced the    
hypothesis1#fi which twelve years       

afterwards conducted him to one of the  
most important discoveries of the       
present age1 and which has given origin 
to a new science1 termed                
,,electro-,,magnetism4#gj    #fi ,the   
hypothesis was this3--,in galvanism1 the
 force is more   latent than in         
electricity1 and still more so in       
magnetism   than in galvanism2 it is    
therefore necessary to try whether      
electricity1 in its latent state1 will  
not affect the needle4   ,this passage  
may be thus explained3 ,when the        
,voltaic circuit   is interrupted1 it   
possesses opposite electrical poles2 and
   when continuous1 it no longer affects
 the electrometer1 or   the electricity 
becomes latent1 which is the condition  
theoretically required for the          
manifestation of its magnetic   action3 
and the fundamental experiment of       
,oersted proved that1   under these     
circumstances1 the compass needle was   
affected4    #gj ,mr4 ,herschel1 in     
speaking of the pertinacity with which  

,oersted adhered to the idea of a       
necessary connection between            
electricity and magnetism1 observes1    
that there is something in   it which   
reminds us of the obstinate adherence of
 ,columbus to his   notion of the       
necessary existence of the ,new ,world4 
,in the winter of #ahai1 ,professor     
,oersted1 ,secretary to the ,royal      
,society of ,copenhagen1 published an   
account of some experiments1 in which   
the electric current1 such as is        
supposed to pass from the positive to   
the negative pole of a ,voltaic battery1
 along a wire which connects them1      
caused a magnetic needle near it to     
deviate from its natural position1 and  
to assume a new one1 the direction of   
which was observed to depend upon the   
relative position of the needle and the 
wire4#ga    #ga ,for this discovery1 the
 ,president and ,council of the ,royal  
,society adjudged to ,m4 ,oersted the   
medal on ,sir ,godfrey ,copley's        
,donation for the year #ahbj4  ,it may  

be necessary to premise1 that these     
experiments were conducted in a form    
which had never before suggested itself 
to the enquirer2 viz4 with the two ends 
of the pile in communication with each  
other1--a condition which enabled it to 
discharge itself freely3 this           
circumstance will1 at once1 explain the 
reason of all preceding failures4 ,it   
was never before suspected that the     
electric current1 passing               
uninterruptedly through a wire1         
connecting the two ends of a ,voltaic   
battery1 was capable of being manifested
 by any effect2 the experiments1        
however1 in question furnished an       
unequivocal test of its passage by its  
action on the magnetic needle2 and which
 may be shortly stated as follows3  ,the
 opposite poles of a battery1 in full   
action1 were joined by a metallic wire1 
which1 to avoid circumlocution1 has been
 called the uniting conductor1 or the   
uniting wire4  ,on placing the wire     
above the magnet and parallel to it1 the

 pole next the negative end of the      
battery always moved westward1 and when 
the wire was placed under the needle1   
the same pole went towards the east4 ,if
 the wire was on the same horizontal    
plane with the needle1 no declination   
whatever took place1 but the magnet     
showed a disposition to move in a       
vertical direction2 the pole next the   
negative side of the battery being      
depressed when the wire was to the west 
of it1 and elevated when it was placed  
on the east side4  ,the extent of the   
declination occasioned by a battery1    
depends upon its power1 and the distance
 of the uniting wire from the needle4   
,if the apparatus is powerful1 and the  
distance small1 the declination will    
amount to an angle of forty-five degrees
 or more2 but this deviation does not   
give an exact idea of the real effect   
which may be produced by galvanism2 for 
the motion of the needle is counteracted
 by the magnetism of the ,earth4 ,when  
the influence of this latter power is   

destroyed by means of another magnet1   
the needle will place itself directly   
across the connecting wire3 so that the 
real tendency of a magnet is to stand at
 right angles to an electric current4   
,such phenomena1 being wholly at        
variance with the laws of simple        
electrical attraction and repulsion1 are
 only to be explained upon the          
supposition that a new energy is        
generated by the action of the current  
of electricity thus brought into        
conflict1 and which must be identical   
with1 or nearly related to1 magnetism4  
,it would also appear from the motions  
of the magnet1 when differently placed  
with regard to the uniting wire1 that   
this energy circulates1 or performs a   
circular movement around the axis of the
 conductor1 and thus drives the magnetic
 pole according to the direction of the 
needle with reference to such a current4
  ,this important discovery was no      
sooner announced to the philosophical   
world1 than ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 with   

his characteristic zeal1 proceeded to   
repeat the experiments2 and1 with his   
usual sagacity1 so to vary and extend   
them1 as to throw new light upon this   
novel department of science4 ,the facts 
he thus discovered1 and the reasonings  
founded upon them1 were communicated by 
him to the ,royal ,society in three     
successive memoirs4  ,,the ,,first1 ,on 
the ,magnetic ,phenomena produced by    
,electricity1 was read on the #afth of  
,november #ahbj4  ,,the ,,second1       
entitled ,farther ,researches on the    
,magnetic ,phenomena produced by        
,electricity2 with some new ,experiments
 on the properties of ,electrified      
bodies1 in their relations to conducting
 powers and ,temperature1 read ,july    
#eth1 #ahba4  ,,the ,,third1 ,on a new  
,phenomenon of ,electro-magnetism1 read 
,march #fth1 #ahbc4  ,the principal     
experiments communicated in these       
memoirs were performed with the battery 
belonging to the ,london                
,institution1#gb the once powerful      

apparatus at the ,royal ,institution    
having become old and feeble in his     
service4    #gb ,i find from a note     
addressed to ,mr4 ,pepys1 that on the   
#bast   of ,june1 #ahbb1 ,davy worked   
the two batteries of #ajjj plates each  
at the ,london ,institution1 before the 
,prince ,royal of ,denmark4   ,the      
experiments were principally            
electro-magnetic4  ,the following letter
 contains an invitation to his friend   
,mr4 ,pepys1 to witness his first       
experiment2 a document so far valuable1 
as it fixes a date of some importance in
 the history of discovery4      ,,to    
,,william ,,hasledine ,,pepys1 ,,esq4   
,grosvenor ,street1 ,oct4 #bj1 #ahbj4   
,,dear ,,pepys1     ,the experiment ,i  
wish to show you is no less than the    
conversion of electricity into          
magnetism2 but it is a secret as    yet4
     ,i will come to you at twelve on   
,monday1 in the ,poultry4 ,if    you    
will be so good as to order the battery 
to be charged    to-morrow1 it will be  

ready for us on ,monday4     ,have you a
 dipping needle8 ,this1 and an air-pump1
 and the globe    for taking sparks in  
vacuo by points of charcoal1 are all we 
shall want4     ,perhaps you will invite
 ,dr4 ,babington1 and our worthy friend 
,allen4     ,i will show you the opening
 of quite a new field of experiment4    
,ever yours very sincerely1      ,h4    
,,davy4   ,the discovery of ,professor  
,oersted was limited to the action of   
the electric current on needles         
previously magnetised4 ,davy ascertained
 that the uniting conductor itself      
became magnetic1 during the passage of  
the electricity through it4#gc ,it was  
in consequence of having observed some  
anomaly1 with respect to the way in     
which the uniting wire altered the      
direction of the magnet1 that he was led
 to a conjecture which he immediately   
verified by a very simple experiment4   
,he threw some iron filings on a paper1 
and brought them near the uniting wire1 
when immediately they were attracted by 

the wire1 and adhered to it in          
considerable quantities1 forming a mass 
round it ten or twelve times the        
thickness of the wire3 on breaking the  
communication1 they instantly fell off1 
proving that the magnetic effect        
entirely depended upon the passage of   
electricity through the wire4    #gc ,it
 would appear that ,m4 ,arago likewise  
discovered this fact   at about the same
 period2 but it is evident that the     
,french and   ,english philosophers     
arrived at the result independently of  
each   other2 for the experiments which 
led to it were made by ,sir ,h4   ,davy 
in ,october #ahbj2 while the ,september 
number of the ,annales   de ,physique1  
containing the first account of the     
,researches of   ,m4 ,arago1 was not    
received in ,london until the #bdth of  
,november   in that year2 and it may be 
farther observed1 that the numbers of   
this journal were very commonly         
published several months after   the    
affixed date4  ,davy observes1 it was   

easy to imagine that such magnetic      
effects could not be exhibited by the   
electrical wire1 without its being      
capable of permanently communicating    
them to steel2 and that1 in order to    
ascertain whether such was the fact1 he 
fastened several steel needles1 in      
different directions1 to the uniting    
wire1 when those parallel to it were    
found to act like the wire itself1 while
 each of those placed across it acquired
 two poles4 ,such as were placed under  
the wire1 the positive end of the       
battery being east1 had north poles on  
the south of the wire1 and south poles  
to the north4 ,the needles above were in
 the opposite direction2 and this was   
constantly the case1 whatever might be  
the inclination of the needle to the    
wire4 ,on breaking the connexion1 the   
steel needles1 placed across the uniting
 wire1 retained their magnetism1#gd     
while those placed parallel to it lost  
it at the moment of disunion4 ,the most 
extraordinary circumstances1 however1   

connected with these experiments were1  
first1 that contact with the uniting    
wire was not found necessary for the    
production of the effect1--indeed1 it   
was even produced1 though thick glass   
intervened2 and1 secondly1 that a needle
 which had been placed in a transverse  
direction to the wire1 merely for an    
instant1 was found as powerful a magnet 
as one that had been long in            
communication with it4    #gd ,m4 ,arago
 also1 nearly at the same time1         
succeeded in   communicating magnetism  
to the needle2 but1 at the suggestion   
of ,m4 ,ampre1 it was effected in a     
different manner4 ,a copper   wire1 by  
being rolled round a solid rod1 was     
twisted into a   spiral1 so as to form a
 helix4 ,it was easy1 by passing the    
wire round the rod1 in one direction or 
the other1 to form a   dextrorsal helix1
 proceeding from the right hand towards 
the   left1 as in the tendrils of many  
plants2 or a sinistrorsal1   or left    
helix1 proceeding downwards from the    

left hand to the   right above the axis4
 ,into the cavity of a spiral thus      
formed1   connecting the two poles of a 
battery1 a steel needle wrapped   in    
paper was introduced2 and1 in order to  
exclude all influence   of the magnetism
 of the earth1 the conchoidal part of   
the wire   was kept constantly          
perpendicular to the magnetic meridian4 
,in a   few minutes the needle had      
acquired a sufficiently strong dose   of
 magnetism2 and the position of the     
north and south poles   exactly agreed  
with ,m4 ,ampre's notion1 that the      
electric current   traverses the        
connecting wire in a direction from the 
zinc   extremity of the pile to the     
copper extremity4  ,the distance to     
which magnetism is communicated by      
electricity1 and the fact of its taking 
place equally through conductors and    
non-conductors1 are circumstances which1
 in the opinion of ,davy1 are           
unfavourable to the idea of the identity
 of electricity and magnetism4  ,davy   

subsequently ascertained by experiment1 
that the magnetic result was            
proportional to the quantity of         
electricity passing through a given     
space2 and this fact led him to believe1
 that a wire electrified by the common  
machine would not occasion a sensible   
effect2 and this he found to be the     
case1 on placing very small needles     
across a fine wire connected with a     
prime conductor of a powerful machine   
and the earth4 ,but as a momentary      
exposure in a powerful electrical       
circuit was sufficient to give permanent
 polarity to steel1 it appeared equally 
obvious1 that needles placed            
transversely to a wire at the time that 
the electricity of a common ,leyden     
battery was discharged through it1 ought
 to become magnetic2 and this he found  
was actually the fact1 and according to 
precisely the same laws as in the       
,voltaic circuit2 the needle under the  
wire1 the positive conductor being on   
the right hand1 offering its north pole 

to the face of the operator1 and the    
needle above1 exhibiting the opposite   
polarity4  ,the facility with which     
experiments are made with the common    
,leyden battery1 enabled him to         
ascertain various other important facts1
 respecting the communication of        
magnetism1 which it would be            
inconsistent with the nature and limits 
of this work to particularize4 ,i have  
merely offered a notice of the more     
prominent discoveries communicated by   
him in his first paper to the ,royal    
,society1 and which he concludes by     
observing1 that in consequence of the   
facts lately developed1 a number of     
curious speculations cannot fail to     
present themselves to every             
philosophical mind2 such as whether the 
magnetism of the earth may not be owing 
to its electricity1 and the variation of
 the needle to the alterations in the   
electrical currents of the earth1 in    
consequence of its motions1 internal    
changes1 or its relations to solar heat2

 and whether the luminous effects of the
 auroras at the poles are not shown1 by 
these new facts1 to depend on           
electricity4 ,this is evident1 that if  
strong electrical currents be supposed  
to follow the apparent course of the    
sun1 the magnetism of the earth ought to
 be such as it is found to be4#ge    #ge
 ,a very ingenious piece of apparatus   
was contrived to   illustrate this      
theory by experiment2 but ,i am         
uncertain as   to whom the credit of it 
belongs4 ,it consisted of a globe1      
containing metallic wires1 arranged in  
relation to each other   according to   
the electro-magnetic theory1 when1 by   
passing an   electric current in the    
direction of the ecliptic1 the poles    
became magnetic4  ,davy never overlooked
 an occasion of applying theory to      
practice1 and he therefore proposes1    
upon the principles developed in this   
paper1 to make powerful magnets1 by     
fixing bars of steel1 or circular pieces
 of steel1 fitted for making horse-shoe 

magnets1 round the electrical conductors
 of buildings in elevated and exposed   
situations4  ,his second paper contains 
an account of experiments instituted    
with a view to gain some distinct       
knowledge on the subject of the         
relations of the different conductors to
 the magnetism produced by electricity4 
,the results were decisive2 but1 without
 entering minutely into the theory of   
the subject which they so ably          
illustrated1 these experiments cannot be
 clearly described1 or successfully     
explained4 ,the same observation will   
apply to the researches detailed in his 
third paper1 announcing the discovery of
 a new electro-magnetic phenomenon2 for1
 since they are inseparably connected   
with ,mr4 ,faraday's beautiful          
experiments on ,magnetic ,rotation1 ,i  
could scarcely expect to render my      
analysis of the memoir sufficiently     
intelligible1 without entering at length
 upon that curious subject2 ,i am       
unwilling1 however1 to refer the reader 

to the original paper in the            
,transactions1 without offering a remark
 upon the phenomenon1 which he says is  
the principal object of the paper1 but  
which we might conclude1 from the hasty 
and imperfect manner in which he        
dismisses it1 to have occupied a very   
subordinate place in his estimation4 ,in
 his anxiety to examine and describe the
 rotations produced during this         
experiment1 he bestows far too little   
attention upon the more1 indeed ,i might
 say the only1 important phenomenon of  
the cone of mercury which was elevated  
above each of the wires proceeding from 
the battery2 and which1 arising as it   
evidently did from a repulsive          
influence1 clearly shows that the       
presence of electricity establishes     
between the particles of matter a       
repulsive energy1 whether that matter be
 conducting1 or non-conducting in its   
functions4 ,this law1 ,m4 ,ampre        
subsequently illustrated by a different 
form of experiment1 and unfairly1 as ,i 

must think1 omitted even to notice      
,davy's prior result4  ,on the #bjth of 
,december #ahba1 ,davy communicated to  
the ,royal ,society a memoir ,on the    
,electrical ,phenomena exhibited in     
vacuo4  ,it had been stated by ,mr4     
,walsh1 and the opinion had been        
subsequently supported by the researches
 of ,mr4 ,morgan1 that the electrical   
light was not producible in a perfect   
,torricellian vacuum2 the latter        
gentleman also concluded that such a    
vacuum prevented the charging of coated 
glass4  ,an enquiry of greater          
importance can scarcely be imagined2    
involving in its train several of the   
most abstruse and difficult questions of
 corpuscular philosophy2 as1 whether    
electricity be a subtile fluid1 or      
electrical effect the mere exhibition of
 the attractive powers of the particles 
of bodies2 for1 if it can be shown that 
these effects take place in a perfect   
vacuum1 we shall advance towards the    
conclusion1 that electrical phenomena   

depend upon the agency of an ethereal   
and transcendental fluid4 ,it was under 
such an impression that ,davy proceeded 
to determine1 if possible1 the relations
 of electricity to space1 as nearly void
 of matter as it can be made on the     
surface of the earth4  ,he was1 in the  
first instance1 led to suspect the      
accuracy of those conclusions at which  
,mr4 ,walsh and ,mr4 ,morgan had        
arrived1 from considering that1 in the  
most perfect vacuum which can be        
obtained in the ,torricellian tube1     
vapour of mercury1 though of extremely  
small density1 must still always exist4 
,i propose to follow our philosopher    
through the paths of this enquiry2 and  
then1 with all the deference due to such
 high authority1 to state the objections
 which may be urged against his results4
  ,first1 then1 as to the results he    
obtained with quicksilver in an         
apparatus simple1 but well adapted at   
once to insure the most completely      
attainable vacuum1 and to exhibit its   

capability of receiving a charge4 ,in   
all cases where this vacuum was perfect1
 he found it to be permeable to         
electricity1 and to be rendered         
luminous1 either by the common spark1 or
 by the shock from a ,leyden jar2 and1  
moreover1 that the coated glass         
surrounding it became charged under such
 circumstances2 but the intensity of the
 light in these experiments was always  
in proportion to the temperature1 or1 in
 other words1 to the density of the     
mercurial vapour2 and that at #bj below 
zero of ,fahrenheit1 it became so faint 
as to require considerable darkness to  
render it perceptible4  ,the great      
brilliancy1 on the other hand1 of the   
electrical light in pure1 dense vapour  
of mercury1 was beautifully displayed   
during the operation of boiling the     
metal in an exhausted tube4 ,in the     
formation and condensation of the       
globules of mercurial vapour1 the       
electricity produced by the friction of 
the mercury against the glass1 was      

discharged through the vapour with      
sparks so bright as to be visible in    
daylight4  ,the charge likewise         
communicated to the tinfoil was higher1 
the higher the temperature2 at #j       
,fahrenheit it was extremely feeble4    
,this1 like the phenomenon of the       
electric light1 must1 he thinks1 depend 
upon the different density of the vapour
 of mercury4  ,but he was desirous of   
still farther refining his experiments1 
so as to exclude1 as far as it was      
possible1 the presence of any volatile  
matter2 and in this part of the enquiry 
he displayed1 in a very masterly manner1
 that happy talent in which he so far   
surpassed his contemporaries1 of        
suggesting expedients and contriving new
 apparatus in order to vanquish         
practical difficulties4  ,to get rid of 
a portion of mercurial vapour1 he       
employed a difficultly fusible amalgam  
of mercury and tin1 which was made to   
crystallize by cooling in the tube2 but1
 in this case1 the results were         

precisely the same as when pure mercury 
had been used4 ,he then attempted to    
make a vacuum above the fusible alloy of
 bismuth1 but he found it so liable to  
oxidate and soil the tube1 that he soon 
renounced farther attempts of this kind4
 ,nothing discouraged1 he determined to 
try the effects of a comparatively fixed
 metal in fusion4 ,by melting freshly   
cut pieces of grain tin1 in a tube made 
void after having been filled with      
hydrogen1 and by long-continued heat and
 agitation1 he obtained a column of     
fixed metal which appeared to be        
entirely free from gas2 and yet the     
vacuum made above this exhibited the    
same phenomena as the mercurial vacuum1 
except that they were not perceptibly   
increased by heat3 a fact which ,davy   
must have anticipated1 as he attributed 
the greater display of electrical light1
 at high temperatures1 to the effect of 
increased density of vapour2 it is      
therefore a matter of surprise that he  
did not give more importance to the     

phenomenon4  ,he made two experiments on
 electrical and magnetic repulsions and 
attractions in the mercurial vacuum1 and
 he found that two balls1 the one of    
platinum1 the other of steel1 properly  
arranged for the purpose1 repelled each 
other1 when the conducting wire to which
 they were attached was electrified in  
the most perfect mercurial vacuum1 as   
they would have done in the usual cases3
 and that the steel globules were as    
obedient to the magnet as in the air2   
which last result1 he observes1 it was  
easy to have anticipated4  ,he also made
 some comparative experiments1 with the 
view of ascertaining1 whether below the 
freezing point of water the diminution  
of the temperature of the ,torricellian 
vacuum diminished its power of          
transmitting electricity1 or of being   
rendered luminous by it4 ,to about      
twenty degrees1 this appeared to be the 
case2 but between twenty degrees above1 
and twenty degrees below zero1 the      
lowest temperature he could produce by  

pounded ice and muriate of lime1 it     
seemed stationary2 and1 as well as he   
could determine1 the electrical         
phenomena were very nearly of the same  
intensity as those produced in the      
vacuum above tin4  ,it is evident1 he   
says1 from these general results1 that  
the light 7and probably the heat7       
generated in electrical discharges      
depends principally on some properties  
or substances belonging to the          
ponderable matter through which it      
passes3 but they prove likewise that    
space1 where there is no appreciable    
quantity of this matter1 is still       
capable of exhibiting electric          
phenomena--viz4 those of attraction and 
repulsion1 c43 a fact unquestionably    
favourable to the idea of the phenomena 
of electricity being produced by a      
highly subtile fluid or fluids1 of which
 the particles are repulsive with       
respect to each other1 and attractive of
 the particles of other matter4         
,however much we may admire the         

experimental address displayed in this  
paper1 we must confess that its results 
are very far from being satisfactory4   
,his having assumed1 without proof1 and 
even without examination1 the theory    
that a perfect vacuum cannot be produced
 in the ,torricellian tube1 and made it 
the foundation of his reasonings1       
appears to me to have vitiated all his  
conclusions4 ,mr4 ,faraday has rendered 
it extremely probable1 that a limit does
 actually exist to the production of    
vapour by bodies placed in vacuo1#gf    
beneath which they are perfectly fixed2 
and if this be true1 it is evident that1
 at low temperatures1 a perfect vacuum  
may be produced in the ,torricellian    
tube2 and it is highly probable that    
,davy did thus actually produce one in  
several of his experiments2 especially  
in those where he found that1 by a      
farther reduction of temperature1 no    
farther diminution of electrical effect 
was perceptible3 he had in fact arrived 
at this limit to vaporization1 and      

therefore a farther reduction of        
temperature could not possibly influence
 the phenomena4 ,in this point of view1 
the electrical light would seem to be   
primary1 or independent of foreign      
matter4--,but though the premises be    
granted1 let the reader pause before he 
hastens to any conclusion2 for the cloud
 of mystery has not been dissipated1 it 
has only changed its place4 ,at the     
termination of his paper1 ,davy indulges
 in a conjecture subversive of every    
conclusion deduced from experiments in  
vacuo4 ,when the intense heat1 says he1 
produced by electricity1 and the strong 
attractive powers of differently        
electrified surfaces1 and the rapidity  
of the changes of state1 are considered1
 it does not seem at all improbable1    
that the superficial particles of       
bodies1 which1 when detached by the     
repulsive power of heat1 form vapour1   
may be likewise detached by electrical  
powers1 and that they may produce       
luminous appearances in a vacuum free   

from all other matter1 by the           
annihilation of their opposite          
electrical states4    #gf ,on the       
,existence of a ,limit to ,vaporization4
 ,by ,m4 ,faraday1   ,f4,r4,s4          
,corresponding ,member of the ,royal    
,academy of ,sciences at   ,paris4      
,phil4 ,trans4 #ahbf4 ,see also a more  
recent paper by the   same ,philosopher 
in the first number of the new ,journal 
of the   ,royal ,institution4  ,during  
the course of the enquiry1 ,davy is led 
to suppose that air may exist in        
mercury1 in the same invisible state as 
it does in water1 that is1 distributed  
through its pores2 and that absorption  
of air may1 therefore1 explain the      
difference of the heights of the mercury
 in different barometers4 ,this1 it must
 be confessed1 if true1 is a most       
disheartening fact1 as it at once       
precludes the possibility of any thing  
like accuracy in our barometers2 but    
,mr4 ,daniell1 to whom on all subjects  
of meteorology we are bound to pay the  

greatest deference1 differs altogether  
from our philosopher upon this point1   
and he adduces a single observation     
which he thinks nearly disproves the    
supposition4 ,all fluids1 says he1 which
 are known to absorb air into their     
pores1 invariably emit it when the      
pressure of the atmosphere is removed2  
but1 upon an extensive examination of   
large bodies of mercury1 variously      
heated in the vacuum of an air-pump1 ,i 
never saw a bubble of air given off from
 the surface of the metal4 ,davy1 it    
must be stated1 obtained a far different
 result2 but an observation of ,mr4     
,daniell explains the cause of it4 ,air1
 he continues1 will rise from the       
contact of the mercury with the glass in
 which it is contained1 in exact inverse
 proportion to the care with which it   
has been filled1 but it never rises from
 the surface of the mercury alone4 ,the 
difficulty of properly filling a        
barometer tube1 ,i attribute to the     
attraction between the glass and the    

air--not to that between the mercury and
 the air4#gg    #gg ,meteorological     
,essays and ,observations1 p4           
#cfc4--,see   also ,bellani's           
experiments upon this subject1 which are
 so   satisfactory as to remove every   
doubt from the subject4  ,on the #acth  
of ,june #ahbb1 a memoir was read before
 the ,royal ,society1 ,on the state of  
,water and ,ariform matter in cavities  
found in certain ,crystals4 ,by ,sir    
,humphry ,davy1 ,bart4 ,p4,r4,s4  ,it is
 generally admitted by ,geologists1 that
 the greater number of the crystalline  
substances of the mineral kingdom must  
have been previously in a liquid state2 
but different schools have assumed      
different causes for their solution2    
some attributing the effect principally 
to the agency of water1 others to that  
of heat4  ,in the paper under           
consideration1 the author very freely   
avows himself as the champion of the    
latter doctrine4  ,when it is           
considered1 says he1 that the solvent   

power of water depends upon its         
temperature1 and its deposition of solid
 matters upon its change of state or of 
temperature1 and that1 being a          
gravitating substance1 the same quantity
 must always belong to the globe1 it    
becomes difficult to allow much weight  
to the arguments of the ,wernerians1 or 
,neptunists1 who have generally         
neglected1 in their speculations1 the   
laws of chemical attraction4  ,there are
 many circumstances1 on the contrary1   
favourable to that part of the views of 
the ,huttonians1 or ,plutonists1        
relating to the cause of                
crystallization2 such as the form of the
 earth1 that of an oblate spheroid      
flattened at the poles2 the facility    
with which heat1 being a radiating      
substance1 may be lost and dissipated in
 free space2 and the observations which 
seem to show the present existence of a 
high temperature in the interior of the 
globe4  ,he had often1 he tells us1 in  
the course of his chemical researches1  

looked for facts1 or experiments1 which 
might throw some light on this          
interesting subject1 but without        
success1 till it occurred to him1 as he 
was considering the state of the fluid  
and ariform matters which are found     
included in certain crystals1 that these
 curious phenomena might be examined in 
a manner to afford some important       
arguments as to the formation of the    
crystal itself4  ,having obtained1      
through the liberality of his friends1 a
 variety of appropriate specimens of    
rock-crystal1 he proceeded to submit    
them to experiment4 ,their cavities were
 opened by means of diamond drills1     
under either distilled water1 oil1 or   
mercury2 the gas was then expelled from 
them by the introduction of slender     
wires1 and the included fluids were     
drawn out by the aid of fine capillary  
tubes4  ,as soon as an opening was      
effected1 the fluid under which the     
operation had been performed rushed into
 the cavity1 and the globule of elastic 

fluid contracted so as to appear from   
six to ten times less than before the   
experiment4 ,the fluid was found to be  
nearly pure water1--the gas appeared to 
be azote4  ,it was an interesting point 
to ascertain whether the same           
circumstances occurred in productions   
found in rocks which have been generally
 considered as of igneous origin1 such  
as the basaltic rocks in the            
neighbourhood of ,vicenza1 the          
chalcedonies of which so often afford   
water4 ,on examining such specimens1    
when1 to obviate the possibility of any 
fallacy1 they were previously           
ascertained to be impermeable to the    
atmosphere1 analogous results were      
obtained3 water1 containing very minute 
quantities of saline impregnations1 was 
found to be the fluid1 and the gas1 as  
in the former instances1 was ascertained
 to be azote2 but it was in a much more 
rarefied state than in the              
rock-crystals1 being between sixty and  
seventy times as rare as atmospheric    

air4  ,the fact of azote being found in 
these cavities1 he explains1 by         
supposing that atmospheric air might    
have been originally included in the    
crystals1 and that the oxygen had been  
separated from it by the attraction of  
the water2 a conjecture which a direct  
experiment appeared to confirm4  ,in    
reasoning upon the vacuum1 or rarefied  
state of the ariform matter in the      
cavities of rock-crystals and           
chalcedonies1 he very justly states1    
that the phenomenon cannot be easily    
accounted for1 except on the supposition
 of their having been formed at a higher
 temperature than that now belonging to 
the surface of the globe3 and he thinks 
it most probable that the water and the 
silica were in chemical union1 and      
separated from each other by cooling1   
since there are strong grounds for      
believing that a liquid hydrate of      
silica would exist at high temperatures 
under pressure1 and that1 like all      
liquid bodies in the atmosphere1 it     

would contain small quantities of       
atmospheric air4 ,if this be granted1 we
 may readily explain the phenomena      
presented by the gaseous and liquid     
matters in rock-crystal and chalcedony4 
,thus then did ,davy assail the         
,neptunists in their own camp1 and      
vanquish them with their own weapons2   
for the fact1 which had been confidently
 considered by the disciples of ,werner1
 as1 above all others1 hostile to the   
idea of the igneous origin of           
crystalline rocks1 namely1 the existence
 of water in them1 has been made to     
afford a decisive argument in favour of 
the very opinion it had been brought    
forward to oppose4#gh    #gh ,i well    
remember with what triumph the late ,dr4
 ,clarke1 in   his popular lectures on  
,mineralogy at ,cambridge1 paraded a    
fine   crystal containing water in its  
cavity4 ,gentlemen1 said he1   there is 
water enough in the very crystals in my 
cabinet to   extinguish all the fires of
 the ,plutonists4  ,in an appendix to   

the foregoing paper1 the examination of 
two other crystals is detailed2 the     
results afforded were very different    
from those of the preceding ones1 but   
not less favourable to the theory of    
igneous origin4 ,one of these crystals  
was found to contain a bituminous fluid2
 on piercing it under distilled water1  
the water rushed in1 and entirely filled
 the cavity1 so that no ariform matter  
but the vapour of the substance could   
have been present4 ,the fact of almost a
 perfect vacuum existing in a cavity    
containing an expansible but difficultly
 volatile substance1 must be considered 
as highly favourable to the theory of   
the igneous origin of crystals4  ,in the
 other crystal1 the quantity of ariform 
matter was unusually small in proportion
 to the quantity of fluid1 and from the 
peculiarity of its motion1 it appeared  
to be more likely to be compressed than 
rarefied elastic fluid2 and in piercing 
the sides of the cavities1 ,davy found  
that this was the case2 it enlarged in  

volume from ten to twelve times2 the    
fluid was water1 but the gas was too    
minute in quantity to be examined4      
,there is but one mode of accounting for
 this phenomenon4 ,the crystal must have
 been formed under an immense weight of 
atmosphere or fluid1 sufficient to      
produce a compression much more than    
adequate to compensate for the expansive
 effects of heat4#gi    #gi ,an         
explanation which the experiments of    
,mr4 ,faraday1 on the   condensation of 
the gases1 to be immediately described1 
will most   fully justify4     ,,chapter
 ,,xiii4     ,the ,liquefaction of      
,chlorine ,gas first effected by ,mr4   
,faraday1    and witnessed by the       
,author4--,sir ,h4 ,davy continues the  
investigation4--,his paper on the       
application of ,liquefiable    ,gases as
 mechanical agents4--,other probable    
uses of these    bodies4--,he proposes  
several methods to prevent the fumes    
which    arise from                     
,smelting-furnaces4--,importance of the 

subject4 ,his    ,letters to ,mr4       
,vivian4--,the ,government solicit the  
advice of    the ,royal ,society on the 
subject of protecting the ,copper       
,sheathing of ,ships from the action of 
sea-water4--,sir ,h4    ,davy charges   
himself with this enquiry4--,he proposes
 a plan    of protection founded on     
,voltaic principles4--,his numerous     
experiments4--,he embarks on board the  
,comet steam-vessel    bound to         
,heligoland1 in order to try his plan on
 a vessel    in motion4--,he arrives at 
,mandal1 lands1 and fishes in the       
lakes4--,the ,protectors washed         
away4--,he teaches the inhabitants    of
 ,christiansand to crimp fish--,he      
remains a few days at    ,arendal4--,a  
,norwegian dinner4--,the ,protectors are
 examined and    weighed4--,results of  
the experiment4--,the steam-vessel      
proceeds    up the ,glommen4--,he visits
 the great waterfall--,passes into      
,sweden4--,has an interview with the    
,crown ,prince of ,denmark1    and      

afterwards with ,prince ,christian at   
,copenhagen4--,he    visits ,professor  
,oersted4--,he proceeds to ,bremen to   
see ,dr4    ,olbers4--,returns to       
,england4--,his third paper read before 
the    ,royal ,society4--,voltaic       
influence of patches of rust4--,a small 
quantity of fluid sufficient to complete
 the circuit4--,he    receives from the 
,royal ,society the ,royal ,medal4--,the
 ,progress    of ,voltaic discovery     
reviewed4--,the principle is of         
extensive    application4--,the         
,author's researches into the cause of  
the    solution of ,lead in spring      
water4--,an account of the numerous     
trials of ,protectors4--,failure of the 
plan4--,report of the    ,french on the 
state of the protected frigate ,la      
,constance4--,dr4    ,revere's new plan 
of ,protection4   ,every incident1      
however trifling1 if it relates to a    
great scientific discovery1 merits the  
attention of the historian4 ,as it      
accidentally occurred to me1 and to me  

alone1 to witness the original          
experiment by which ,mr4 ,faraday first 
condensed chlorine gas into a liquid1 ,i
 shall here state the circumstances     
under which its liquefaction was        
effected4  ,i had been invited to dine  
with ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 on ,wednesday 
the #eth of ,march #ahbc1 for the       
purpose of meeting the ,reverend ,uriah 
,tonkin1 the heir of his early friend   
and benefactor of that name4#hj ,on     
quitting my house for that purpose1 ,i  
perceived that ,i had time to spare1 and
 ,i accordingly called in my way at the 
,royal ,institution4 ,upon descending   
into the laboratory1 ,i found ,mr4      
,faraday engaged in experiments on      
chlorine and its hydrate in closed      
tubes4 ,it appeared to me that the tube 
in which he was operating upon this     
substance contained some oily matter1   
and ,i rallied him upon the carelessness
 of employing soiled vessels4 ,mr4      
,faraday1 upon inspecting the tube1     
acknowledged the justness of my remark1 

and expressed his surprise at the       
circumstance4 ,in consequence of which1 
he immediately proceeded to file off the
 sealed end2 when1 to our great         
astonishment1 the contents suddenly     
exploded1 and the oily matter vanished6 
#hj ,sir ,humphry had expressed to me1  
on the preceding ,thursday1   at the    
,royal ,society1 his wish to purchase   
the old house in   ,penzance1 which1 as 
the reader will remember1 was the early 
scene   of his chemical operations2 and1
 at his request1 ,i conversed with      
,mr4 ,tonkin upon the subject2 but it   
immediately appeared that   the interest
 which the ,corporation of ,penzance    
possessed in the   estate presented an  
insurmountable obstacle to the          
accomplishment   of his object4  ,mr4   
,faraday was completely at a loss to    
explain the occurrence1 and proceeded to
 repeat the experiment with a view to   
its elucidation4 ,i was unable1 however1
 to remain and witness the result4      
,upon mentioning the circumstance to    

,sir ,humphry ,davy after dinner1 he    
appeared much surprised2 and after a few
 moments of apparent abstraction1 he    
said1 ,i shall enquire about this       
experiment to-morrow4  ,early on the    
next morning1 ,i received from ,mr4     
,faraday the following laconic note3    
,,dear ,,sir1     ,the oil you noticed  
yesterday turns out to be liquid        
chlorine4      ,yours faithfully1       
,m4 ,,faraday4   ,it is well known that1
 before the year #ahaj1 the solid       
substance obtained by exposing chlorine1
 as usually procured1 to a low          
temperature1 was considered as the gas  
itself reduced into that form3 ,sir     
,humphry ,davy1 however1 corrected this 
error1 and first showed it to be a      
hydrate1 the pure gas not being         
condensable even at a temperature of-#dj
 ,fahrenheit4  ,mr4 ,faraday had taken  
advantage of the cold season to procure 
crystals of this hydrate1 and was       
proceeding in its analysis1#ha when ,sir
 ,humphry ,davy suggested to him the    

expediency of observing what would      
happen if it were heated in a close     
vessel2 but this suggestion was made in 
consequence of the inspection of results
 already obtained by ,mr4 ,faraday1 and 
which must have led him to the          
experiment in question1 had he never    
communicated with ,sir ,humphry ,davy   
upon the subject4 ,this avowal is       
honestly due to ,mr4 ,faraday4    #ha   
,the results are contained in a short   
paper in the ,quarterly   ,journal of   
,science1 vol4 xv4  ,on exposing the    
hydrate1 in a tube hermetically sealed1 
to a temperature of #ajj1 the substance 
fused1 the tube became filled with a    
bright yellow atmosphere1 and1 on       
examination1 was found to contain two   
fluid substances3 the one1 about        
three-fourths of the whole1 was of a    
faint yellow colour1 having very much   
the appearance of water2 the remaining  
fourth was a heavy1 bright yellow fluid1
 lying at the bottom of the former1     
without any apparent tendency to mix    

with it4  ,by operating on the hydrate  
in a bent tube hermetically sealed1 ,mr4
 ,faraday found it easy1 after          
decomposing it by a heat of #ajj1 to    
distil the yellow fluid to one end of   
the tube1 and thus to separate it from  
the remaining portion4 ,if the tube were
 now cut in the middle1 the parts flew  
asunder1 as if with an explosion1 the   
whole of the yellow portion disappeared1
 and there was a powerful atmosphere of 
chlorine produced2 the pale portion1 on 
the contrary1 remained1 and when        
examined1 proved to be a weak solution  
of chlorine in water1 with a little     
muriatic acid1 probably from the        
impurity of the hydrate used4 ,when that
 end of the tube in which the yellow    
fluid lay was broken under a jar of     
water1 there was an immediate production
 of chlorine gas4  ,after several       
conjectures as to the nature of the     
changes thus produced1 ,mr4 ,faraday    
arrived at its true explanation2 viz4   
that the chlorine had been entirely     

separated from the water by the heat1   
and condensed into a dry fluid by the   
mere pressure of its own abundant       
vapour4 ,he subsequently confirmed these
 views by condensing chlorine in a long 
tube1 by mechanical pressure1 applied by
 means of a condensing syringe1 and     
which farther enabled him to ascertain  
that the degree of pressure necessary   
for this effect was about that of four  
atmospheres4  ,to ,mr4 ,faraday's paper 
upon this subject1 published in the     
,philosophical ,transactions for the    
year #ahbc1 ,sir ,humphry ,davy thought 
proper to add a ,note on the            
condensation of muriatic acid gas into  
the liquid form4  ,the circumstances    
under which this was effected are       
briefly these4 ,on the morning          
7,thursday1 ,march #fth17 after ,mr4    
,faraday had condensed chlorine1 ,sir   
,humphry ,davy had no sooner witnessed  
the result1 than he called for a strong 
glass tube1 and1 having placed in it a  
quantity of muriate of ammonia and      

sulphuric acid1 and then sealed the end1
 he caused them to act upon each other1 
and thus condensed the muriatic acid1   
which was evolved1 into a liquid4 ,the  
condensation of carbonic acid gas1      
nitrous oxide gas1 and several others1  
were in succession treated with similar 
success2 but1 as ,i regard the discovery
 as strictly belonging to ,mr4 ,faraday1
 ,i shall confine myself to the relation
 of those experiments and deductions    
which1 with equal justice1 ,i must      
assign to ,sir ,humphry ,davy4  ,he     
observes1 that the generation of elastic
 substances in close vessels1 either    
with or without heat1 offers much more  
powerful means of approximating their   
molecules than those dependent upon the 
application of cold1 whether natural or 
artificial3 for1 as gases diminish only 
about #a_/dej in volume for             
every--degree of ,fahrenheit's scale1   
beginning at ordinary temperatures1 a   
very slight condensation only can be    
produced by the most powerful freezing  

mixtures1 not half as much as would     
result from the application of a strong 
flame to one part of a glass tube1 the  
other part being of ordinary            
temperature3 and when attempts are made 
to condense gases into liquids by sudden
 mechanical compression1 the heat1      
instantly generated1 presents a         
formidable obstacle to the success of   
the experiment2 whereas1 in the         
compression resulting from their slow   
generation in close vessels1 if the     
process be conducted with common        
precautions1 there is no source of      
difficulty or danger2 and it may be     
easily assisted by artificial cold in   
cases when gases approach near to that  
point of compression and temperature at 
which they become vapours4  ,on the     
#agth of ,april #ahbc1 he communicated  
to the ,royal ,society a paper ,on the  
application of ,liquids formed by the   
condensation of ,gases as mechanical    
agents4  ,he states that doubts may1 for
 various philosophical reasons1 exist as

 to the economical results to be        
obtained by employing the steam of water
 under great pressures1 and at very     
elevated temperatures2 but that no      
doubts can arise with respect to the use
 of such liquids as require for their   
existence even a compression equal to   
that of the weight of thirty or forty   
atmospheres2 and where common           
temperatures1 or slight elevations of   
them1 are sufficient to produce an      
immense elastic force2 and when the     
principal question to be discussed is1  
whether the effect of mechanical motion 
is to be most easily produced by an     
increase or diminution of heat by       
artificial means4  ,with the assistance 
of ,mr4 ,faraday1 he made several       
experiments on the differences between  
the increase of elastic force in gases  
under high and low pressures1 by similar
 increments of temperature4 ,in an      
experiment made with carbonic acid1 its 
force was found to be nearly equal to   
that of air compressed to one-twentieth 

at #ab ,fah4 and of air compressed to   
one-thirty-sixth at #cb degrees1 making 
an increase equal to the weight of      
thirteen atmospheres by an increase of  
twenty of temperature6  ,in applying1   
however1 the condensed gases as         
mechanical agents1 ,davy admits that    
there will be some difficulty2 the      
materials of the apparatus must be as   
strong and as perfectly joined as those 
used by ,mr4 ,perkins in his            
high-pressure steam-engine3 but the     
small differences of temperature to     
produce an elastic force equal to the   
pressure of many atmospheres1 will      
render the risk of explosion extremely  
small2 and he adds1 that if future      
experiments should realize the views    
here developed1 the mere difference of  
temperature between sunshine and shade1 
and air and water1 or the effects of    
evaporation from a moist surface1 will  
be sufficient to produce results1 which 
have hitherto been obtained only by a   
great expenditure of fuel4  ,if this be 

true1 who can say that future           
generations shall not perform their     
voyages in gas-vessels1 across the      
,atlantic ,ocean1 with no other fuel    
than that which a common taper may      
supply8 ,i fear1 however1 that in this  
scientific reverie1 ,davy merely looked 
at the difference of the sensible       
temperatures1 and entirely neglected1 in
 his calculation1 the quantity of heat  
rendered latent during the change of the
 liquid into the gaseous state2 and     
which1 perhaps1 is far more considerable
 in the application of these fluids than
 in that of water2 but even in this     
latter case1 the great expenditure of   
heat in working the steam-engine1 is in 
the portion rendered latent1 and which  
cannot1 by any contrivance1 be brought  
again into operation1 after it has      
performed its duty4 ,that a philosopher 
who had1 during the whole progress of   
his researches1 directed such           
unremitting attention to the subject of 
,heat1 should have wholly overlooked an 

objection arising out of one of its most
 familiar phenomena1 is scarcely less   
extraordinary than his having1 on       
another occasion1#hb advanced to a      
conclusion in direct opposition to the  
very principle of ,electricity1 which   
his own discoveries had established4    
#hb ,i here allude to an anecdote       
related by ,mr4 ,babbage1 in   his      
,reflections on the ,decline of ,science
 in ,england2 a work1   by the by1 which
 strongly reminds me of a practical     
bull4 ,a   gentleman1 anxious to escape 
the tax on armorial bearings1   wrote a 
long letter to the ,commissioners1      
stating ,i do not know   how many       
reasons to show that he could never have
 used them2   and1 after all1 sealed the
 letter with his own coat of arms6      
,had ,mr4 ,babbage hoped to convince the
 reader that ,science was   actually on 
the decline in this country1 he should  
never have   written a work which gives 
the lie to the title-page4 ,now for     
the anecdote4--,meeting ,dr4 ,wollaston 

one morning in the shop   of a          
bookseller1 ,i proposed this question3  
,if two volumes of   hydrogen and one of
 oxygen are mixed together in a vessel1 
and   if by mechanical pressure they can
 be so condensed as to become   of the  
same specific gravity of water1 will the
 gases1 under   these circumstances1    
unite and form water8 ',what do you     
think   they will do8' said ,dr4 ,w4 ,i 
replied1 that ,i should rather expect   
they would unite4 ',i see no reason to  
suppose it1' said he4 ,i   then enquired
 whether he thought the experiment worth
 making4   ,he answered1 that he did    
not1 for that he should think it would  
certainly not succeed4    ,a few days   
after1 ,i proposed the same question to 
,sir ,humphry   ,davy4 ,he at once said1
 ',they will become water of course3'   
and   on my enquiring whether he thought
 the experiment worth making1   he      
observed that it was a good experiment1 
but one which it was   hardly necessary 
to make1 as it must succeed4    ,these  

were off-hand answers1 which it might   
perhaps be hardly   fair to have        
recorded1 had they been of persons of   
less eminent   talent2 and it adds to   
the curiosity of the circumstance to    
mention1 that ,i believe ,dr4           
,wollaston's reason for supposing no    
union would take place1 arose from the  
nature of the electrical   relations of 
the two gases remaining unchanged3 an   
objection   which did not weigh with the
 philosopher whose discoveries had      
given birth to it4  ,davy succeeded in  
liquefying gases by a method which1 at  
first view1 appears very paradoxical--by
 the application of heat6 ,the method   
consists in placing them in one leg of a
 bent sealed tube1 confined by mercury1 
and applying heat to ether1 or alcohol1 
or water1 in the other end4 ,in this    
manner1 by the pressure of the vapour of
 ether1 he liquefied prussic gas and    
sulphurous acid gas2 which gases1 on    
being reproduced1 occasioned cold4      
,there can be little doubt1 he thinks1  

that these general facts of the         
condensation of the gases will have many
 practical applications4 ,they offer1   
for instance1 easy methods of           
impregnating liquids with carbonic acid 
and other gases1 without mechanical     
pressure4 ,they afford means of         
producing great diminutions of          
temperature1 by the rapidity with which 
large quantities of liquids may be      
rendered ariform2 and as compression    
occasions similar effects to cold1 in   
preventing the formation of elastic     
substances1 there is great reason to    
believe that it may be successfully     
employed for the preservation of animal 
and vegetable substances for the        
purposes of food4  ,davy might also have
 added1 that the same general views will
 explain natural and other phenomena not
 previously understood4 ,they certainly 
afford a plausible explanation of the   
nature of blowers in coal-mines2 and    
they may lead to more satisfactory views
 on other subjects of geology4 ,they    

assign a limit to the expansive force of
 gas under increasing pressure1 and     
account for effects connected with the  
blasting of rocks1 which would otherwise
 appear anomalous4#hc    #hc ,in the    
year #ahab1 ,mr4 ,babbage attempted to  
ascertain whether   pressure would      
prevent decomposition3 for this purpose1
 a hole   about thirty inches deep1 and 
two inches in diameter1 was bored       
downward into a limestone rock1 into    
which was then poured a   quantity of   
strong muriatic acid1 and a conical     
wooden plug1 that   had been previously 
soaked in tallow1 was immediately driven
   hard into the mouth of the hole4 ,it 
was expected either that the            
decomposition would be prevented1 or    
that the gas developed would   split the
 rock by its expansive force3 but       
nothing happened4   ,now1 it is most    
probable that a part of the carbonic    
acid had   condensed into a liquid1 and 
thus prevented that developement of     
power which ,mr4 ,babbage had expected  

would have torn the rock   asunder4  ,it
 may be stated1 greatly to the honour of
 ,davy1 that there never occurred any   
question of scientific interest or      
difficulty in which he did not          
cheerfully offer his advice and         
assistance4 ,few ,presidents of the     
,royal ,society have ever exerted their 
influence and talents with so much      
unaffected zeal for the promotion of    
scientific objects1 and for the welfare 
of scientific men4 ,in the year #ahba1  
the ,great ,hafod copper-works1 in the  
neighbourhood of ,swansea1 were indicted
 for a nuisance1 in consequence of the  
alleged destructive effects of the fumes
 which arose during the smelting of the 
ores4 ,when we learn that the amount of 
wages paid by the proprietors of the    
works in this district exceeds          
#ej1jjjl41 per annum2 that twelve       
thousand persons1 at least1 derive their
 support from the smelting              
establishments2 that a sum of not less  
than #bjj1jjjl4 sterling is annually    

circulated in ,glamorganshire and the   
adjoining county1 in consequence of     
their existence2 that they pay to the   
collieries no less than from #ajj1jjjl4 
to #aaj1jjjl4 per annum for coal2 that  
one hundred and fifty vessels are       
employed in the conveyance of ore1 and1 
supposing each upon an average to be    
manned by five seamen1 that they give   
occupation to seven hundred and fifty   
mariners1 a more serious calamity can   
scarcely be imagined than the stoppage  
of such works3 we may therefore readily 
believe1 that ,davy entered most        
ardently into the consideration of some 
plan by which the fumes might be        
prevented1 and the alleged nuisance     
abated4  ,through the kind attention of 
my friend ,mr4 ,vivian1 ,i am enabled to
 insert the following letters4      ,,to
 ,,john ,,henry ,,vivian1 ,,esq4        
,london1 ,jan4 #i1 #ahbb4      ,,my     
,,dear ,,sir1     ,as you expressed a   
wish that ,i should commit to writing   
those    opinions which ,i mentioned in 

conversation1 when ,i had the           
pleasure of visiting you at ,marino1    
after inspecting your    furnaces and   
witnessing your experiments on the smoke
 arising    from them1 ,i lose no time  
in complying with your desire4     ,it  
is evident that the copper ore cannot be
 properly calcined    without a copious 
admission of air into the furnaces1     
which    must cause the sulphurous acid 
gas formed in the calcination    to be  
mixed with very large quantities of     
other elastic    fluids1 which presents 
great mechanical1 as well as chemical   
difficulties to its condensation or     
decomposition4     ,to persons          
acquainted with chemistry1 a number of  
modes of    effecting these objects are 
known4 ,of condensation1 for            
instance1 by water1 by the formation of 
sulphuric acid1 by    alkaline lixivia1 
by alkaline earths1 c4 ,of              
decomposition1    by hydrogen1 by       
charcoal1 by hydro-carbonous substances1
 and    by metals2 but to most of these 

methods there are serious and           
insurmountable objections1 depending    
upon the diluted state of    the acid   
gas1 and the expenses required4     ,to 
form sulphuric acid1 or to decompose by 
charcoal or    hydrogen1 or to condense 
by alkaline lixivia1 or by alkaline     
earths1 from the nature of the works1   
and of the operations for    which they 
were intended1 ,i conceive impracticable
 except at an    expense that could not 
be borne2 and the only processes which  
remain to be discussed are those by     
hydro-carbonous substances1    and by   
the action of water4     ,there can be  
no doubt that the gas may be decomposed 
by the    action of heated              
hydro-carbonous gases from the          
distillation    of coal2 but for this   
purpose there must be a new construction
    of the furnaces1 and more than      
double1 probably triple1    the quantity
 of fuel would be required1 supposing   
even the    ,swansea coal to contain the
 common average of bitumen2 and    this 

method must be infinitely more          
expensive1 and liable to    many more   
objections1 than the one you have so    
ingeniously    employed--absorption by  
water4     ,as water costs nothing1 and 
as a supply is entirely in    your      
power1 the application of it offers     
comparatively few    difficulties2 and  
it has the great advantage of freeing   
the    smoke from fluoric and arsenious 
compounds1 which would not be           
perfectly effected by any other method4 
,the experiments of ,,mm4 ,phillips and 
,faraday prove1 that your    shower     
baths have already entirely destroyed   
all the fluoric    and arsenious fumes  
of the smoke1 and by a certain quantity 
of water1 the smoke may undoubtedly be  
entirely freed from    sulphurous acid  
gas4     ,this1 your own plan1 is the   
one that ,i strongly recommend to    you
 to proceed with1 and1 if necessary1 to 
extend4     ,perhaps you may find an    
additional shower bath near the colder  
part of the flue useful4 ,i have no idea

 that steam passed into    the hot part 
of the flue can be of the least service2
 but if    passed out with the smoke    
through the stack1 it may tend to       
convert such residual portion of        
sulphurous acid gas1 exposed    to fresh
 air1 into sulphuric acid4 ,could you   
not likewise    try a stream of cold    
water passing along the bottom of the   
horizontal flue8#hd     ,i do not think 
the advantages of your improvements can 
be    fairly appreciated1 till the      
effects of your smoke are    determined 
by actual experiments and fair trials4  
,yours1 c4      ,h4 ,,davy4     #hd ,for
 the purpose of acting by its cooling   
power in condensing   vapour1 which     
would carry down sulphurous acid with   
it4 ,it would   likewise assist by      
direct absorption4 ,h4 ,d4      ,,to    
,,the ,,same4      ,london1 ,may #ab1   
#ahbc4      ,,my ,,dear ,,sir1     ,i   
return you my thanks for the copies you 
were so good as    to send me of your   
work on the modes you have adopted for  

rendering copper smoke innoxious1 c4 ,i 
have read it with very    great         
pleasure1 and ,i am sure there can be   
but one feeling1 and    that of strong  
admiration1 at the exertions you have   
made1 and    the resources you have     
displayed1 in subduing the principal    
evils of one of our most important      
national manufactures4 ,i    trust you  
will have no more trouble on this       
subject1 and that    it will only occur 
to you in an agreeable form1 with the   
high    approbation as well as grateful 
feelings of your neighbours2    and that
 your example will be followed4     ,a  
,committee of the ,royal ,society has   
been formed for    investigating the    
causes of the decay of copper sheeting  
in    the ,navy1 as ,i mentioned to you4
 ,the ,navy ,board has sent us a        
number of specimens of copper in        
different stages of decay4 ,we    have  
our first meeting to examine them on    
,thursday1 and ,i shall    have much    
pleasure in communicating to you our    

results4 ,i wish    ,i could do it in   
person4     ,i am going into ,hampshire 
on ,sunday next to fish near            
,fordingbridge for a week1 and to try   
the ,avon and its tributary    streams4 
,i was going to give you an account of  
some experiments which    ,mr4 ,faraday 
has made by my directions in generating 
gases in    close vessels as liquids1   
but ,i find ,i have not time4 ,i have   
already found an application of this    
discovery1 which ,i hope    will        
supersede steam1 as a difference of a   
few degrees of    temperature gives the 
elastic force of many atmospheres4      
,hoping to see you soon1 ,i am1 with    
best respects to ,mrs4    ,vivian1 and  
love to the charming little ,bessy1     
,my dear ,sir1 yours sincerely obliged1 
,h4 ,,davy4         99       99       99
       99       99  ,i proceed now to   
relate the history of an elaborate      
experimental enquiry1 instituted for the
 purpose of ascertaining the chemical   
nature and causes of the well-known     

corrosive action of sea-water upon      
metallic copper2 in order1 if possible1 
to obviate that serious evil in naval   
economy--the rapid decay of the copper  
sheathing on the bottoms of our ships4  
,an investigation which ,sir ,humphry   
,davy commenced in the year #ahbc1 and  
prosecuted with his characteristic zeal 
and happy talent during a considerable  
period2 when1 at length1 paradoxical as 
it may appear1 the truth of his theory  
was completely established by the       
failure of his remedy6  ,from the       
several original documents which have   
been placed at my disposal1 and from the
 valuable communications and kind       
assistance of my friend ,mr4 ,knowles1  
,i trust ,i shall be enabled to offer to
 the scientific reader a more complete  
and circumstantial history of this      
admirable enquiry than has been hitherto
 presented to the public4  ,the results 
he produced are equally interesting and 
important1 whether we contemplate them  
biographically1 as indicative of the    

peculiar genius by which they were      
obtained2 or1 scientifically1 in their  
connexion with the electro-chemical     
theory1 to the farther developement and 
illustration of which they have so      
powerfully contributed2 or1             
economically1 as the probable means by  
which the hand of ,time may be averted1 
an increased durability imparted to     
rapidly perishable works of art1 and    
monuments of human genius transmitted to
 posterity1 in all their freshness1     
through a long succession of ages4  ,it 
is probable that1 in the earliest period
 of naval architecture1 some            
expedient#he was practised1 in order to 
protect ships' bottoms from the ravages 
of marine worms4#hf ,the use of metallic
 sheathing1 however1 is of ancient date4
 ,the galley supposed to have belonged  
to the ,emperor ,trajan was sheathed    
with sheets of lead1 which were fastened
 with copper nails4#hg ,the same metal  
was also used in the earlier periods of 
our naval history2#hh and it is worthy  

of remark1 that the circumstances which 
led to its disuse1 were the rapid       
corrosion of the rother irons1 7from the
 formation of a ,voltaic circle17 and   
the accumulation of sea-weed4    #he    
,mr4 ,knowles1 in his ,inquiry into the 
,means which have been   taken to       
preserve the ,british ,navy1 observes1  
that the first   sheathing was probably 
the hides of animals covered with pitch1
   or with asphaltum1 which led to the  
use of thin boards1 having1   in some   
cases1 lime1 and in others lime and     
hair1 between them   and the bottom of  
the ships4    #hf ,the worms infesting  
the timber of ships are--the ,teredo1   
the ,lepisma1 and the ,pholas4 ,the     
first of these1 however1   which was    
imported from ,india1 is by far the most
 destructive2   and ,i am informed by   
,mr4 ,knowles1 that it is more abundant 
at   ,plymouth than on any other part of
 the coast where there is a   dock-yard2
 and although on the shores of ,england 
it is not of a   very large size1 yet it

 is a formidable enemy to the safety of 
those ships which have not a metallic   
sheathing to cover their   bottoms4 ,in 
the ,east ,indies1 and off the coast of 
,africa1 the   ,teredo is of very large 
size2 and holes have been bored by them 
in the timber of at least seven-eighths 
of an inch in diameter4    #hg ,alberti 
,archeti4    #hh ,in the year #afgj1 an 
,act of ,parliament was passed1 granting
   unto ,sir ,philip ,howard and        
,francis ,watson1 ,esq4 the sole use of 
the manufacture of milled lead for      
sheathing ships2 and1 in the   year     
#afia1 twenty ships had been sheathed   
with lead1 manufactured   by them1 and  
which was fastened with copper          
nails4--,see   ,knowles's ,inquiry4  ,in
 the year #agfa1 copper plates were     
first used as sheathing on the ,alarm   
frigate1 of thirty-two guns2#hi a second
 underwent this operation in #agfe1 a   
third in #aggj1 four in #aggf1 nine in  
#aggg2 and1 in the course of the three  
following years1 the whole ,british navy

 was coppered3 an event which may be    
considered as forming an important era  
in the naval annals of the country4     
#hi ,the copper sheathing was removed   
from this ship in #agfc1   when all the 
iron was found to be much corroded1 the 
pintles and   braces nearly eaten       
through1 and the false keel lost1 from  
the   decay of the keel staples and the 
bolt fastenings4 ,thus1 in the   very   
first coppered ship1 the ,voltaic       
effect1 produced by the   contact of    
copper and iron1 was displayed in a very
 striking   manner4  ,the expense       
attending the use of copper for this    
purpose1 in consequence of its corrosion
 and decay by salt-water1 has always    
been felt as a serious objection to its 
use1 and various suggestions have from  
time to time occurred1 and numerous     
experiments been made1 in the hope of   
obviating the evil1#ij but without any  
great degree of success4    #ij ,an     
experiment was tried by painting or     
varnishing their   inner surfaces1 but  

the use of brown paper which has been   
dipped   in tar1 and placed between the 
wood and copper1 is now considered   to 
be the best mode4 ,a solution of        
caoutchouc spread on paper   was tried  
on the bottom of ,sir ,w4 ,curtis's     
yacht2 but1 on   examination1 it was    
pronounced to be less efficacious than  
tarred   paper4  ,the solution of the   
metal1 however1 has been found to vary  
in degree at different anchorages3 at   
,sheerness1 for instance1 its rapidity  
is very great1 in consequence of the    
copper being subjected to the alternate 
action of the sea1 which flows in there 
from the ,british ,channel1 and to the  
flux of water down the two great rivers1
 the ,thames and ,medway1 loaded1 as    
they necessarily must be1 with the      
products of animal and vegetable        
decomposition4  ,in order1 if possible1 
to obtain a remedy for this evil1 the   
naval departments of the ,government    
requested1 in the latter part of the    
year #ahbc1 the advice of the ,president

 and ,council of the ,royal ,society1 as
 to the best mode of manufacturing      
copper sheets1 or of preserving them1   
while in use1 against the corrosive     
effects of oxidation4  ,sir ,h4 ,davy   
charged himself with this enquiry2 the  
results of which he communicated to the 
,royal ,society1 in three elaborate     
memoirs4 ,the first was read on the     
#bbnd of ,january #ahbd2 the second1 on 
the #agth of ,june1 in the same year2   
and the third1 and concluding paper1 on 
the #ith of ,june #ahbe4  ,a very       
general belief prevailed1 that sea-water
 had little or no action on pure copper1
 and that the rapid decay of that metal 
on certain ships was owing to its       
impurity4 ,on submitting1 however1      
various specimens of copper to the      
action of the sea-water1 ,sir ,h4 ,davy 
came to a conclusion1 in direct         
opposition to such an opinion2#ia and   
,mr4 ,knowles informed me1 in a late    
conversation upon the subject1 that the 
attempts to purify the metal1 since the 

,government has manufactured its own    
copper sheathing1 has been the cause of 
its more rapid decay4 ,it will however  
presently appear1 that the relative     
durability of the metallic sheets must  
also be influenced by circumstances     
wholly independent of their quality1    
some of which are very probably1 even in
 our present advanced state of chemical 
knowledge1 not thoroughly understood4   
#ia ,in two instances1 the copper 7from 
the ,batavier and from   the ,plymouth  
yacht7 which had remained perfect for   
twenty-seven   years1 was found to be   
alloyed4 ,in the former one there was an
   alloy of one three-hundredth part of 
zinc2 and1 in the latter1   the same    
proportion of tin4 ,on the other hand1  
in the case of   the copper on the      
,tartar's bottom1 which was nearly      
destroyed in   four years1 upon being   
submitted to chemical examination by    
,mr4   ,phillips1 it was found to be    
very pure copper4    ,alloys of copper  
have generally been found more durable  

than the   unmixed metal2 and various   
patents have been taken out for the     
fabrication of such compounds2 but      
metallic sheets so composed   have been 
found to be too hard and brittle1 and   
not to admit of   that flexibility which
 is necessary for their application to a
   curved surface2 the consequence of   
which has been1 that they have   cracked
 upon the ship's bottom4  ,sir ,h4      
,davy1 on entering upon the examination 
of this subject1 very justly considered1
 that to ascertain the exact nature of  
the chemical changes which take place in
 sea-water1 by the agency of copper1    
ought to be the first step in the       
enquiry2 for1 unless the cause were     
thoroughly understood1 how could the    
evil be remedied8  ,on keeping a        
polished piece of copper in contact with
 sea-water1 the following were the      
effects which successively presented    
themselves4 ,in the course of two or    
three hours1 the surface of the metal   
exhibited a yellow tarnish1 and the     

water in which it was immersed          
contracted a cloudiness1 the hue of     
which was at first white1 but gradually 
became green4 ,in less than a day1 a    
bluish-green precipitate appeared1 and  
constantly continued to accumulate in   
the bottom of the vessel2 at the same   
time1 the surface of the copper         
corroded1 appearing red in the water1   
and grass-green where it was in contact 
with air4 ,upon this grass-green matter 
carbonate of soda formed2 and these     
changes continued until the water became
 much less saline4 ,the green           
precipitate he ascertained to consist of
 an insoluble compound of copper1 7which
 he thinks may be considered as a       
hydrated sub-muriate17 and hydrate of   
magnesia4#ib    #ib ,the ,muriate of    
,magnesia is the most active salt in    
sea-water4  ,according to his own views 
of the nature of chlorine1 he           
immediately perceived that neither soda 
nor magnesia could appear in sea-water  
by the action of a metal1 unless in     

consequence of an absorption or transfer
 of oxygen1 which in this case must     
either be derived from the atmosphere1  
or from the decomposition of water3 his 
experiments determined that the former  
was the source which supplied it4 ,by   
reasoning upon these phenomena1 and     
applying for their explanation his      
electro-chemical theory1 which had shown
 that chemical attractions may be       
exalted1 modified1 or destroyed1 by     
changes in the electrical states of     
bodies1 he was led to the discovery of a
 remedy for the corrosion of copper1 by 
the very principle which enabled him1   
sixteen years before1 to decompose the  
fixed alkalies4  ,when he considered    
that copper is but weakly positive in   
the electro-chemical scale1 and that it 
can only act upon sea-water when in a   
positive state1 it immediately occurred 
to him that1 if it could be rendered    
slightly negative1 the corroding action 
of sea-water upon it would be null4 ,but
 how was this to be effected8 ,at first1

 he thought of using a ,voltaic battery2
 but this could hardly be applicable in 
practice4 ,he next thought of the       
contact of zinc1 tin1 or iron2 but he   
was prevented for some time from trying 
this1 by the recollection that the      
copper in the ,voltaic battery1 as well 
as the zinc1 was dissolved by the action
 of dilute nitric acid2 and by the fear1
 that too large a mass of oxidable metal
 would be required to produce decisive  
results4 ,after reflecting1 however1 on 
the slow and weak action of sea-water on
 copper1 and the small difference which 
must exist between their electrical     
powers2 and knowing that a very feeble  
chemical action would be destroyed by a 
very feeble electrical force1 he was    
encouraged to proceed2 and the results  
were highly satisfactory and conclusive4
 ,a piece of zinc1 not larger than a    
pea1 or the point of a small iron nail1 
was found fully adequate to preserve    
forty or fifty square inches of         
copper1--and this1 wherever it was      

placed1 whether at the top1 bottom1 or  
in the middle of the sheet of copper1   
and whether the copper was straight or  
bent1 or made into coils4 ,and where the
 connexion between the different pieces 
of copper was completed by wires1 or    
thin filaments of the fortieth or       
fiftieth of an inch in diameter1 the    
effect was the same2 every side1 every  
surface1 every particle of the copper1  
remained bright2 whilst the iron1 or the
 zinc1 was slowly corroded4  ,a piece of
 thick sheet copper1 containing on both 
sides about sixty square inches1 was cut
 in such a manner as to form seven      
divisions1 connected only by the        
smallest filaments that could be left1  
and a mass of zinc1 of the fifth of an  
inch in diameter1 was soldered to the   
upper division4 ,the whole was plunged  
under sea-water2 the copper remained    
perfectly polished4 ,the same experiment
 was repeated with iron1 and after the  
lapse of a month1 the copper was in both
 instances found as bright as when it   

was first introduced2 whilst similar    
pieces of copper1 undefended1 underwent 
in the same water very considerable     
corrosion1 and produced a large quantity
 of green deposit in the bottom of the  
vessel4  ,numerous other experiments    
were performed1 and with results equally
 conclusive of the truth of the theory  
which had suggested them4  ,there was   
however one point which still remained  
for enquiry4 ,as the ocean may be       
considered in its relation to the       
quantity of copper in a ship1 as an     
infinitely extended conductor1 it became
 necessary to ascertain whether that    
circumstance would influence the        
results4 ,for this purpose1 he placed   
two very fine copper wires1 one         
undefended1 the other defended by a     
particle of zinc1 in a very large vessel
 of sea-water1 which water might be     
considered to bear the same relation to 
so minute a portion of metal1 as the sea
 to the metallic sheathing of a ship4   
,the result was perfectly satisfactory4 

,the defended copper underwent no       
change2 the undefended tarnished1 and   
deposited a green powder4#ic    #ic     
,during the course of some experiments  
in which ,i have been   lately engaged1 
a simple mode of exhibiting the         
principle of   protection occurred to   
me1 which1 ,i believe1 has not before   
been suggested2 at least1 ,i cannot find
 any notice of such   an experiment4 ,as
 ,i consider it admirably calculated for
   illustration1 ,i will here describe  
it4 ,let two slips of copper   of equal 
size1 the one protected with a piece of 
zinc1 the other   unprotected1 be       
plunged into two wine-glasses filled    
with a   solution of ammonia4 ,in a     
short time1 the liquor containing the   
unprotected copper will assume an       
intensely blue colour2 the   other will 
remain colourless for any length of     
time4 ,the theory   is obvious4 ,when   
metallic copper is placed in contact    
with an   ammoniacal solution1 a        
protoxide of the metal is formed which  

is colourless1--and will remain so1 if  
the contact of air be   prevented2 but  
on exposure to the atmosphere1 it passes
 into   a state of peroxide1 which is   
dissolved by the ammonia1 and   produces
 an intensely blue solution4 ,in the    
case of the protected   copper1 the     
metal is incapable of attracting a      
single atom of   oxygen1 in consequence 
of having been rendered negative by the 
zinc1 and consequently no solution can  
take place4  ,davy having thus satisfied
 his own mind as to the truth of his    
views1 communicated to ,government1 in  
,january #ahbd1 the important fact of   
his having discovered a remedy for the  
evil of which they had complained2 and  
that the corrosion of the copper        
sheathing of his ,majesty's ships might 
be prevented by rendering the copper    
electro-positive1 by means of the       
contact of tin1 zinc1 lead1 iron1 or any
 other easily oxidable metal2 and that  
he was prepared to carry his plan into  
effect4  ,a proposition from a          

philosopher of such known science1 and  
upon a subject of such great importance 
to the navigation and commerce of the   
country1 immediately obtained all the   
attention it deserved2 and an order was 
made that the plan of protection should1
 under the superintendence of ,sir ,h4  
,davy1 be forthwith tried upon the      
bottom of a sailing cutter4  ,to give to
 his discovery farther publicity1 ,sir  
,humphry requested that three models of 
ships might be exhibited in the spacious
 hall of the ,navy ,office in ,somerset 
,house2 the copper of one of which he   
proposed should be protected by bands of
 zinc1 that of another by plates of     
wrought iron soldered on the sheathing1 
while the third should have its copper  
exposed without any protection whatever4
  ,these models were floated in         
sea-water for several months2 and the   
experiment fully confirmed the results  
he had previously obtained in his       
laboratory4 ,the models were from time  
to time examined by persons of the      

highest scientific character1 as well as
 by others of great naval celebrity2 and
 so alluring was the theory1 and so     
conclusive the experiments1 that1       
instead of waiting the result of the    
slow but more certain ordeal to which   
the plan had been submitted1 it was     
immediately put into extensive practice1
 both in the ,government service and on 
the bottoms of ships belonging to       
private individuals4  ,to those the     
least acquainted with the principles of 
,voltaic action1 it was only necessary  
to state the proposition1 in order to   
command their assent to its truth4 ,the 
utility of the plan therefore was never 
questioned1 but the claims of ,davy to  
the originality of the invention were   
doomed to meet with immediate           
opposition4#id    #id ,amongst other    
counter-claims1 there appeared1 in a    
weekly   publication entitled ,the      
,mechanic's ,magazine1 a statement in   
favour of a person of the name of       
,wyatt1 founded on the following        

advertisement in ,the ,world newspaper  
of ,april #af1 #agia4 ,by   the ,king's 
,patent1 tinned copper sheets and pipes 
manufactured   and sold by ,charles     
,wyatt of ,birmingham4 ,these sheets1   
amongst   other advantages1 are         
particularly recommended for sheathing  
of   ships1 as they possess all the good
 properties of copper1 with   others    
obviously superior4 ,it is unnecessary  
to observe that1   except their object1 
there is nothing in common in the       
inventions   of ,davy and ,wyatt4 ,the  
superiority claimed by ,wyatt consisted 
merely in coating the copper with some  
substance less corrosive   by sea-water 
than that metal3 an idea borrowed from  
the common   practice of tinning copper 
vessels4  ,the correctness of the       
principle having been established1 it   
became1 in the next place1 necessary to 
determine the most eligible metal to be 
used for protection2 the proportion     
which it must bear to the surface of the
 copper-sheathing below the waterline2  

the form least likely to offer          
resistance to the sea1 and to impede the
 sailing of the vessel2 and lastly1 its 
most convenient position on the ship's  
bottom4 ,to ascertain these several     
points1 ,lord ,melville and the ,lords  
of the ,admiralty desired the           
,commissioners of the ,navy ,board1 and 
of the ,dock-yards1 to afford ,sir      
,humphry every assistance and facility  
for prosecuting the necessary           
experiments2 and he accordingly made    
many very extensive trials1 not only on 
copper sheets which were immersed in the
 sea1 but also on the bottoms of a      
considerable number of boats which had  
been coppered for that purpose1 and     
exposed to the flow of the tide in      
,portsmouth harbour2 upon which         
occasions he varied the nature as well  
as the proportions of the protecting    
metal4 ,the results were communicated to
 the ,royal ,society1 and they          
constituted the materials for his second
 memoir on the subject4  ,when the      

metallic protector was from #a_/bj to   
#a_/aaj parts of its surface1 there was 
no corrosion nor decay of the copper2   
with smaller quantities1 such as from   
#a_/bjj to #a_/djj1 the copper underwent
 a loss of weight1 which was greater in 
proportion as the protector was smaller2
 and1 as a proof of the universality of 
the principle1 it was found that even   
#a_/ajjj part of cast iron saved a      
certain proportion of the copper4  ,the 
sheeting of boats and ships1 protected  
by the contact of zinc1 or cast and     
malleable iron in different proportions1
 compared with those of similar boats   
and sides of ships unprotected1         
exhibited bright surfaces2 whilst the   
unprotected copper underwent rapid      
corrosion1 becoming first red1 then     
green1 and losing a part of its         
substance in scales4 ,fortunately1 in   
the course of these experiments1 it was 
proved that cast iron1 the substance    
which is cheapest and most easily       
procured1 is likewise most fitted for   

the protection of the copper4 ,it lasts 
longer than malleable iron1 or zinc2 and
 the plumbaginous substance which is    
left by the action of sea-water upon it1
 retains the original form of the iron1 
and does not impede the electrical      
action of the remaining metal4  ,in the 
earlier stage of the investigation1 it  
had been suggested by ,mr4 ,knowles1 and
 several other persons1 that by         
rendering the copper innoxious1 it was  
probable sea-weeds might adhere to the  
sheets2 but this objection he answered  
by stating1 that negative electricity   
could not be supposed favourable to     
animal and vegetable life2 and as it    
occasioned the deposition of magnesia1 a
 substance exceedingly noxious to land  
vegetables1 upon the copper surface1 he 
entertained no difficulty upon that     
subject3 in this1 however1 he was       
fatally mistaken4 ,he found1 after a    
trial of several weeks1 that the        
metallic surface became coated with     
carbonate of lime and magnesia1 and     

that1 under such circumstances1 weeds   
adhered to the coatings1 and marine     
insects collected upon them2 but at the 
same time he observed1 that when the    
proportion of cast iron1 or zinc1 was   
below #a_/aej1 the electrical power of  
the copper being less negative1 no such 
deposition occurred2 and that although  
the surface had undergone a slight      
degree of solution1 it remained         
perfectly clean3 a fact which he        
considered of great importance1 as it   
pointed out the limits of protection2   
and makes the application of a very     
small quantity of the oxidable metal    
more advantageous1 in fact1 than that of
 a larger one4  ,during the course of   
these experiments1 many singular facts  
occurred to him1 which tended to confirm
 his views of electro-chemical action4  
,amongst the various details which      
remained for his investigation1 the     
relations between the surface of the    
protector1 and that of the copper       
sheathing1 under the different          

circumstances of temperature1 saltness  
of the sea1 and rapidity of the ship's  
motion1 presented themselves as objects 
of great importance2 and an opportunity 
occurred which enabled him to pursue    
them by actual observation and          
experiment4  ,in the month of ,june     
#ahbd1 a steam-vessel1 ,h4,m4 ship the  
,comet1 was1 at the express request of  
the ,king of ,denmark1 ordered to       
proceed to ,heligoland1 for the purpose 
of fixing with precision1 by means of   
numerous chronometers1 the longitude of 
that island1 in order to connect the    
,danish with the ,british survey2 and   
the ,board of ,longitude having         
recommended that the voyage should be   
extended as far as the ,naze of ,norway1
 for the purpose of ascertaining also   
the longitude of that important point1  
,sir ,h4 ,davy thought that this vessel 
would afford him the means of performing
 his desired experiments upon protected 
and unprotected copper sheets1 when     
under the influence of rapid motion2 and

 upon application to the ,board of      
,admiralty1 he obtained the entire      
disposal of the vessel after the        
required observations had been          
completed1 as long as the season would  
allow her going to sea2 and1 that every 
facility might be afforded him1 a       
skilful carpenter was put on board1 to  
prepare whatever might be necessary for 
the prosecution of the enquiry4  ,for   
the following account of his adventures 
upon this occasion ,i am indebted to    
,dr4 ,tiarks1 who1 in his character of  
astronomical observer1 superintended the
 expedition4  ,in the first instance1   
,davy directed to be constructed a      
number of oblong1 rectangular1 thin     
plates of copper1 the surface of which  
should exceed that of a square foot3 in 
the centre of these plates was fastened 
a slip of copper1 by means of which     
other pieces of copper1 which had small 
plates of iron of various dimensions    
attached to them1 were fixed to the     
plate1 by merely sliding them into the  

groove thus prepared for their          
reception4 ,the plates were all         
carefully weighed previously to the     
experiment1 and the pieces of iron were 
considered as representing the various  
proportions of iron and copper surfaces 
within whose limits ,sir ,h4 ,davy had  
been led1 by former experiments1 to     
expect that the best proportion would be
 found4 ,these plates were afterwards   
slipped into wooden frames1 and nailed  
to the ship's side1 over a piece of     
thick canvass1 for the purpose of       
intercepting every possible             
communication between them and the      
copper sheathing4  ,it was proposed     
that1 after each trip1 these plates     
should be accurately weighed1 in order  
to ascertain the loss which they        
severally might sustain from the        
corrosive action of the sea1 while thus 
protected by different proportions of   
iron surface2 and1 to ensure every      
possible accuracy1 he carried with him  
the excellent balance1 constructed by   

,ramsden1 which is in possession of the 
,royal ,society4  ,sir ,h4 ,davy1       
accompanied by ,lord ,clifton1 embarked 
at ,greenwich on the #cjth of ,june1 and
 the vessel arrived at ,heligoland on   
the #bnd of ,july4 ,here1 as they       
remained not more than one day1 the     
plates were not examined1 although the  
,master expressed strong doubts as to   
their safety4 ,the vessel then          
proceeded1 by order of ,sir ,humphry1 to
 ,norway1 a country which he was1 for   
several reasons1 very desirous of       
visiting1 especially for the sake of    
determining a doubtful point in         
ornithology1 upon which he subsequently 
corresponded with ,professor ,rheinhard1
 of ,copenhagen4  ,the difference of    
longitude1 also1 between that country   
and ,greenwich1 not having been         
accurately ascertained1 offered perhaps 
an additional reason for thus deviating 
from a course which1 it must be         
confessed1 was at variance with the     
original plan of the expedition4  ,after

 a severe gale of wind on the #dth of   
,july1 the vessel arrived1 on the day   
following1 at ,rleve1 near ,mandal1 and 
afterwards proceeded to this latter     
place1 at which ,davy remained for      
several days1 during which interval the 
vessel made a tour to the ,naze1 and    
took in coal4  ,on the arrival of the   
vessel in the port1 the plates were     
immediately examined2 but1 to the great 
disappointment of ,sir ,humphry1 it was 
discovered that every one of the        
protectors had been washed away1 and    
that most of the plates had sustained   
considerable injury4  ,with the country 
around ,mandal he was much pleased2 for1
 although it is far from being fertile1 
the scenery is rendered exceedingly     
striking and beautiful by the numerous  
lakes which wash the feet of high and   
sometimes perpendicular mountains1 at   
that time clothed with the rich verdure 
of their summer herbage4  ,sir ,humphry 
made several excursions into the        
interior of the country1 and derived    

much amusement from angling in the      
lakes2 and had it not been from his own 
inspection of the roads1 and the        
information which he collected          
respecting them1 together with an       
indisposition of his fellow-traveller1  
,lord ,clifton1 he would have made an   
extensive land journey through the      
country2 but1 under the existing        
circumstances1 he determined to return  
to ,england through ,denmark and        
,germany4 ,he therefore at once resolved
 to take the steam-boat with him as far 
as ,sweden1 where the excellent roads   
would enable him1 without inconvenience1
 to reach ,gottenburg1 and thence to    
continue his route through ,denmark to  
,germany4 ,the vessel proceeded         
accordingly to ,christiansand1 the chief
 town of a country of the same name4    
,having been provided with some spare   
plates and protectors1 he fixed them to 
the ship's side at ,mandal1 as he was   
informed that the voyage could be       
entirely performed within the rocks1    

with which the whole coast of ,norway is
 so plentifully studded2 but a short    
traverse through an open part of the    
sea1 not far from ,mandal1 again        
defeated his object4 ,the protectors    
were washed away1 and no result was     
obtained4  ,at ,christiansand he        
remained a few days1 in order to try    
some new plates1 which were constructed 
there under his own inspection4 ,upon   
this occasion he made an excursion to   
the falls of the ,torjedahl1 distant    
about six miles from the town4 ,the     
river abounds with salmon1 which were   
easily caught in their descent from the 
falls1 by an apparatus contrived for    
that purpose4 ,sir ,humphry amused      
himself by teaching the inhabitants the 
operation of crimping1 and he declared  
the flavour of the fish to be superior  
to any salmon he had ever tasted4  ,it  
was at ,christiansand that he became    
acquainted with the ,norwegian race of  
ponies1 so well adapted for mountainous 
countries2 and which1 at his            

recommendation1 were afterwards         
introduced into ,england by ,mr4        
,knight1 of ,downton ,castle4  ,from    
,christiansand the vessel proceeded on  
her route eastward to ,arendal1 where   
she arrived on the #abth1 after a       
passage of only a few hours4 ,the route 
lay entirely within the rocks1--and so  
narrow were the passages1 that the      
vessel could frequently not pass the    
rocks on either side without touching   
them4  ,at ,arendal1 which is the chief 
place of a remarkable mining district1  
,sir ,humphry was well received by the  
,messrs4 ,dedehamys1 two brothers1 and  
the leading merchants of the place1 with
 whom he made several excursions to the 
neighbouring mines4 ,he was also invited
 by them to meet at their beautiful     
country seats the most respectable      
inhabitants of the town4  ,in the house 
of ,mr4 ,dedehamy1 ,davy was introduced 
into ,norwegian society1 and1 for the   
first time1 had an opportunity of       
witnessing the customs and manners of   

the country4  ,a short time before      
dinner1 the guests were summoned to     
partake of pickled fish1 anchovies1 and 
smoked salmon1 with rum1 brandy1 and    
wine1 which were placed on small tables 
in the drawing-room in which the company
 assembled4 ,this custom of taking salt 
provisions1 together with spirits1 just 
before dinner1 is very general in the   
,north1 and is considered as the best   
means of preparing the stomach1 and of  
provoking an appetite for the           
approaching meal4  ,the very numerous   
party1 which1 with the exception of the 
hostess and her daughter1 consisted     
entirely of men1 were then ushered into 
two large rooms1 one not being          
sufficiently spacious to accommodate    
them1 and each person took his seat     
promiscuously4 ,at the beginning of the 
dinner1 large basins filled with sugar  
were carried round by the host's        
daughter1 followed by a servant1 from   
which each gentleman took a large       
handful4 ,sir ,humphry1 surprised at so 

singular a ceremony1 enquired its       
meaning2 when the host very             
good-humouredly answered1 that in       
,norway they thought1 if the wine was   
good it could not be spoiled by         
sugar1--and if bad1 that it would be    
improved by it4 ,davy immediately       
followed the example of the company1 and
 helped himself to the sugar4  ,amongst 
the party present were several members  
of the ,diet 7,storthing71 which had    
recently refused the applications of the
 ,king for various grants of money4     
,this subject excited much animated     
conversation1 and the majority of the   
persons present expressed their         
approbation at so bold and independent a
 measure4 ,this called forth a political
 toast relating to the situation of     
their country2 when the whole company1  
elated with wine and conversation1      
simultaneously burst forth into the     
national chorus of ,norway1 which had   
been composed as a prize poem during the
 short struggle against the union of    

that country with ,sweden1 and which was
 much admired by the ,norwegians1 and on
 all occasions sung by them with the    
utmost enthusiasm of feeling2 but1      
notwithstanding the liberal politics of 
the party1 they drank ,sir ,humphry's   
toast--,,the ,,king ,,of ,,norway ,,and 
,,sweden--with much apparent loyalty4   
,a succession of toasts followed1 the   
last of which recommended ,,the         
,,british ,,constitution ,,as ,a ,,model
 ,,for ,,all ,,the ,,world4 ,with this  
sentiment the festivities concluded--a  
momentary silence ensued2 the custom of 
the country assigned to a stranger the  
honourable office of returning to the   
host and hostess the thanks of the      
company for their hospitable reception2 
all eyes were anxiously fixed upon the  
,english philosopher2 and as soon as he 
was made acquainted with the duty he was
 expected to perform1 he rose from his  
seat1 and in allusion to the sentiment  
so recently drunk in compliment to      
himself1 he proposed as a concluding    

toast1 ,,norwegian ,,hospitality ,a     
,,model ,,for ,,all ,,the ,,world4      
,from ,arendal the vessel proceeded to  
,laurvig1 where she stopped only a few  
hours2 but ,sir ,humphry seized this    
opportunity to go on shore to view the  
country1 and he afterwards weighed the  
copper plates which had been attached to
 the ship in ,christiansand1 as the     
vessel was now to cross that deep bay1  
at the bottom of which is situated      
,christiana1 the capital of the kingdom4
 ,the few plates were found to be in    
good order2 and the results1 which      
however must be allowed to have been    
very incomplete1 confirmed1 as far as   
they went1 the conclusions to which he  
had been led by former experiments1 viz4
 that #a_/bjj of iron surface was the   
proportion best calculated to defend the
 copper1 without so overprotecting it as
 to favour the adhesion of marine       
productions2 while they moreover proved 
that there is a mechanical as well as a 
chemical wear of the copper1 which1 in  

the most exposed part of the ship1 and  
in the most rapid course1 bears a       
relation to it of nearly #b to #d4ee4   
,the country increased in fertility     
towards the eastern parts of it2 but it 
possessed much less beauty than the     
neighbourhood of ,mandal4  ,as soon as  
,davy perceived that the vessel had to  
pass near the mouth of the ,glommen1 the
 largest river of ,norway1 he directed  
that she should enter it4 ,steam-boats  
appeared to have been entirely unknown  
in that part of the country4 ,the       
inhabitants of the town of              
,frederickstadt were alarmed by the     
belief that the vessel was on fire1 and 
they ran down to the beach in           
multitudes4 ,as the vessel proceeded up 
the river1 the people every where left  
their work1 looked on awhile in silent  
amazement1 and then shouted with        
delight4  ,the vessel anchored a mile   
below the great fall of the ,glommen1   
called ,sarpen1 and which ,davy visited 
on the following day 7,july #ae74 ,three

 ,kings of ,denmark have visited this   
fall1 and a name commemorates the spot  
whence they viewed this grand scene of  
nature4 ,the fall is not one            
perpendicular descent1 but consists of  
three sheets of water closely succeeding
 each other2 and1 by means of a         
barometer1 he ascertained the entire    
altitude to be little more than a       
hundred feet4 ,in comparing the         
character of this waterfall with those  
of the others he had visited1 he        
observes1 that size is merely           
comparative2 and that he prefers the    
,velino at ,terni1 on account of the    
harmony that exists in all its parts4   
,it displays all the force and power of 
the element1 in its rapid and           
precipitous descent2 and you feel that  
even man would be nothing in its waves1 
and would be dashed to pieces by its    
force4 ,the whole scene is embraced at  
once by the eye1 and the effect is      
almost as sublime as that of the        
,glommen1 where the river is at least   

one hundred times as large2 for the     
,glommen falls1 as it were1 from a whole
 valley upon a mountain of granite2 and 
unless where you see the giant pines of 
,norway1 fifty or sixty feet in height1 
carried down by it and swimming in its  
whirlpools like straws1 you have no idea
 of its magnitude and power4            
,considering these waterfalls in all    
their relations1 he is disposed to      
think1 that while that of ,velino is the
 most perfect and beautiful1 the fall of
 the ,glommen is the most awful4  ,on   
both sides of this fall are extensive   
saw-mills1 with machinery of very       
imperfect construction4 ,davy spent some
 time with the proprietors of these     
mills1 who were acquainted with the     
,english language1 and showed him every 
attention in their power4 ,as an angler1
 he spoke with regret of the immense    
quantity of sawdust which floated in the
 water1 and formed almost hills along   
the banks1 and which1 he observed1 must 
be poisonous to the fish1 by sometimes  

choking their gills1 and interfering    
with their respiration4  ,from the      
,glommen the steam-vessel passed through
 the ,svinesund to ,strmstadt1 the first
 town in ,sweden beyond the frontier of 
,norway1 from which ,charles ,,xii4     
essayed to besiege the neighbouring     
fortress of ,frederickstadt in ,norway4 
,from ,strmstadt1 ,davy set out on the  
#agth of ,july1 and reached ,gottenburg 
by land in two days1 where he remained  
for a short time1 in consequence of a   
slight indisposition4 ,on his journey1  
he had a conversation with ,oscar1 the  
,crown ,prince of ,denmark1 who1 under  
the direction of ,berzelius1 had        
diligently devoted himself to the study 
of chemistry4 ,he conversed with our    
philosopher upon various subjects       
connected with that science2 and ,davy1 
on his return to ,england1 declared that
 he had never met with a more           
enlightened person4  ,the ,crown ,prince
 expressed great surprise1 as indeed did
 every body in ,sweden1 on hearing that 

it was not ,davy's intention to visit   
,professor ,berzelius at ,stockholm2 and
 his astonishment was still farther     
increased1 when he was informed by      
himself1 that he came to ,norway and    
,sweden with no other view than to enjoy
 the diversion of hunting and fishing6  
,he however did by accident afterwards  
meet ,berzelius1 but his interview was  
but of short duration4  ,from           
,gottenburg he hastened to ,copenhagen1 
where he renewed his acquaintance with  
,prince ,christian of ,denmark1 cousin  
of the ,king1 and heir presumptive of   
the crown2 in whose company he had some 
years before observed an eruption of    
,mount ,vesuvius4 ,he also visited      
,professor ,oersted1 and earnestly      
requested that he might see the         
apparatus by which that philosopher had 
made those electro-magnetic experiments 
which had rendered his name so          
celebrated throughout ,europe4  ,he next
 proceeded to ,neuburg and ,altona1     
where he intended to re-embark for      

,england in the steam-vessel which had1 
during the interval of his continental  
tour1 made a voyage to ,england1 and was
 again on her way to the ,elbe4 ,at the 
suggestion1 however1 of ,professor      
,schumacher1 the astronomical professor 
at ,copenhagen1 but residing at ,altona1
 in whose society he passed a great     
portion of his time1 he accompanied that
 gentleman to ,bremen1 in order to make 
the acquaintance of the venerable ,dr4  
,olbers1 who1 since his retirement from 
an extensive medical practice1 had      
entirely devoted his time to the pursuit
 of his favourite science astronomy2 as 
well as to be introduced to ,professor  
,gauss1 of ,gottingen1 who happened to  
be at that time carrying on his         
geodetical operations for the           
admeasurement of the kingdom of         
,hanover4  ,davy expressed a great      
desire to see the telescope with which  
,dr4 ,olbers had discovered the two     
planets1 ,pallas and ,vesta1 and which  
to his great surprise turned out to be a

 very ordinary instrument4 ,his personal
 intercourse with these two celebrated  
philosophers appeared to afford him the 
highest satisfaction2 and he spent two  
days most agreeably in their society4   
,in his ,salmonia1 he gives us some     
account of his adventures as an angler  
during this short excursion to ,norway  
and ,sweden4 ,all the ,norwegian rivers1
 says he1 that ,i tried 7and they were  
in the southern parts7 contained salmon4
 ,i fished in the ,glommen1 one of the  
largest rivers in ,europe2 in the       
,mandals1 which appeared to me the best 
fitted for taking salmon2 and in the    
,arendal2 but1 though ,i saw salmon rise
 in these rivers1 ,i never took a fish  
larger than a sea-trout2 of these ,i    
always caught many--and even in the     
fiords1 or small inland salt-water bays2
 but1 ,i think1 never any one more than 
a pound in weight4 ,it is true that ,i  
was in ,norway in the beginning of      
,july1 in exceedingly bright weather1   
and when there was no night2 for even at

 twelve o'clock the sky was so bright1  
that ,i read the smallest print in the  
columns of a newspaper4 ,i was in       
,sweden later--in ,august3 ,i fished in 
the magnificent ,gotha1 below that grand
 fall1 ,trollhetta1 which to see is     
worth a voyage from ,england2 but ,i    
never raised there any fish worth       
taking4 ,i caught1 in this noble stream1
 a little trout about as long as my     
hand2 and the only fish ,i got to eat at
 ,trollhetta was bream4  ,he again      
embarked1 on the #adth of ,august1 on   
board the ,comet steam-vessel1 which had
 ascended the ,weser as high as her     
draught of water would allow1 and       
reached ,england1 after a very          
boisterous passage1 on the #agth of the 
same month2 indeed1 the vessel left the 
mouth of the ,weser with a contrary     
wind1 and the pilot was unwilling to put
 to sea1 but ,davy insisted on          
proceeding without delay4 ,during the   
whole passage he suffered extremely from
 sea-sickness1 and in a letter written  

to ,professor ,schumacher1 shortly after
 landing1 he remarks that the sea is a  
glorious dominion1 but a wretched       
habitation4         99       99       99
       99       99  ,on the #ith of     
,june #ahbe1 ,sir ,humphry read before  
the ,royal ,society his third and most  
elaborate paper upon ,copper sheathing1 
entitled ,farther ,researches on the    
,preservation of ,metals by             
,electro-chemical ,means4  ,in this     
memoir1 he states it to be his belief1  
that there is nothing in the poisonous  
nature of the copper to prevent the     
adhesion of weeds and testaceous        
animals2 for he observes1 that they will
 readily adhere to the poisonous salts  
of lead which commonly form upon the    
metal protecting the fore-part of the   
keel2 and even upon copper1 provided it 
be in such a state of chemical          
combination as to be insoluble4 ,it is  
then1 in his opinion1 the solution of   
the metal--the wear of its surface1 by  
keeping it smooth1 which prevents the   

adhesion of foreign matter4 ,whenever   
the copper is unequally worn1 deposits  
will1 without doubt1 rest in the rough  
parts1 or depressions in the metal1 and 
afford a soil or bed in which sea-weeds 
can fix their roots1 and to which       
zoophytes and shell-fish can adhere2 but
 there is another cause of foulness on  
the protected sheathing1 arising from   
the deposit of earthy matter upon the   
copper1 in consequence of its           
electro-negative condition4  ,in        
relation to this subject1 ,davy has     
offered some observations upon the      
effects produced by partial formations  
of rust1 which appear to me to be       
exceedingly interesting and important4  
,when copper has been applied to the    
bottom of a ship for a certain time1 he 
says1 a green coating1 or rust1         
consisting of oxide1 sub-muriate1 and   
carbonate of copper1 forms upon it2 not 
equally throughout1 but partially1 and  
which1 it is evident1 must produce a    
secondary1 partial1 and unequal action1 

since those substances are negative with
 respect to metallic copper1 and will   
consequently1 by producing with it a    
,voltaic circuit1 occasion a more rapid 
corrosion of those parts still exposed  
to sea-water3 from this cause1 sheets   
are often found perforated with holes in
 one part1 after having been used for   
five or six years2 while in other parts 
they are comparatively sound4#ie ,in    
like manner1 the heads of the mixed     
metal nails1 consisting of copper       
alloyed by a small quantity of tin1     
which are in common use in the ,navy1   
give rise to oxides that are negative   
with respect to the copper1 so that the 
latter is often worn into deep and      
irregular cavities in their vicinity4   
#ie ,the rusting of a common piece of   
iron1 if carefully   inspected1         
furnishes a beautiful illustration of   
this secondary   action4 ,the oxide1 at 
first a mere speck1 and formed perhaps  
by a   globule of water1 becomes        
negative with respect to the contiguous 

surface1 and by thus forming a ,voltaic 
circuit1 exalts its   oxidability1 and  
the rust consequently extends in a      
circle4  ,a series of very interesting  
experiments1 fully detailed in this     
memoir1 which were instituted for the   
purpose of ascertaining the extent of   
the diminution of electrical action in  
instances of imperfect or irregular     
conducting surfaces1 led him to the     
general conclusion1 that a very small   
quantity of the imperfect or fluid      
conductor was sufficient to transmit the
 electrical power1 or to complete the   
chain4 ,this induced him to try whether 
copper1 if nailed upon wood1 and        
protected merely by zinc or iron on its 
under surface1 or on that next the wood1
 might not be defended from corrosion3 a
 question of great practical moment with
 regard to the arrangement of           
protectors4 ,for this purpose1 he       
covered a piece of wood with small      
sheets of copper1 a nail of zinc of     
about #a_/ajj part of the surface having

 been previously driven into the wood3  
the copper surface remained perfectly   
bright in sea-water for many weeks2 and 
when the result was examined1 it was    
found that the zinc had only suffered   
partial corrosion2 that the wood was    
moist1 and that1 on the interior of the 
copper there was a considerable portion 
of revived zinc1 so that the negative   
electricity1 by its operation1 provided 
materials for its future and constant   
excitement4 ,in several trials of the   
same kind1 iron was used with similar   
results2 and in all these experiments   
there appeared to be this peculiarity in
 the appearance of the copper1 that     
unless the protecting metal below was in
 a large mass1 there were no depositions
 of calcareous or magnesian earths upon 
the metal2 it was clean and bright1 but 
never coated4 ,the copper in these      
experiments was nailed sometimes upon   
paper1 sometimes upon the mere wood1 and
 sometimes upon linen2 and the          
communication was partially interrupted 

between the external and internal       
surfaces by cement2 but even one side or
 junction of a sheet seemed to allow    
sufficient communication between the    
moisture on the under surface and the   
sea-water without1 to produce the       
electrical effect of preservation4 ,this
 last experiment of ,davy is of greater 
importance than may at first appear1 in 
showing what a small proportion of      
conducting fluid will complete a        
circuit1 and in thus explaining         
phenomena1 as ,i shall presently show1  
which might not otherwise be suspected  
to have an electrical origin4  ,these   
results upon perfect and imperfect      
conductors led him to another enquiry1  
important as it relates to the practical
 application of the principle1 namely1  
as to the extent and nature of the      
contact or relation between the copper  
and the preserving metal4 ,he was unable
 to produce any protecting action of    
zinc or iron upon copper through the    
thinnest stratum of air1 or the finest  

leaf of mica1 or of dry paper2 but the  
action of the metals did not seem to be 
much impaired by the ordinary coating of
 oxide or rust2 nor was it destroyed    
when the finest bibulous1 or            
silver-paper1 as it is commonly called1 
was between them1 being moistened with  
sea-water4 ,he made an experiment with  
different folds of this paper4 ,pieces  
of copper were covered with one1 two1   
three1 four1 five1 and six folds2 and   
over them were placed pieces of zinc1   
which were fastened closely to them by  
thread2 each piece of copper1 thus      
protected1 was exposed in a vessel of   
sea-water1 so that the folds of paper   
were all moist4  ,it was found in the   
case in which a single leaf of paper was
 between the zinc and the copper1 there 
was no corrosion of the copper2 in the  
case in which there were two leaves1    
there was a very slight effect2 with    
three1 the corrosion was distinct2 and  
it increased1 till with six folds the   
protecting power appeared to be lost2   

and in the case of the single leaf1 the 
result differed only from that produced 
by immediate contact1 in there not being
 any deposition of earthy matter4 ,other
 experiments likewise proved that there 
was no absolute contact of the metals   
through the moist paper2 for1 although a
 thin plate of mica1 as before stated1  
entirely destroyed the protecting effect
 of zinc1 yet when a hole was made in   
it1 so as to admit a very thin layer of 
moisture between the zinc and copper1   
the corrosion of the latter1 though not 
prevented1 was considerably diminished4 
,the experimental part of this paper    
concludes with an account of various    
trials to determine the electro-chemical
 powers of metals in menstrua out of the
 contact1 or to a certain extent removed
 from the contact of air2 in order1 if  
possible1 to diminish the rapid waste of
 the protecting metals4 ,in the progress
 of these experiments he exhibits1 in a 
most beautiful manner1 the singular     
effect of different proportions of a    

fixed alkali1 when mixed with sea-water1
 in rendering the iron1 in its ,voltaic 
connection with copper1 more or less    
negative4  ,he terminates the paper with
 some observations of a practical       
nature1 relative to the best modes of   
rendering iron applicable to the        
purposes of protection2 but1 as these   
have been already embodied in the       
investigation1 it is not necessary to   
notice them farther in this place4      
,that ,i may give to the history of this
 subject all the perspicuity which it   
can derive from the connexion of its    
several parts1 ,i shall now1 in defiance
 of chronological order1 proceed to     
consider his last ,bakerian ,lecture1   
,on the ,relations of ,electrical       
,changes1 which was read before the     
,royal ,society1 on the #hth of ,june   
#ahbf4 ,in which1 after referring to his
 former papers on the chemical agencies 
of electricity1 and the general laws of 
decomposition which were developed in   
them1 he enters into some historical    

details respecting the origin and       
progress of electro-chemical science2   
being induced so to do1 from a knowledge
 of the very erroneous statements which 
had been published upon the subject     
abroad1 and repeated in this country4   
,at the conclusion of this lecture1 in  
reverting to the subject of ,voltaic    
protection1 he says3 ,a great variety of
 experiments1 made in different parts of
 the world1 have proved the full        
efficacy of the electro-chemical means  
of preserving metals1 particularly the  
copper sheathing of ships2 but a hope ,i
 had once indulged1 that the peculiar   
electrical state would prevent the      
adhesion of weeds or insects1 has not   
been realized2 protected ships have     
often indeed returned1 after long       
voyages1 perfectly bright1#if and       
cleaner than unprotected ships2 yet this
 is not always the case2 and though the 
whole of the copper may be preserved    
from chemical solution in steam-vessels 
7from the rapidity of their motion7 by  

these means1--yet they must be adopted  
in common ships only so as to preserve a
 portion1--so applied1 as to suffer a   
certain solution of the copper2#ig and  
an absolute remedy for adhesions is to  
be sought for by other more refined     
means of protection1 and which appear to
 be indicated by these researches4      
#if ,the ,carnbrea ,castle1 a large     
vessel1 of upwards of six   hundred and 
fifty tons1 was furnished with four     
protectors1   two on the stern1 and two 
on the bow1 equal together to about     
#a-ajdth of the surface of copper4 ,she 
had been protected more   than twelve   
months1 and had made the voyage to      
,calcutta and back4   ,she came into the
 river perfectly bright2 and1 when      
examined in   the dry-dock1 was found   
entirely free from any adhesion1 and    
offered a beautiful and almost polished 
surface2 and there seemed   to be no    
greater wear of copper than could be    
accounted for from   mechanical causes4 
#ig ,a common cause of adhesions of     

weeds or shell-fish1 is the   oxide of  
iron formed and deposited round the     
protectors4 ,in the   only experiment in
 which zinc has been employed for this  
purpose   in actual service1 the ship   
returned after two voyages to the       
,west ,indies1 and one to ,quebec1      
perfectly clean4 ,the experiment   was  
made by ,mr4 ,lawrence1 of ,lombard     
,street1 who states that the   rudder1  
which was not protected1 had corroded in
 the usual manner4  ,the nails used in  
ships are an alloy of copper and tin1   
which ,i find to be slightly negative   
with respect to copper1 and it is on    
these nails that the first adhesions    
uniformly take place3 a slightly        
positive and slightly decomposable alloy
 would probably prevent this effect1 and
 ,i have made some experiments          
favourable to the idea4  ,he next       
proceeds to state some circumstances1 in
 addition to those he had formerly      
noticed1 by which the electrical        
relations of copper are altered4 ,i     

found1 says he1 copper hardened by      
hammering1 negative to rolled           
copper2--copper 7to use the technical   
language of manufacturers7 both         
over-poled and under-poled1#ih          
containing1 in one case1 probably a     
little charcoal1 and in the other a     
little oxide1 negative to pure copper4  
,a specimen of brittle copper1 put into 
my hands by ,mr4 ,vivian1 but in which  
no impurity could be detected1 was      
negative with respect to soft copper4   
,in general1 very minute quantities of  
the oxidable metals render the alloy    
positive1 unless it becomes harder1 in  
which case it is generally negative4    
#ih ,the poling of copper is an         
operation1 the theory of which   is     
involved in a great deal of mystery4    
,copper1 when taken from   the smelting 
furnace1 is what is termed dry1 that is1
 it is   brittle1 has an open grain and 
crystalline structure1 and is of a      
purplish red colour4 ,the following is  
the process by which it is   refined1 or

 toughened1 by the process of poling4   
,the surface   of the melted metal in   
the furnace is1 in the first place1     
covered with charcoal4 ,a pole1 commonly
 of birch1 is then plunged   into the   
liquid metal1 which produces a          
considerable ebullition   from the      
evolution of gaseous matter1 and this   
operation is   continued1 fresh charcoal
 being occasionally added1 so that the  
surface may be always kept covered1     
until the refiner judges   from the     
assays that the metal is malleable4 ,the
 delicacy of the   operation consists in
 the difficulty of hitting the exact    
mark3   if the surface should by        
accident be uncovered1 it will return to
   its dry state2 and should the process
 be carried too far1 it   will be       
over-poled1 by which the metal would be 
rendered even   more brittle than when  
in a dry state4 ,when this is found to  
be   the case1 or1 as they say1 gone too
 far1 the refiner directs   the charcoal
 to be drawn off from the surface of the

 metal1 and   the copper to be exposed  
to the action of the air1 by which means
   it is again brought back to its      
proper pitch1 that is1 become   again   
malleable4 ,now the question is1 what   
are the changes thus   produced in the  
copper8 ,is the metal in its dry state  
combined   with a minute portion of     
oxygen1 of which poling deprives it1    
and thus renders it malleable8 and does 
the over-poling impart   to it a minute 
portion of carbon1 and is copper1 like  
iron1 thus   rendered brittle both by   
oxygen and carbon8 ,or1 is the effect of
   the pole merely mechanical1 that of  
closing the grain1 and of   altering the
 texture of the metal8 ,something might 
be said in   support of all these       
opinions4 ,mr4 ,faraday1 who has        
attentively   examined the subject1 is  
unable to detect any chemical difference
   between poled and unpoled copper4 ,on
 the other hand1 when the   metal is    
over-poled1 it is found to oxidate more 
slowly1 and   its surface when in the   

furnace is so free from oxidation1 that 
it is like a mirror1 and reflects every 
brick in the roof4 ,this   certainly    
looks very much like                    
carbonization4--,see ,an ,account of    
,smelting ,copper1 as conducted at the  
,hafod ,copper-works2 by ,j4 ,h4        
,vivian1 ,esq4--,annals of ,philosophy1 
vol4 v4 p4 #aac4  ,these are important  
facts1 and should dispose those who may 
preside over judicial enquiries1 to     
pause before they infer the inferiority 
of copper sheeting from the rapidity of 
its decay4#ii--;,i have now concluded a 
review of those admirable researches    
which led ,sir ,humphry ,davy to suggest
 and mature a plan for arresting the    
corrosion of the copper sheathing of    
vessels by ,voltaic action4 ,mr4        
,babbage has said that he was authorised
 in stating1 that this was regarded by  
,laplace as the greatest of ,davy's     
discoveries4 ,i do not think1 however1  
that it should be considered in the     
light of a separate performance3 we do  

injustice to the philosopher by         
regarding it as an independent and      
isolated discovery2 for it was the      
result of a long series of enquiries1   
which commenced by establishing the laws
 of electro-chemistry1--which led him to
 the decomposition of the alkalies and  
earths1--suggested to his unwearied     
genius a succession of novel researches1
 in a new field of enquiry1--and        
concluded1 as we have seen1 in producing
 the most striking results by means of  
the greatest simplicity4 ,not once      
during the progress of this enquiry had 
he any occasion to retrace his steps for
 the purpose of correction3 justly has  
he observed in his last ,bakerian       
,lecture1 that1 notwithstanding the     
various novel views which have been     
brought forward in this and other       
countries1 and the great activity and   
extension of science1 it is peculiarly  
satisfactory to find that he has nothing
 to alter in the fundamental theory laid
 down in his original communication2 and

 which1 after the lapse of twenty years1
 has continued1 as it was in the        
beginning1 the guide and foundation of  
all his researches4    #ii ,this        
observation was suggested by an         
examination of a late   judgment of the 
,court of ,common ,pleas1 in the case of
 ,jones   v4 ,bright and others1 on     
showing cause against rule for a new    
trial4 ,this was an action brought by   
the ,plaintiff against the   ,defendants
 for selling him copper1 for the purpose
 of sheathing   the ship ,isabella1     
which1 from the rapidity of its         
corrosion1   was inferred to have an    
inherent defect in its composition4 ,in 
this case it was held1 that with respect
 to warranty1 there is   a very wide    
difference as it applies to articles    
which are not   the subject of          
manufacture1 and those which are the    
produce of   manufacture and of human   
industry4 ,in the one case1 it may be   
that no prudence1 no care1 could have   
guarded against a secret   defect2 in   

the other1 by using due care1 and       
providing proper   materials1 any defect
 in the manufacture may be guarded      
against4   ,in the case of the bowsprit1
 the man did not make the timber   which
 composed the bowsprit2 he merely cut it
 out1 and fitted   it to meet the       
purpose1 and could therefore by no means
 have   guarded against the rottenness  
in the centre of that bowsprit3   but if
 a man makes copper1 he may guard       
against inherent defects   in that      
copper1 by taking care that the copper  
contains a proper   proportion of pure  
copper2 and also by taking care that it 
is so   well manufactured1 that it does 
not drink in a greater quantity   of    
oxygen than ought to be admitted into   
it1 and that that   oxygen1 which of    
necessity gets in1 7for some will17     
shall be   so distributed1 that it shall
 not operate1 as in the opinion of   an 
intelligent witness the oxygen in this  
case did operate1 by   forming itself in
 patches1 and thereby rendering it soft1

 and   rendering the copper incapable of
 resisting the influence of             
salt-water--that he can guard against4  
,with all due deference   to the learned
 ,judge1 suppose it be shown that no    
human wisdom   can guard against those  
circumstances by which a portion of the 
copper surface may be rendered more     
highly electro-positive1   what becomes 
of the judgment8 ,that the decay of     
copper sheathing   is effected by       
extrinsic causes1 and does not          
necessarily   depend upon an inherent   
defect in the metal1 may be proved in   
numerous ways4 ,if it were owing to the 
quality of the copper1   why should     
five1 ten1 or twenty sheets out of a    
hundred1 made   from the same charge of 
metal in a furnace and manufactured     
under   precisely similar circumstances1
 be affected1 and the remainder   be    
perfectly sound8 ,why1 again1 should    
sheets1 made from several   distinct    
charges1 placed on a particular vessel1 
be acted upon1   while the same copper  

on other bottoms is not more than       
usually   dissolved8 ,did any inherent  
defect exist in the metal1 it surely    
must have equally affected the whole    
batch4    ,it is possible that1 in some 
cases1 in consequence of the sheets     
not having been properly cleansed before
 they are rolled1 a   portion of the    
oxide may be pressed into them by the   
rollers4 ,in   such a case1 a ,voltaic  
effect might be produced1 and portions  
of   the metallic surface rendered more 
electro-positive4  ,the ,president and  
,council of the ,royal ,society appear  
to have been swayed by this             
consideration1 when they adjudged to him
 ,a ,royal ,medal1#ajj for his ,bakerian
 ,lecture on the relations of electrical
 changes1 considered as the last link1  
in order of time1 of the splendid chain 
of discoveries in chemical electricity1 
which have been continued for so many   
years of his valuable life4    #ajj ,in 
the year #ahbe1 ,his ,majesty ,george   
,,iv4 communicated to   the ,royal      

,society1 through ,mr4 ,peel1 his       
intention to found two   gold medals1 of
 the value of fifty guineas each1 to be 
awarded   annually by the ,council of   
the ,royal ,society1 in such a manner   
as shall1 by the excitement of          
competition among men of science1   seem
 best calculated to promote the object  
for which the ,royal   ,society was     
instituted4  ,thus had ,davy now        
received from the ,royal ,society all   
the honours they were capable of        
conferring upon him4 ,in the year #ahje1
 they adjudged to him the medal on ,sir 
,godfrey ,copley's donation for his     
various communications published in the 
,philosophical ,transactions2 in #ahag1 
they awarded him the ,rumford medals for
 his papers on combustion and flame2 and
 in #ahbg1 upon the grounds just stated1
 the ,president and ,council expressed  
their unabated admiration by conferring 
upon him the only medal which remained  
for his acceptance--that which had been 
recently founded by their patron1 his   

late ,majesty4  ,having thus disposed of
 the speculative part of his admirable  
enquiry1 it will be interesting to pause
 in our narrative1 in order to take a   
philosophical review of the progress of 
,voltaic discovery1 in its relations to 
this particular object4 ,it is a subject
 well calculated to afford a valuable   
lesson to the experimentalist1 and at   
the same time to furnish illustrations1 
more striking even than that of the     
safety-lamp1 of the necessity of that   
complicated species of machinery1       
without which the human mind is         
frequently unable to grapple with the   
simplicities of truth4 ,it is true1 that
 the fact of a galvanic effect being    
excited by the contact of two dissimilar
 metals was noticed in the earliest     
stages of the enquiry1 but it is equally
 evident that the phenomena which       
attended it1 and the laws by which it   
was directed1 required for their        
discovery and elucidation the assistance
 of the ,voltaic battery4 ,in reference 

to ,davy1 it may be here repeated1 that 
the power of obtaining simple results1  
through complicated means1 was one of   
the most distinguishing features of his 
genius4  ,it has been stated1 that the  
,alarm frigate1 the first coppered ship 
in our ,navy1 displayed very striking   
evidence of the effect of ,voltaic      
action1 in the rapid corrosion of its   
iron4#aja ,as early as #aghc1 after     
copper sheathing had become general1 the
 ,government issued orders that all the 
bolts under the line of fluitation      
should1 in future1 be of copper2 but at 
that period1 it was not possible that   
any idea could be entertained as to the 
true nature of the operation by which   
the iron was thus rapidly corroded1 for 
it was only in the year #agig that ,dr4 
,ash noticed1 for the first time1 a     
phenomenon which was subsequently       
referred to the action of a simple      
,voltaic circuit4    #aja ,numerous are 
the instances of later date which might 
be   adduced in illustration of the same

 fact2 and it is now generally          
supposed that it may have been a        
frequent cause of ships   foundering at 
sea4 ,by oxidation1 the volume of the   
iron at first   increases1 and then     
diminishes2 in consequence of which the 
ship   leaks1 or1 to use a technical    
expression1 becomes bolt sick4   ,when  
the ,salvador del ,mundo was docked at  
,plymouth1 in ,february   #ahae1 the    
iron fastenings were in such a state of 
corrosion1 that   five planks near the  
bilge dropped into the dock when the    
water   left her4  ,it is a very curious
 circumstance in the history of this    
subject1 that1 for many years after the 
,voltaic influence had been recognised  
as the agent in metallic corrosion1 so  
far from the existence of the           
accompanying phenomenon of preservation 
being suspected1 it was even supposed   
that the metals mutually corroded each  
other4 ,at so late a date as #ahac1 we  
find ,davy himself1 in the letter       
addressed to ,m4 ,alavair1 published in 

these memoirs1#ajb dwelling upon the    
necessity of avoiding metallic contact1 
in order to prevent corrosion1 without  
throwing out the most distant hint as to
 the simultaneous production of a       
converse effect4    #ajb ,page #ac of   
this ,volume4  ,the first distinct      
notice of a metal being preserved from  
oxidation by the contact of a dissimilar
 metal1 is at once referred to a        
chemical law1 without a reference even  
to its possible connection with ,voltaic
 action2 and1 striking as the fact may  
now appear1 it never attracted much     
attention4 ,m4 ,proust observed1 that   
although copper vessels be so           
imperfectly tinned1 as to leave portions
 of the surface uncovered1 still1 in    
cooking utensils1 we shall be equally   
protected from the poisonous effects of 
the former metal2 because1 says he1 the 
superior readiness with which tin is    
oxidized and acted upon by acids1 when  
compared with copper1 will not allow    
this latter metal to appropriate to     

itself a single atom of oxygen4#ajc ,the
 same chemist observes1 that if lead be 
associated with tin1 it will be         
incapable of furnishing to acids any    
saturnine impregnation1 since the       
latter1 being more oxidable than the    
former1 will exclusively dissolve1 and  
thus prevent the former from being      
attacked4    #ajc ,as far as the        
principle of ,voltaic protection goes1  
this may be very true2 but it must be   
remembered that the   acid generally    
present upon these occasions is acetic  
acid1   which rises in distillation with
 water1 so that at the boiling          
temperature it will be carried beyond   
the sphere of ,voltaic   influence1 and 
may thus act upon the denuded copper as 
much as   though tin were not present4  
,whether the principle of ,voltaic      
protection be applicable or not to the  
purpose of preserving copper sheathing1 
it is evident that it will suggest      
numerous other expedients of high       
importance in the arts1 while it will   

explain phenomena previously            
unintelligible4 ,by introducing a piece 
of zinc1 or tin1 into the iron boiler of
 the steam-engine1 we may prevent the   
danger of explosion1 which generally    
arises1 especially where salt-water is  
used1 as in those of steam-boats1 from  
the wear of one part of the boiler4     
,another important application is in the
 prevention of the wear of the paddles1 
or wheels1 which are rapidly dissolved  
by salt-water4  ,mr4 ,pepys has also    
extended the principle for the          
preservation of steel instruments by    
guards of zinc3 razors and lancets may  
be thus defended with perfect success4  
,in the construction of monuments which 
are to transmit to posterity the record 
of important events1 the artist will be 
careful in avoiding the contact of      
different metals3 it is thus that the   
,etruscan inscriptions1 engraved upon   
pure lead1 are preserved to the present 
day2 while medals of mixed metals of a  
much more recent date are corroded4     

,numerous are the facts daily presented 
before us1 which receive from this      
principle a satisfactory explanation4   
,to the philosopher1 the examination of 
its agencies will furnish a perpetual   
source of instruction and amusement2 and
 ,i will here enumerate a few simple    
instances of its effects3 in the first  
place1 for the purpose of showing that1 
whenever a principle or discovery       
involves or unfolds a law of ,nature1   
its applications are almost             
inexhaustible1 and that1 however        
abstracted it may appear1 it is sooner  
or later employed for the common        
purposes of life2 and in the next place1
 in the hope of convincing the reader1  
that there does not exist any source of 
pleasure so extensive and so permanent  
as that derived from the stores of      
philosophy4 ,the saunterer stumbles over
 the stone that may cross his path1 and 
vents only his vexation at the          
interruption2 but to the philosopher    
there is not a body1 animate or         

inanimate1 with which he can come in    
contact1 that does not yield its        
treasures at his approach1 and          
contribute to extend the pleasures of   
his existence4  ,i well remember some   
years ago1 that1 in passing through     
,deptford1 my curiosity was excited by  
the extraordinary brilliancy of a       
portion of the gilded sign of an inn in 
that town1 while its other parts had    
entirely lost their metallic lustre4    
,having obtained a ladder1 ,i ascended  
to the sign1 in order1 if possible1 to  
solve the problem that had so greatly   
interested me3 the mystery immediately  
vanished2 for an iron nail appeared in  
the centre of the spot1 which had       
protected the copper leaf for several   
inches around it4 ,any person may easily
 satisfy himself of the efficacy of such
 protection1 in his rambles through the 
metropolis1 by noticing the gilded1 or  
rather coppered1 sugar-loaves#ajd so    
commonly suspended over the shops of    
grocers1 when he will frequently        

perceive that the parts into which the  
iron supports have entered1 unless the  
latter have been painted1 shine         
preeminently brilliant4 ,if a still more
 familiar example of the effect of a    
simple ,voltaic circuit be required1 it 
is afforded by the iron palisadoes1     
where the iron is constantly corroded at
 its point of contact with the lead by  
which it is cemented into the stone4    
,these examples are not only interesting
 from their simplicity1 but from their  
demonstrating the small quantity of a   
conducting fluid which is sufficient to 
transmit the electrical power1 or to    
complete a simple circuit3 a fact which1
 it will be remembered1 the experiments 
of ,davy had before established4#aje    
#ajd ,there is an excellent example at  
this time in the ,london   ,road leading
 to the ,elephant-and-,castle4    #aje  
,page #bdh of this ,volume4  ,as our    
knowledge advances1 these principles    
will no doubt derive other              
illustrations1 and be found capable of  

more extensive application2 for as yet  
we are but in the infancy of the        
enquiry4 ,i have lately been engaged in 
a series of experiments1 the results of 
which1 ,i confidently anticipate1 will  
lead to some new facts connected with   
the changes produced on the negative    
metal of a ,voltaic circuit2 an account 
of which ,i hope shortly to submit to   
the ,royal ,society4 ,i shall on this   
occasion merely notice one result1 which
 appears to me to admit of an immediate 
application to one of the most important
 circumstances of life--the purity of   
water contained in leaden cisterns4  ,my
 attention has for several years been   
directed to the state of the water with 
which the metropolis is supplied2 and   
upon having been lately requested to    
propose a remedy for preventing the     
action of a spring in the neighbourhood 
of ,london upon lead1 which it had been 
found to corrode in a very rapid manner1
 ,i suggested the expediency of         
protecting the pipes and cisterns with  

surfaces of iron2 but before such a plan
 was put in execution1 ,i proposed to   
try its efficacy in the laboratory3--the
 first result was very startling2 for1  
instead of preventing1 as ,i had        
anticipated1 ,i found that it greatly   
increased1 the solution of the lead4    
,after various experiments1 ,i arrived  
at the conclusion1 that lead1 when      
rendered negative by iron1 and placed in
 contact with weak saline               
solutions1--such1 for instance1 as      
common spring water1--was dissolved2 in 
consequence of the decomposition of the 
salts and the transference of their     
elements according to the general law1  
the acid passing to the iron1 and the   
alkali to the lead2 and so powerfully is
 this latter body acted upon by an      
alkali1 that1 if a slip of it be        
immersed in a solution of potash or     
soda1 its crystalline texture is so     
rapidly developed1 that its surface     
exhibits an appearance similar to that  
presented by tin-plate1 and which is    

designated by the term moire4  ,i       
apprehend that most of the anomalous    
cases of the solution of lead in common 
water1 which have for so many years     
embarrassed the chemist1 may thus       
receive an explanation4 ,an eminent     
physician lately informed me1 that some 
time since he was called upon to attend 
a family who had evidently suffered from
 the effects of saturnine poison1 and   
that he well remembers there was an iron
 pump in the cistern that supplied the  
water4 ,upon showing the results of my  
experiment to a no less eminent chemist1
 he was immediately reminded of a       
circumstance which occurred at          
,islington1 where the water was found to
 corrode the lead in which it was       
received3 in this vessel there was an   
iron bar2 and the fact would not have   
attracted his notice1 nor have been     
impressed upon his recollection1 but    
from the unusual state of corrosion in  
which it appeared4  ,i shall conclude   
these observations by an account of the 

change which some musket balls1 taken   
out of ,shrapnell's shells1 had         
undergone1 by ,mr4 ,faraday1 and which  
is published in the #afth volume of the 
,quarterly ,journal of ,science1 for the
 year #ahbc4 ,this history is not only  
interesting on account of the high      
chemical character of its author1 but   
satisfactory as being in direct         
opposition to previously established    
facts2 and cannot therefore have        
received any bias from preconceived     
theory4  ,mr4 ,marsh of ,woolwich gave  
me some musket balls1 which had been    
taken out of ,shrapnell's shells4 ,the  
shells had lain in the bottoms of ships1
 and probably had sea-water amongst     
them4 ,when the bullets are put in1 the 
aperture is merely closed by a common   
cork4 ,these bullets were variously     
acted upon3 some were affected only     
superficially1 others more deeply1 and  
some were entirely changed4 ,the        
substance produced is hard and brittle2 
it splits on the ball1 and presents an  

appearance like some hard varieties of  
hmatite2 its colour is brown1 becoming1 
when heated1 red2 it fuses on platinum  
foil into a yellow flaky substance like 
litharge4 ,powdered and boiled in water1
 no muriatic acid or lead was found in  
solution4 ,it dissolved in nitric acid  
without leaving any residuum1 and the   
solution gave very faint indications    
only of muriatic acid4 ,it is a         
protoxide of lead1 perhaps formed1 in   
some way1 by the galvanic action of the 
iron shell and the leaden ball1 assisted
 probably by the sea-water4 ,it would be
 very interesting to know the state of  
the shells in which a change like this  
has taken place to any extent4 ,it might
 have been expected1 that as long as any
 iron remained1 the lead would have been
 preserved in the metallic state4  ,in  
one experiment1 ,i found that a piece of
 lead protected by iron underwent       
solution in water containing nitrate of 
potash1 while it resisted the action of 
very dilute nitric acid3 upon this      

point1 however1 farther enquiry is      
necessary2 for ,i subsequently failed in
 producing the same effect1 owing1 no   
doubt1 to having employed too strong an 
acid4  ,let us return from this         
digression to the subject of ,sir       
,humphry ,davy's ,protectors4 ,it only  
remains for me to relate the results    
which followed the practical application
 of the ,voltaic principles which his   
various experiments had developed4  ,in 
the month of ,may #ahbd1 directions were
 issued by the ,lords of the ,admiralty 
to protect1 in future1 the copper       
sheathing of all his ,majesty's ships   
which might be taken into dock1 upon the
 plan proposed by ,sir ,humphry ,davy4  
,the protectors were bars of iron six   
inches wide at their base1 three inches 
in thickness in their centre1 and1 in   
outward form1 the segment of an extended
 circle4 ,they were usually placed on   
each side of the ship in a horizontal   
position1 viz4 in midships about three  
feet under water--on the keel in a line 

with these--and the remainder in the    
fore and afterparts of the ship 7about  
three feet under the line of            
fluitation71 as far forward and abaft as
 the curvatures of their respective     
bodies would allow of their lying flat  
upon the surface of the copper4  ,as it 
is difficult by verbal description alone
 to convey a sufficiently distinct idea 
of this subject to persons unacquainted 
with naval architecture1 ,i have        
introduced a sketch1 exhibiting the     
general position of the ,protectors1    
although they are necessarily           
exaggerated in size1 or they would have 
appeared as mere specks upon the        
drawing4    ,illustration3 ,a4 ,a4 ,line
 of ,fluitation4  ,on several ships1    
some of the protectors1 in the stem and 
the stern1 were placed vertically2 in   
which case they were fastened to the    
stems and stern-posts2 and in this      
manner they were found to act more      
powerfully in preserving the copper1    
than when they were all placed          

horizontally4 ,the ends of the          
protectors were rounded1 in order to    
prevent any great resistance to the     
water1 and they were fastened to the    
bottoms of the ships with copper bolts1 
the iron being counter-sunk to receive  
their heads1 and the holes were then    
filled with carbonate of lime1 or       
,parker's cement4 ,to bring about the   
best possible contact of all the copper 
sheets1 their edges1 which lap over each
 other1 where the nails are driven to   
fasten them to the ships1 were rubbed   
bright1 first with sand-paper1 and      
finally with glass-paper4  ,shortly     
after the ships thus protected were sent
 to sea1 it was evident to all on board1
 from their dull sailing1 that the      
bottoms had become very foul2 and on    
being examined in dry docks1 it was     
found that the copper was completely    
covered with sea-weed1 shell-fish of    
various kinds1 and myriads of small     
marine insects4 ,upon their removal1    
however1 it was found1 on weighing the  

sheets1 that the copper had suffered    
little or no loss2 thus proving that1   
although its practical application had  
failed from unforeseen circumstances1   
the principle of protection was true1   
and had fully justified the expectation 
of its success4  ,the copper near the   
protectors was much more foul than that 
at a greater distance from them2 and    
there was1 moreover1 a considerable     
deposit of carbonate of lime1 and of    
carbonate and hydrate of magnesia1 in   
their vicinity4  ,sir ,humphry ,davy    
immediately suggested1 as a remedy for  
this evil1 that the bottoms should be   
scraped1 and the copper washed with a   
small quantity of acidulous water2 and  
he also proposed that the protectors    
should in future be placed under1       
instead of over1 the copper sheathing4  
,this plan was immediately adopted4     
,discs of cast-iron three and a half    
inches in diameter1 and one-fourth of an
 inch in thickness1 were let into the   
plank of the bottom of the ,glasgow1 of 

fifty guns1 on the starboard side       
only--the larboard side having been left
 without any protection4 ,these discs   
were in the proportion of one to every  
four sheets of copper1 and over them    
were placed pieces of brown paper1 and  
over the paper thin sheet-lead1 so that 
the latter metal was in contact with the
 copper sheathing4 ,a similar experiment
 was also tried on the ,zebra1 of       
eighteen guns1 substituting1 however1   
discs of zinc#ajf for those of iron4    
#ajf ,it would appear that ,davy        
latterly preferred zinc to   iron1 as   
the protecting metal4 ,in a letter1     
dated ,october   #ahbf1 addressed to a  
ship-owner1 who had made some enquiries 
of him upon the subject1 he says--,the  
rust of iron1 if a ship   is becalmed1  
seems to promote the adhesion of weeds2 
,i should   therefore always prefer     
pieces of zinc1 which may be very much  
smaller1 and which1 in the cases ,i have
 heard of their being   used1 have had  
the best effect4  ,the bottom of the    

,glasgow was examined twelve months     
afterwards1 when the discs of iron were 
found oxidated throughout1 presenting in
 their appearance the characters of     
plumbago4 ,the copper on the starboard  
side was preserved1 but covered with    
weeds and shell-fish4 ,the sheets on the
 larboard had undergone the usual waste1
 but were clean4  ,the ,zebra was docked
 four years after the experiment had    
commenced1 when the zinc protectors were
 perfect1 and it did not appear that    
they had exerted any influence in       
preserving the copper1 as it had wasted 
equally on both sides4 ,it may be       
presumed in this case that the ,voltaic 
circuit had by some fault in the        
arrangement been interrupted4  ,the     
apparent conversion of iron into a      
substance resembling plumbago1 by the   
action of sea-water1 has been frequently
 noticed4 ,the protectors thus          
changed#ajg were1 to a considerable     
depth from the surface1 so soft as to be
 easily cut by a knife2 but after being 

exposed for some time to the action of  
the atmosphere1 they became harder1 and 
even brittle4 ,a portion of this soft   
substance having been wrapped in paper  
for the purpose of examination1 and     
placed in the pocket of a shipwright1   
gave rise to a very curious and         
unexpected result3 at first1 the artist1
 like ,futitorious with his chestnuts1  
thought he perceived a genial warmth2   
but the effect was shortly less         
equivocal2 the substance became hot1 and
 presently passed into a state of       
absolute ignition4 ,various theories    
have been suggested for its explanation3
 ,mr4 ,daniell has advanced an opinion  
which supposes the formation of silicon1
 and thus accounts for the spontaneous  
ignition by the action of air4    #ajg  
,in the ,annals of ,philosophy 7vol4 v47
 may be found a paper   by ,dr4 ,henry1 
on the conversion of cast iron pipes    
into plumbago4   ,this change appears to
 have been effected by the action of    
water   containing muriate of soda1 and 

the muriates of lime and of   magnesia4 
,cast iron contains a considerable      
portion of carbon2   the change is      
therefore readily explained on the      
supposition of   the removal of the     
principal metallic part by these salts4 
,the   muriates of lime and magnesia    
have been observed by ,dr4 ,henry to    
discharge writing ink from the labels of
 bottles1 to which they   had been      
accidentally applied2 and the same      
ingenious chemist has   been baffled in 
his attempts to restore the legibility  
of ink   upon paper which had been      
exposed to sea-water4 ,the texture of   
the paper was not injured1 but the iron 
basis of the ink1 as well   as the      
gallic acid1 was entirely removed4  ,the
 disadvantages which arise from the     
foulness of ships' bottoms1 particularly
 when on foreign stations1 where there  
are no dry docks to receive them1 are so
 serious1 that the ,government was      
obliged1 in ,july #ahbe1 to order the   
discontinuance of the protectors on all 

sea-going ships2 but directed that they 
should still be used upon all those that
 were laid up in our ports4 ,when1      
however1 an examination of the latter   
took place1 they were found to be much  
more foul than those which had been in  
motion at sea3 shell-fish of various    
kinds had adhered to them so closely1   
that it was even necessary to use       
percussion to remove them1 which not    
only indented the copper1 but in many   
instances actually fractured it4  ,under
 all these discouraging circumstances1  
the unwelcome conviction was forced upon
 the agents of ,government1 that the    
plan was incapable of successful        
application1 and it was accordingly     
altogether abandoned in ,september      
#ahbh4  ,such were the results of the   
experiments carried on in the ports of  
,england1 for the protection of copper  
sheathing1 from the success of which    
,sir ,h4 ,davy justly expected honours1 
fame1 and reward4 ,that his             
disappointment was great1 may be readily

 imagined1 and it is supposed to have   
had a marked influence upon his future  
character4 ,it is much to be regretted  
that his vexation should have been      
heightened by the unjust and bitter     
attacks made upon him by the periodical 
press1 and by those subalterns in       
science1 who1 unable to appreciate the  
beauty of the principle he had so ably  
developed1 saw only in its details an   
object for sarcasm1 and in its failure  
an opportunity for censure2 while those 
whose stations should have implied      
superior knowledge1 in the pride and    
arrogance of assumed contempt1 sought a 
refuge from the humiliation of          
ignorance4  ,that ,davy was severely    
hurt by these attacks1 is a fact well   
known to his friends4 ,in a letter to   
,mr4 ,children he says3 ,a mind of much 
sensibility might be disgusted1 and one 
might be induced to say1 ,why should ,i 
labour for public objects1 merely to    
meet abuse8--,i am irritated by them    
more than ,i ought to be2 but ,i am     

getting wiser every day--recollecting   
,galileo1 and the times when            
philosophers and public benefactors were
 burnt for their services4 ,in another  
letter he alludes to the sycophancy of a
 chemical journal1 which1 after the     
grossest abuse1 suddenly turned round1  
and disgusted him with its adulation4 ,i
 never shake hands1 says he1 with       
chimney sweepers1 even when in their    
,may-day clothes1 and when they call me 
',your honour4'  ,while the trials above
 related were proceeding in the ports of
 ,england1 the naval department of      
,france was prosecuting a similar       
enquiry2 and as experiments of this     
nature are conducted with greater care1 
and examined with superior science1 in  
that country1 it may not be             
uninteresting to the ,english reader to 
receive a detail of the examination of  
the bottom of ,la ,constance frigate1 in
 which the protectors bore a much larger
 proportion to the copper surface than  
was ever practised in the ,british navy4

 ,this document1 ,i may observe1 is now 
published for the first time4  ,the     
inspection of the bottom of the frigate 
,la ,constance1 has given rise to some  
interesting observations on the effect  
of protectors1 and it has confirmed the 
fact before advanced of the great       
inconvenience which attends the         
application of too large a proportion of
 the protecting metal4  ,the surface of 
this metal1 which was of cast iron1     
placed on each side of the keel1 and in 
long scarphs of iron plates situated    
towards the stem and stern-post and the 
water line1 appeared to have been about 
the #a-cjth part of the surface of the  
copper1 instead of the #a-bejth part as 
now practised4  ,the galvanic action has
 been extreme1 both in rapidity and     
intensity4 ,the scarphs are entirely    
destroyed1 and have absolutely          
disappeared2 and we should have been    
ignorant of their having ever existed1  
had we not been informed of the fact1   
and observed dark stains which marked   

their position1 and discovered the nails
 still entire by which they had been    
fastened4  ,the plates1 which were in   
the first instance about three inches   
thick1 were covered throughout their    
whole length by a thick1 unequal        
coating1 spotted with yellow oxide4     
,this was principally owing to the      
absorption of about twenty-five per     
cent4 of its weight of water4 ,under    
this1 the iron was as soft as plumbago1 
and there remained scarcely an inch of  
metal of its original metallic hardness4
  ,the bulky and irregular appendage    
7the protectors7 at the lower part of   
the ship's bottom caused a great noise  
in the sea1 in consequence of the dead  
water which it occasioned1 and doubtless
 lessened the speed of the vessel4 ,but 
that which contributed most to this     
unfortunate result1 was the exceedingly 
unclean state of the copper1 arising    
from the excess of the iron employed3   
this1 carried to so great an extent1    
having the effect of extracting matter  

from the water1 which1 forming a        
concretion on the sheets1 enabled the   
marine animals the more easily to attach
 themselves4 ,the sheathing was covered 
with a multitude of lepas anatifera1    
shells with five valves1 suspended by a 
pedicle of three or four centimetres    
long1 collected into groups2 of lepas   
tintinnabulum1 a shell with six valves2 
of oysters with opercula2 of polypi1 c4 
,no part of the bottom was free from    
them4  ,below1 the copper was certainly 
preserved from oxidation2 and up to     
within a few sheets of the water line1  
it did not appear to be worn4 ,but to   
save expense1 it was obliged to be      
cleansed without removal1 by rubbing it 
hard with bricks and wet sand1 which has
 succeeded very well in restoring its   
copper colour4  ,the following is the   
description of shells above             
enumerated3--  ,genus ,anatifa1         
,encyclopedia4--7,lepas1 ,linnus47      
,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4  ,,fig4 #a4    
,smooth ,anatifa 7,lepas anatifera1     

,linn47--,shell consisting of five      
valves1 of which two larger and two     
smaller ones are opposite to each other2
 and a fifth1 which is narrow1 is arched
 and rests upon the ends of the first   
four3 these valves are not connected by 
any hinge2 they are held together by the
 skin of the animal1 which lines their  
interior and opens in front by a        
longitudinal separation4 ,their colour  
is orange during the life of the animal4
 ,the base of the shell is united to a  
fleshy tube1 tendinous1 cylindrical1    
susceptible of contraction1             
saffron-coloured1 becoming brown and    
black in drying4    ,illustration3 ,fig4
 #b4  ,,fig4 #b4 ,smooth ,anatifa1 as   
seen from the other side1 the pedicle   
dry and contracted4    ,illustration3   
,fig4 #c4  ,,fig4 #c4 ,smooth ,anatifa1 
as seen in front1 showing the           
longitudinal separation4  ,genus        
,anomia4    ,illustration  ,shell with  
valves1 unequal1 irregular1 having an   
operculum2 adhering by its operculum2   

valve usually pierced1 flattened1 having
 a cavity in the upper part2 the other  
valve a little larger1 concave1 entire2 
operculum small1 elliptical1 bony1 fixed
 on some foreign body1 and to which the 
interior muscle of the animal is        
attached4    ,illustration  ,species1   
,onion-peel ,anomia4--7,ephippium1      
,linn47  ,shell common1 whitish and     
yellowish1 found in the ,mediterranean  
and the ocean4  ,besides the            
abovementioned species1 which were found
 in large quantities1 there were also   
some muscles and oysters4--7,mytilus    
afer4 ,baccina4--,linn4 ,gmel4 #cceh47  
,genus ,balane de ,blainville4          
7,balanite1 ,encyclopedia4--,lepas1     
,linn47    ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4     
,,fig4 #a4 ,tulip ,balanus4--7,lepas    
tintinnabulum1 ,linn47  ,shell with six 
unequal valves articulated by a scaly   
suture1 of which the edges appear to be 
finely crenellated in the cavity2 the   
form of the valves is conical1 aperture 
ample1 and nearly quadrangular4         

,operculum composed of four triangular  
pieces crenellated and marked with very 
projecting transverse stri1 which appear
 to extend from the top to the bottom2  
the two posterior pieces are            
perpendicular1 and are applied to the   
hinder partition of the cavity of the   
shell2 they are terminated by two       
conical prolongations1 of which the     
points are sharp and diverging4 ,the two
 foremost pieces are placed in the      
aperture1 in an oblique direction4 ,the 
colour of this balanus from clear red to
 violet and brown4    ,illustration3    
,fig4 #b4  ,,fig4 #b4 ,view of the upper
 part of the ,tulip ,balanus4           
,illustration3 ,fig4 #c4  ,,fig4 #c4    
,view of the base4  ,genus ,oyster1     
7,ostrea47    ,illustration  ,species of
 oyster1 nearly similar to the common   
oyster1 7,ostrea edulis17 and of the    
,hutre cuilier1 7,ostrea cochlear17     
their shell rather fragile1 almost      
without lamell2 upper valve concave1    
colour rather deep violet1 form         

variable4  ,besides these three kinds of
 ,mollusc1 of which the number was      
considerable1 several species of        
calcareous polypi were found2 but those 
which could be obtained were too        
imperfect to allow of their being       
correctly described4  ,the iron which   
was used to protect the copper on the   
bottom of the ,constance frigate having 
been subjected to chemical analysis1 the
 following are the results4  ,this iron1
 which was in small fragments1 very     
friable1 little attracted by the        
loadstone1 soft to the touch1 and       
soiling the fingers like plumbago1 gave 
out in rubbing it a very strong smell1  
very much like that of burnt linseed    
oil4 ,its colour on the exterior was a  
brownish yellow1 and its interior a     
blackish grey1 studded with little      
points extremely brilliant4  ,a short   
time after they had been taken from the 
keel of the frigate1 where they were    
covered with a layer of hydrated        
peroxide of iron1 of six or eight lines 

in thickness1 and been enclosed in a    
paper box1 these fragments became       
strongly heated1 and underwent a real   
combustion by means of the oxygen of the
 atmosphere2 the combustion was         
accompanied by the production of a      
certain quantity of aqueous vapour4  ,in
 order to ascertain whether this        
elevation of temperature was really     
alone owing to the absorption of the    
oxygen1 a case containing twelve grammes
 of this iron was placed under a        
receiver1 which contained two hundred   
millimetres1 inverted over a tube of    
mercury2 and it was observed1 in the    
course of an hour1 that this air had    
diminished by forty millimetres1 or     
one-fifth of its volume4 ,examining     
afterwards that which remained in the   
receiver1 it was discovered that it had 
no effect whatever either on lime-water 
or the tincture of tournesol1--that it  
was not inflammable1--that it           
extinguished a candle2 in a word1 that  
it presented all the negative qualities 

of azotic gas1 strongly infected with   
the smell before stated4  ,it must be   
evident that the oxygen which was       
absorbed in this experiment was employed
 solely in burning the iron1 which was  
already in a state of protoxide1 as was 
indicated by its little degree of       
cohesion1 by the avidity with which it  
seized this principle1 and by its       
dissolving in sulphuric acid1 which     
operated without effervescence1 and     
without disengaging hydrogen gas4  ,five
 grammes of this oxidized iron being    
reduced to an impalpable powder1 and    
then made red-hot in a platina crucible1
 and mixed with three parts of potasse  
l'alcool1 were reduced to a clammy mass1
 coloured on its edges with a clear     
beautiful green1 and with a greenish    
yellow on the other parts2 which at once
 indicated the presence of a small      
portion of manganese1 and that of a     
little chrme2 metals which are found    
united in almost all sorts of iron4     
,treated in the usual way1 this mass    

exhibited--  ,first1 ,traces1 scarcely  
sensible1 of these two metals4          
,secondly1 ,one gramme of brilliant     
black powder1 soft to the touch1        
staining paper1 insoluble in muriatic   
acid when applied boiling3 it was       
therefore a true percarburet of iron4   
,thirdly1 ,three grammes and ten        
decigrammes of peroxide of iron4  ,on   
being subjected to the action of boiling
 water1 five grammes of this pulverized 
iron gave out three decigrammes of      
soluble matter1 composed1 for the       
greater part1 of hydrochlorate of iron1 
and a trace of hydrochlorate of         
magnesia1 together with a little organic
 matter1 the combination of which with  
the iron will account for the           
insufferable smell which it gave out    
when the iron was heated4 ,this saline  
solution sensibly reddened the litmus   
paper3 an effect which was owing to the 
muriatic acid1 which1 in uniting with   
oxidized iron1 and with most other      
metallic oxides1 never forms            

combinations which are perfectly        
neutral1 but which are always more or   
less acid4  ,it has in vain been        
attempted to discover in this oxidized  
iron the presence of silex1 of alumina1 
and of the sulphuric and carbonic acids1
 either free1 or in combination4  ,it   
results from this analysis1 that the    
fragments of the protectors1 which have 
been the object of it1 are composed1 in 
a hundred parts1 of about     #fd       
oxidized iron1     #bj of plumbago1 or  
percarburet of iron1     #f of matter   
soluble in water1 hydrochlorate of      
magnesia1    hydrochlorate of iron1     
hydrochlorate of soda1 hydrochlorate of 
magnesia1 and organic matter1 and       
#aj of water2 as in fragments pulverised
 and heated for half an    hour at a    
temperature of #ajj1 they lost #a-ajth  
of their weight4  ,as to the reddish    
yellow matter1 with small protuberances 
like nipples1 which formed a thick layer
 on the surface of the protectors1 it   
was formed of #ge parts of oxide of iron

 at the most1 and #be parts of water1   
besides some atoms of hydrochlorate of  
iron1 hydrochlorate of soda1 and        
hydrochlorate of magnesia4         99   
99       99       99       99  ,had not 
the health of ,davy unfortunately       
declined at the very period when his    
energies were most required1 such is the
 unbounded confidence which all must    
feel in his unrivalled powers of        
vanquishing practical difficulties1 and 
of removing the obstacles which so      
constantly thwart the applications of   
theory1 that little doubt can be        
entertained but he would soon have      
discovered some plan by which the       
adhesion of marine bodies to the copper 
sheathing might have been prevented1 and
 his principle of ,voltaic protection   
thus rendered available4 ,an experiment 
indeed1 altogether founded upon this    
same principle1 has been already        
proposed1 and will be shortly tried in  
the ,british navy1 by building a        
schooner1 and fastening its materials   

together with copper bolts1 and         
afterwards sheathing the bottom with    
thin plates of iron1 which are to be    
protected by bands of zinc4 ,at the same
 time1 another schooner is to be built1 
in which the fastenings are to consist  
entirely of iron bolts and nails1 the   
former to be protected by a zinc ring   
under each head or clench1 and the      
latter to have a small piece of zinc    
soldered under its head4  ,this plan of 
protection was first adopted in         
,america1 at the recommendation of ,dr4 
,revere2 and upon its successful issue1 
that gentleman was lately induced to    
take out letters patent not only in     
,england1 but in all the maritime       
countries of ,europe1 for the sole right
 of manufacturing iron sheathing1 bolts1
 and nails1 thus protected4  ,as no     
doubt now exists as to the principle of 
the protection of iron by zinc1 the     
bolts and nails may be expected to      
remain free from rust as long as the    
more oxidable metal lasts2 but with     

regard to the success of the iron       
sheathing1 it is impossible to entertain
 the same confidence2 for what1 in this 
case1 is to prevent the adhesion of     
shell-fish and sea-weed upon its        
surface8 ,let it be remembered1 that it 
is only when the copper is in the act of
 solution in sea-water that the         
sheathing remains clean4 ,in the year   
#ahbi1 the ,tender to the ,flagship at  
,plymouth had her copper on one side of 
the bottom painted with white lead3 in  
six months1 this side was covered with  
long weeds2 while the other side1 which 
had been left bright1 and consequently  
exposed to the solvent action of the    
salt-water1 was found entirely free from
 all such adhesions4     ,,chapter      
,,xiv4     ,the failure of the ,ship    
protectors a source of great vexation   
to ,davy4--,his ,letters to ,mr4        
,poole4--,he becomes unwell4--,he       
publishes his ,discourses before the    
,royal ,society4--,critical             
,remarks--and ,quotations4--,he goes    

abroad in search of    health4--,his    
,letter to ,mr4 ,poole from             
,ravenna4--,he resigns the              
,presidency of the ,royal               
,society4--,mr4 ,gilbert elected pro    
tempore4--,davy returns to ,england1 and
 visits his friend ,mr4                 
,poole4--,salmonia1 or ,days of         
,fly-fishing4--,an ,analysis of the     
,work1 with various extracts to         
illustrate its character4   ,the friends
 of ,sir ,humphry ,davy saw with extreme
 regret that the failure of his plan for
 protecting copper sheathing had        
produced in his mind a degree of        
disappointment and chagrin wholly       
inconsistent with the merits of the     
question2 that while he became          
insensible to the voice of praise1 every
 nerve was jarred by the slightest note 
of disapprobation4 ,i apprehend1        
however1 that the change of character   
which many ascribed to the mortification
 of wounded pride1 ought in some measure
 to be referred to a declining state of 

bodily power1 which had brought with it 
its usual infirmities of petulance and  
despondency4 ,the letters ,i shall here 
introduce may perhaps be considered as  
indicating that instinctive desire for  
quiet and retirement which frequently   
marks a declining state of health1 and  
they will be followed by others of a    
less equivocal character4      ,,to     
,,thomas ,,poole1 ,,esq4      ,grosvenor
 ,street1 ,nov4 #bd1 #ahbd4      ,,my   
,,dear ,,poole1     ,it is very long    
since ,i have heard from you1 ,mr4      
,a----1 whom    you introduced to me1   
has sometimes given me news of you1 and 
,i    have always heard of your health  
and well-being with pleasure4     ,my   
immediate motive for writing to you now 
is somewhat1 though    not entirely     
selfish4 ,you know #a have always       
admired your    neighbourhood1 and ,i   
have lately seen a place advertised     
there1    called1 ,i think1----1 not far
 from ,quantock1 and combining1    as   
far as advertisement can be trusted1    

scenery1 fishing1    shooting1 interest 
for money1 c4     ,if it is not sold1   
pray give me a little idea of it2 ,i    
have    long been looking out for a     
purchase1--perhaps this may suit    me4 
,after all1 it may be sold2 if so1 no   
harm is done4     ,i go on labouring for
 utility1 perhaps more than for glory2  
caring something for the judgment of my 
contemporaries1 but    more for that of 
posterity2 and confiding with boldness  
in the    solid judgment of ,time4      
,i have lately seen some magnificent    
country in the ,scandinavian            
peninsula1 where ,nature1 if not a kind1
 is at least a beautiful    mother4--,i 
wonder there have not been more poets in
 the ,north4      ,i am1 my dear ,poole1
      ,very affectionately your old     
friend1      ,h4 ,,davy4      ,,to ,,the
 ,,same4      ,january #e1 #ahbe4       
,,my ,,dear ,,poole1     ,my proposition
 to come into ,somersetshire about the  
#ajth was    founded upon two visits    
which ,i had to pay in this county1     

,hants2 ,i am now only about sixty miles
 from you2 and had you    been at home1 
,i should have come on to ,nether       
,stowey4 ,the #acth    is the first     
meeting of the ,royal ,society after the
 holidays2    and though ,i might do my 
duty by deputy1 yet ,i feel that this   
would not be right1 and ,i will not have
 the honour of the chair    without     
conscientiously taking the labours which
 its possession    entails4 ,i regret   
therefore that ,i cannot be with you    
next    week4 ,god bless you4           
,believe me always1 my dear ,poole1     
,your affectionate friend1      ,h4     
,,davy4      ,,to ,,the ,,same4         
,park ,street1 ,feb4 #aa1 #ahbe4        
,,my ,,dear ,,poole1         99       99
       99       99       99     ,i had a
 letter a few days ago from ,c----1 who 
writes in good    spirits1 and who1     
being within a few miles of ,london1    
might1 as    far as his friends are     
concerned1 be at ,john a ,grot's house4 
,he writes with all his ancient power4  

,i had hoped that1 as his    mind became
 subdued1 and his imagination less      
vivid1 he might    have been able to    
apply himself to persevere1 and to give 
to    the world some of those trains of 
thought1 so original1 so    impressive1 
and at which we have so often wondered4 
,i am writing this letter at a meeting  
of the ,trustees of the    ,british     
,museum1 which will account for its want
 of correction4    ,lest ,i should be   
more desultory1 ,i will conclude by     
subscribing    myself1 my dear ,poole1  
your old and affectionate friend1       
,h4 ,,davy4      ,,to ,,the ,,same4     
,feb4 #bh1 #ahbe4      ,,my ,,dear      
,,poole1     ,i am very much obliged to 
you for your two letters1 which ,i      
received in proper time4 ,i have        
deferred writing1 in the hopes    that  
,i might be able to pay you a visit and 
see the property1    but ,i now find    
this will be impossible4 ,i have a cold1
 which    has taken a stronger and more 
inflammable character than usual1       

which obliges me to lay myself up2 and  
in this weather it would    be worse    
than imprudent to travel4     ,i have   
seen ,mr4 ,z----1 and can perfectly     
re-echo your    favourable sentiments   
respecting him4 ,i saw the plan of the  
estate1 and heard every thing he had to 
say respecting the    value1 real and   
imaginary1 of the lands4 ,he certainly  
hopes at    this moment for a fancy     
price1 and he is right if he can get it4
         99       99       99       99  
99     ,i have less fancy for the place1
 from finding the trout-stream    a     
brook in summer1 where salmon-trout1 or 
salmon1 could not    be propagated2 for 
one of my favourite ideas in a country  
residence is varied and multiplied      
experiments on the increase    and      
propagation of fish4     ,what ,i should
 really like would be a place with a    
couple of    hundred acres of productive
 land1 and plenty of moor1 a river      
running through it1 and the sea before  
it2 and not farther from    ,london than

 ,hampshire--a day's journey4 ,there are
 such places    along the coast1 though 
perhaps in my lifetime they will not    
be disposed of4 ,i should also like to  
be within a few miles of    you2 for it 
is one of the regrets in the life which 
,i lead1    that devotion to the cause  
of science separates me very much       
from friends that ,i shall ever venerate
 and esteem4 ,god bless    you1 my dear 
,poole1      ,very affectionately yours1
      ,h4 ,,davy4      ,,to ,,the       
,,same4      ,pixton near ,dulverton1   
,nov4 #a1 #ahbf4      ,,my ,,dear       
,,poole1     ,i cannot be in your       
neighbourhood1 without doing my best to 
see    you2 and it is my intention to   
come to ,stowey on ,sunday4 ,i hope     
,i shall find you at home1 and quite    
well4     ,mr4 ,t----1 who is here1     
gives me a very good account of you1    
which ,i trust ,i shall be personally   
able to verify4     ,if you are at      
leisure1 ,i will try to shoot a few     
woodcocks on    ,monday on the ,quantock

 hills2 on ,tuesday ,i must go east4    
,i have not been well lately4 ,i cannot 
take the exercise which    twenty years 
ago ,i went lightly and agreeably       
through4 ,will you    have the kindness 
to hire a pony for me1 that ,i may ride 
to    your hills8     ,i am sorry ,i did
 not know of your journey to ,ireland   
and    ,scotland4 ,i was in both those  
countries at the time you visited       
them1 and should have been delighted to 
have met you4     ,do not write to me2  
for1 even if you should not be at home1 
,stowey is not more than ten or twelve  
miles out of my way2 but    ,i hope ,i  
shall find you4      ,i am1 my dear     
,poole1      ,your old and sincere      
friend1      ,h4 ,,davy4  ,the          
complaints1 as to the loss of his       
strength1 which are expressed in the    
preceding letter1 were but too well     
founded4 ,mr4 ,poole informs me that1   
during this visit in #ahbf1 it was      
affecting to observe the efforts he made
 to continue his field sports4 ,from    

being unable to walk without fatigue1 he
 was compelled to have a pony to take   
him to the field1 from which he         
dismounted only on the certainty of     
immediate sport4  ,on his return to     
,london1 his indisposition increased3 he
 complained to me of palpitation of the 
heart1 and of an affection in the       
trachea1 which led him to fear that he  
might be suffering under the disease of 
which his father died4  ,the fatigue    
attendant upon the duties of the        
anniversary of the ,royal ,society      
7,november #cjth7 completely exhausted  
him2 and after his re-election as       
,president1 he was reluctantly obliged  
to retire1 and to decline attending the 
usual dinner upon that occasion4  ,in   
,january #ahbg1 ,sir ,humphry ,davy     
published the ,discourses which he had  
delivered before the ,royal ,society1 at
 six successive anniversary meetings1 on
 the award of the ,royal and ,copley    
medals4 ,they were published in         
compliance with a resolution of a       

meeting of the ,council1 held on the    
#bast of ,december #ahbf4  ,the practice
 of delivering an annual oration before 
the ,royal ,society1 on the occasion of 
presenting the medal upon ,sir ,godfrey 
,copley's donation1 prevailed during the
 presidency of ,sir ,john ,pringle2 it  
was1 however1 during a long interval    
discontinued1 and only revived during   
the latter years of ,sir ,joseph ,banks4
  ,the discourse usually commenced with 
a short tribute of respect to the memory
 of those distinguished ,fellows who had
 died since the preceding anniversary4  
,it then proceeded to announce the      
choice of the ,council in its award of  
the medals1 enumerating the objects and 
merits of the several communications    
which had been honoured with so         
distinguished a mark of approbation1 and
 stating the circumstances which had    
directed the judges in their decision4  
,much has been said and written upon the
 inutility1 and even upon the           
mischievous tendency of this practice2  

and great stress has been laid upon the 
vices inseparably connected1 as it is   
asserted1 with the style of composition 
to which it gives origin4 ,it appears to
 me1 however1 that it is only against   
the meretricious execution1 not against 
the temperate use of such discourses1   
that this charge can be fairly and      
consistently sustained2 and in the      
chaste and yet powerful addresses of    
,davy1 such an opinion will find its    
best sanction1 and obtain its strongest 
support4  ,does it follow1 because      
praise1 when unduly lavished upon the   
labours of the scientific dead1 may     
create comparisons and preferences      
injurious to the living1 that we are to 
stifle the noblest aspirations of our   
nature1 and become as cold and silent as
 the grave that encloses their remains8 
,does it follow1 because an             
undisciplined ardour may have           
occasionally exaggerated the merits of  
our contemporaries1 that we are         
henceforth to withhold from them a just 

tribute of applause at their            
discoveries--to forego the advantages   
which science must derive from a plan so
 well calculated to awaken the flagging 
attention1 to infuse into stagnant      
research a renewed spirit of animation1 
and to encourage the industry of the    
labourer in the abstract regions of     
science1 with prospects gleaming with   
sunshine1 and luxuriant in the          
fruitfulness which is to reward him8    
,such was the character1 such the effect
 of ,davy's discourses4 ,they exhibit a 
great assemblage of diversified talents1
 and display the refined views he       
entertained with respect to the mutual  
relations which the different sciences  
maintain with each other2 they evince1  
moreover1 a great command of language1  
and a power to give exact expression to 
what his mind had conceived4  ,to these 
six ,discourses is prefixed his ,address
 upon taking the chair of the ,royal    
,society for the first time2 the subject
 of which is ,the present state of that 

,body1 and the ,progress and ,prospects 
of ,science4 ,upon this occasion1 he    
particularly adverts to the light which 
the different branches of science may   
reflect upon each other4 ,in pure       
,mathematics--though their nature1 as a 
work of intellectual combination1 framed
 by the highest efforts of human        
intelligence1 renders them incapable of 
receiving aids from observations of     
external phenomena1 or the invention of 
new instruments1 yet they are1 at this  
moment1 abundant in the promise of new  
applications2 and many of the           
departments of philosophical enquiry    
which appeared formerly to bear no      
relation to quantity1 weight1 figure1 or
 number1 as ,i shall more particularly  
mention hereafter1 are now brought under
 the dominion of that sublime science1  
which is1 as it were1 the animating     
principle of all the other sciences4    
,in the theory of light and vision1 the 
researches of ,huygens1 ,newton1 and    
,wollaston1 have been followed by those 

of ,malus2 and the phenomena of         
polarization are constantly tending to  
new discoveries2 and it is extremely    
probable that those beautiful results   
will lead to a more profound knowledge  
than has hitherto been obtained1        
concerning the intimate constitution of 
bodies1 and establish a near connexion  
between mechanical and chemical         
philosophy4  ,the subject of heat1 so   
nearly allied to that of light1 has     
lately afforded a rich harvest of       
discovery2 yet it is fertile in         
unexplored phenomena4 ,the question of  
the materiality of heat will probably be
 solved at the same time as that of the 
undulating hypothesis of light1 if1     
indeed1 the human mind should ever be   
capable of understanding the causes of  
these mysterious phenomena4 ,the        
applications of the doctrine of heat to 
the atomic or corpuscular philosophy of 
chemistry abound in new views1 and      
probably at no very distant period these
 views will assume a precise            

mathematical form4  ,in ,electricity1   
the wonderful instrument of ,volta has  
done more for the obscure parts of      
physics and chemistry1 than the         
microscope ever effected for natural    
history1 or even the telescope for      
astronomy4 ,after presenting to us the  
most extraordinary and unexpected       
results in chemical analysis1 it is now 
throwing a new light upon magnetism4    
',suppeditatque novo confestim lumine   
lumen4'  ,i must congratulate the       
,society on the rapid progress made in  
the theory of definite proportions1     
since it was advanced in a distinct form
 by the ingenuity of ,mr4 ,dalton4 ,i   
congratulate the ,society on the promise
 it affords of solving the recondite    
changes1 owing to motions of the        
particles of matter1 by laws depending  
upon their weight1 number1 and figure1  
and which will be probably found as     
simple in their origin1 and as          
harmonious in their relations1 as those 
which direct the motions of the heavenly

 bodies1 and produce the beauty and     
order of the celestial systems4  ,the   
crystallizations1 or regular forms of   
inorganic matter1 are intimately        
connected with definite proportions1 and
 depend upon the nature of the          
combinations of the elementary          
particles2 and both the laws of         
electrical polarity1 and the            
polarization of light1 seem related to  
these phenomena4 ,as to the origin of   
the primary arrangement of the          
crystalline matter of the globe1 various
 hypotheses have been applied1 and the  
question is still agitated1 and is      
perhaps above the present state of our  
knowledge2 but there are two principal  
facts which present analogies on the    
subject1--one1 that the form of the     
earth is that which would result1       
supposing it to have been originally    
fluid2 and the other1 that in lavas1    
masses decidedly of igneous origin1     
crystalline substances1 similar to those
 belonging to the primary rocks1 are    

found in abundance4  ,it is the         
privilege of genius to be in advance of 
the age1 and to see1 as by refraction1  
the light1 as yet below the horizon4 ,it
 is with such a feeling that ,i have    
introduced the foregoing extracts1 which
 ,i cannot but regard as prophetic of   
future discoveries4  ,the first         
discourse was delivered on the #cjth of 
,november #ahba1 on the occasion of     
announcing the award of two medals1 on  
,sir ,godfrey ,copley's donation2 one to
 ,j4 ,f4 ,w4 ,herschel1 ,esq4 for his   
various papers on mathematical and      
physico-mathematical subjects2 and the  
other1 to ,captain ,edward ,sabine1     
,r4,a41 for his papers containing an    
account of his various experiments and  
observations made during a voyage and   
expedition in the ,arctic regions4  ,as 
,i am desirous that the reader should be
 made acquainted with the nature and    
style of the address with which he      
accompanied the presentation of the     
medal1 ,i cannot select a happier       

example1 or one in the sentiments of    
which every person will more readily    
participate1 than the following3--      
,,mr4 ,,herschel--,receive this medal1  
,sir1 as a mark of our    respect1 and  
of our admiration of those talents which
 you    have applied with so much zeal  
and success1 and preserve it    as a    
pledge of future exertions in the cause 
of ,science and    of the ,royal        
,society2 and1 believe me1 you can      
communicate    your labours to no public
 body by whom they will be better       
received1 or through whose records they 
will be better known to    the          
philosophical world4 ,you are in the    
prime of life1 in the    beginning of   
your career1 and you have powers and    
acquirements    capable of illustrating 
and extending every branch of physical  
enquiry2 and1 in the field of science1  
how many are the spots    not yet       
cultivated6 ,where the laws of sensible 
become connected    with those of       
insensible motions1 the mechanical with 

the    chemical phenomena1 how little is
 known6 ,in electricity1    magnetism1  
in the relations of crystallized forms  
to the    weight of the elements of     
bodies1 what a number of curious and    
important objects of research6 and they 
are objects which you    are peculiarly 
qualified to pursue and illustrate4     
,may you continue to devote yourself to 
philosophical pursuits1    and to exalt 
your reputation1 already so high--      
',virtutem extendere factis4'     ,and  
these pursuits you will find not only   
glorious1 but    dignified1 useful1 and 
gratifying in every period of life3     
this1 indeed1 you must know best in the 
example of your    illustrious father1  
who1 full of years and of honours1 must 
view your exertions with infinite       
pleasure2 and who1 in the    hopes that 
his own imperishable name will be       
permanently    connected with yours in  
the annals of philosophy1 must look     
forward to a double immortality4  ,in   
the discourse of the succeeding year1 it

 was his painful duty to announce the   
death of the elder ,herschel1 whom1 in  
his former address1 he had eulogized in 
such eloquent and touching language4    
,in alluding to the labours and         
discoveries of ,sir ,william ,herschel1 
he observed1 that they have so much     
contributed to the progress of modern   
astronomy1 that his name will probably  
live as long as the inhabitants of this 
earth are permitted to view the solar   
system1 or to understand the laws of its
 motions4 ,the world of science--the    
civilized world1 are alike indebted to  
him who enlarges the boundaries of human
 knowledge1 who increases the scope of  
intellectual enjoyment1 and exhibits the
 human mind in possession of new and    
unknown powers1 by which it gains1 as it
 were1 new dominions in space2          
acquisitions which are imperishable--not
 like the boundaries of terrestrial     
states and kingdoms1 or even the great  
monuments of art1 which1 however        
extensive and splendid1 must decay--but 

secured by the grandest forms and       
objects of nature1 and registered       
amongst her laws4  ,one more quotation1 
and ,i shall conclude with the          
conviction that the splendid specimens  
,i have adduced must fully justify the  
opinion already offered as to the taste1
 power1 and eloquence with which1 as    
,president of the ,royal ,society1 he   
discharged the most delicate and arduous
 of all its duties4  ,in his address to 
,mr4 7now ,dr47 ,buckland1 on delivering
 to him the medal for his important     
memoir on the fossile remains discovered
 in the cave near ,kirkdale1 he thus    
concludes3--,if we look with wonder upon
 the great remains of human works1 such 
as the columns of ,palmyra1 broken in   
the midst of the desert2 the temples of 
,pstum1 beautiful in the decay of twenty
 centuries2 or the mutilated fragments  
of ,greek sculpture in the ,acropolis of
 ,athens1 or in our own ,museum1 as     
proofs of the genius of artists1 and    
power and riches of nations now past    

away2 with how much deeper a feeling of 
admiration must we consider those grand 
monuments of nature which mark the      
revolutions of the globe--continents    
broken into islands2 one land produced1 
another destroyed2 the bottom of the    
ocean become a fertile soil2 whole races
 of animals extinct1 and the bones and  
exuvi of one class covered with the     
remains of another2 and upon these      
graves of past generations--the marble  
or rocky tombs1 as it were1 of a former 
animated world1 new generations rising1 
and order and harmony established1 and a
 system of life and beauty produced1 as 
it were1 out of chaos and death1 proving
 the infinite power1 wisdom1 and        
goodness of the ,great ,cause of all    
being6         99       99       99     
99       99  ,i have noticed the        
apparent commencement of that general   
indisposition which had for some time   
been stealing upon him1 undermining his 
powers1 oppressing his spirits1 and     
subduing his best energies2 but in the  

end of #ahbf1 his complaint assumed a   
more decided and alarming form4 ,feeling
 more than usually unwell1 while on a   
visit to his friend ,lord ,gage1 he     
determined to return to ,london1 and was
 seized while on his journey1 at        
,mayersfield1 with an apoplectic attack4
 ,prompt and copious bleeding1 however1 
on the spot1 arrested the symptoms more 
immediately threatening the extinction  
of life1 and enabled him to reach home2 
but paralysis1 the usual consequence of 
such seizures1 had obviously1 though at 
first but slightly1 diminished his      
muscular powers1 and given an           
awkwardness to his gait4  ,as soon as   
the more immediate danger of the attack 
had passed away1 it was thought         
expedient to recommend1 as the best     
means of his farther recovery1 a        
residence in the southern part of       
,europe1 where he would be removed from 
all the cares and anxieties that were   
inseparably connected with his          
continuance in ,london2 and he          

accordingly quitted ,england1 with the  
intention of spending what remained of  
the winter in ,italy4  ,the following   
interesting letter to his friend will   
sufficiently explain the serious        
character of his malady1 and the degree 
of bodily infirmity which accompanied   
it4      ,,to ,,thomas ,,poole1 ,,esq4  
,ravenna1 ,march #ad1 #ahbg4      ,,my  
,,dear ,,poole1     ,i should have      
answered your letter immediately1 had it
 been    possible2 but ,i was1 at the   
time ,i received it1 very ill1 in    the
 crisis of the complaint under which ,i 
have long suffered1    and which turned 
out to be a determination of the blood  
to the    brain2 at last producing the  
most alarming nervous symptoms1    and  
threatening the loss of power and of    
life4     ,had ,i been in ,england1 ,i  
should gladly have promoted the         
election of your friend at the ,athenum3
 your certificate of    character would 
always be enough for me2 for1 like our  
angling    evangelical ,isaac ,walton1  

,i know you choose for your friends     
only good men4     ,i am1 thank ,god1   
better1 but still very weak1 and wholly 
unfit for any kind of business and      
study4 ,i have1 however1    considerably
 recovered the use of all the limbs that
 were    affected2 and as my amendment  
has been slow and gradual1 ,i    hope in
 time it may be complete3 but ,i am     
leading the life of    an anchorite1    
obliged to abstain from flesh1 wine1    
business1    study1 experiments1 and all
 things that ,i love2 but this          
discipline is salutary1 and for the sake
 of being able to do    something more  
for science1 and1 ,i hope1 for humanity1
 ,i submit    to it2 believing that the 
,great ,source of intellectual being so 
wills it for good4     ,i am here lodged
 in the ,apostolical ,palace1 by the    
kindness of    the ,vice-,legate of     
,ravenna1 a most admirable and          
enlightened    prelate1 and who has done
 every thing for me that he could have  
done for a brother4     ,i have chosen  

this spot of the declining empire of    
,rome1 as one    of solitude and repose1
 as out of the way of travellers1 and   
in a good climate2 and its monuments and
 recollections are not    without       
interest4 ,here ,dante composed his     
divine works4 ,here    ,byron wrote some
 of his best and most moral 7if such a  
name can    be applied7 poems2 and here 
the ,roman power that began among    the
 mountains with ,romulus1 and migrated  
to the sea1 bounding    ,asia and       
,europe under ,constantine1 made its    
last stand1 in the    marshes formed by 
the ,eridanus1 under ,theodorick1 whose 
tomb is    amongst the wonders of the   
place4     ,after a month's travel in   
the most severe weather ,i ever         
experienced1 ,i arrived here on the     
#bjth of ,february4 ,the    weather has 
since been fine4 ,my brother and friend1
 who is    likewise my physician1       
accompanied me2 but he is so satisfied  
with my improvement1 as to be able to   
leave me for ,corfu2 but    he is within

 a week's call4     ,i have no society  
here1 except that of the amiable        
,vice-,legate1    who is the ,governor  
of the ,province2 but this is enough for
 me1    for as yet ,i can bear but      
little conversation4 ,i ride in the     
pine forest1 which is the most          
magnificent in ,europe1 and which    ,i 
wish you could see4 ,you know the trees 
by ,claude ,lorraine's    landscapes3   
imagine a circle of twenty miles of     
these great    fan-shaped pines1 green  
sunny lawns1 and little knolls of       
underwood1 with large junipers of the   
,adriatic in front1 and    the          
,apennines still covered with snow      
behind4 ,the pine wood    partly covers 
the spot where the ,roman fleet once    
rode1--such    is the change of time6   
,it is my intention to stay here till   
the beginning of ,april1    and then to 
go to the ,alps1 for ,i must avoid the  
extremes of    heat and cold4     ,god  
bless you1 my dear ,poole4 ,i am always 
your old and sincere    friend1      ,h4

 ,,davy4   ,feeling that his recovery   
was tardy1 and that perfect mental      
repose was more than ever necessary for 
its advancement1 he determined to resign
 the chair of the ,royal ,society2 and  
he accordingly announced that intention1
 by a letter to his friend ,mr4 ,davies 
,gilbert1 ,vice-,president of the       
,society4      ,,to ,,davies ,,gilbert1 
,,esq4 ,m4,p4 ,v4,p4,r4,s4 c4 c4        
,salzburgh1 ,july #a1 #ahbg4      ,,my  
,,dear ,,sir1     ,yesterday1 on my     
arrival here1 ,i found your two letters4
 ,i am    sorry ,i did not receive the  
one you were so good as to address    to
 me at ,ravenna2 nor can ,i account for 
its miscarriage4 ,i    commissioned a   
friend there to transmit to me my       
letters from    that place after my     
departure1 and ,i received several1 even
 so    late as the middle of ,may1 at   
,laybach1 which had been sent to        
,italy1 and afterwards to ,illyria4 ,i  
did not write to you again1    because  
,i always entertained hopes of being    

able to give a    better account of the 
state of my health4 ,i am sorry to say  
the    expectations of my physicians of 
a complete and rapid recovery    have   
not been realized4 ,i have gained       
ground1 under the most    favourable    
circumstances1 very slowly2 and though  
,i have had no    new attack1 and have  
regained1 to a certain extent1 the use  
of    my limbs1 yet the tendency of the 
system to accumulate blood    in the    
head still continues1 and ,i am obliged 
to counteract    it by a most rigid     
vegetable diet1 and by frequent         
bleedings    with leeches and           
blisterings1 which of course keep me    
very low4    ,from my youth up to last  
year1 ,i had suffered1 more or less1    
from a slight hemorrhoidal affection2   
and the fulness of the    vessels1 then 
only a slight inconvenience1 becomes a  
serious    and dangerous evil in the    
head1 to which it seems to have been    
transferred4 ,i am far from despairing  
of an ultimate recovery1    but it must 

be a work of time1 and the vessels which
 have been    over distended only very  
slowly regain their former dimensions   
and tone3 and for my recovery1 not only 
diet and regimen and    physical        
discipline1 but a freedom from anxiety1 
and from all    business and all        
intellectual exertion1 is absolutely    
required4     ,under these              
circumstances1 ,i feel it would be      
highly imprudent    and perhaps fatal   
for me1 to return1 and to attempt to    
perform    the official duties of       
,president of the ,royal ,society4 ,and 
as    ,i had no other feeling for that  
high and honourable situation1    except
 the hope of being useful to society1 so
 ,i would not keep    it a moment       
without the security of being able to   
devote myself    to the labour and      
attention it demands4 ,i beg therefore  
you    will be so good as to communicate
 my resignation to the ,council    and  
to the ,society at their first meeting  
in ,november1 after    the long         

vacation2 stating the circumstances of  
my severe and    long continued illness1
 as the cause4 ,at the same time1 ,i beg
    you will express to them how truly  
grateful ,i feel for the high    honour 
they have done me in placing me in the  
chair for so many    successive years4  
,assure them that ,i shall always take  
the same    interest in the progress of 
the grand objects of the ,society1      
and throughout the whole of my life     
endeavour to contribute to    their     
advancement1 and to the prosperity of   
the body4     ,should circumstances     
prevent me from sending1 or you from    
receiving any other communication from  
me before the autumn    7for nothing is 
more uncertain than the post in         
,austria1 as    they take time to read  
the letters71 ,i hope this1 which ,i    
shall go to ,bavaria to send1 will reach
 you safe1 and will be    sufficient to 
settle the affair of resignation4       
,it was my intention to have said       
nothing on the subject of my            

successor4 ,i will support by all the   
means in my power the    person that the
 leading members of the ,society shall  
place in    the chair2 but ,i cannot    
resist an expression of satisfaction    
in the hope you held out1 that an       
illustrious friend of the    ,society1  
illustrious from his talents1 his former
 situation1    and1 ,i may say1 his late
 conduct1 is likely to be my successor4 
,i wish my name to be in the next       
,council1 as ,i shall certainly         
return1 ,deo volente1 before the end of 
the session1 and ,i    may1 ,i think1 be
 of use2 and likewise1 because ,i hope  
it may    be clearly understood that my 
feelings for the ,society are1 as       
they always were1 those of warm         
attachment and respect4 ,writing        
still makes my head ache1 and raises my 
pulse4 ,i will therefore    conclude1 my
 dear ,sir1 in returning you my sincere 
thanks for    the trouble you have had  
on my account1 and assuring you that ,i 
am      ,your obliged and grateful      

friend and servant1      ,h4 ,,davy4    
,pray acknowledge the receipt of this   
letter1 by addressing me1    poste      
restante1 ,laybach1 ,illyria1 ,austria2 
and let me know    if ,mr4 ,hudson is   
still ,assistant-,secretary1 and where  
,mr4 ,south    is4 ,i send this letter  
from ,frauenstein1 ,bavaria1 ,july #b1  
that    it may not be opened1 as all my 
letters were at ,salzburgh4    ,there   
was one of them must have amused ,prince
 ,metternich1 on    the state of parties
 in ,england1 from a ,member of the     
,upper    ,house4  ,in consequence of   
this letter1 the ,council of the ,royal 
,society1 by a resolution passed at a   
very full meeting held on the #fth of   
,november1 #ahbg1 appointed ,mr4 ,davies
 ,gilbert to fill the chair1 until the  
general body should elect a ,president1 
at the ensuing anniversary4  ,the       
following letter will show his          
subsequent course of proceeding4        
,,to ,,thomas ,,poole1      ,park       
,street1 ,grosvenor ,square1     ,oct4  

#bi1 #ahbg4      ,,my ,,dear ,,poole1   
,i hope you received a letter which ,i  
addressed to you from    ,ravenna in the
 spring4 ,it was my intention to have   
returned to    ,italy from the ,alpine  
countries1 where ,i spent the summer2   
but    my recovery has been so slow1 and
 so much uneasiness in the    head and  
weakness in the limbs remained in       
,september1 that ,i    thought it wiser 
to return to my medical advisers in     
,london4     ,i have consulted all the  
celebrated men who have written upon    
or studied the nervous system4 ,they all
 have a good opinion    of my case1 and 
they all order absolute repose for at   
least    twelve months longer1 and will 
not allow me to resume my    scientific 
duties or labours at present2 and they  
insist upon    my leaving ,london for   
the next three or four months1 and      
advise    a residence in the west of    
,england4 ,now1 my dear friend1 you     
recollect our conversation upon the     
subject of a residence--,i    think ,mr4

 ,c4's is not very far from you4 ,pray  
let me know    something on this head4  
,i want very little of any thing1 for ,i
    am almost on a vegetable diet2 and a
 little horse exercise1 a    very little
 shooting1 and a little quiet society1  
are what ,i am    in search of1 with    
some facilities of procuring books4 ,i  
have    thought of ,minehead1           
,ilfracombe1 ,lymouth1 and ,penzance2   
but ,i    have not yet determined the   
point4     ,horse exercise and shooting 
are necessary to bring back my    limbs 
to their former state1 and therefore    
,bath and ,brighton    will not do for  
me4 ,god bless you1 my dear ,poole1 and 
pray let    me hear from you4      ,your
 affectionate1     ,h4 ,,davy4          
,p4,s4 ,i hope you got the copy of my   
discourses4      ,,to ,,the ,,same4     
,firle1 near ,lewes1 ,nov4 #d1 #ahbg4   
,,my ,,dear ,,poole1     ,i have this   
moment received your very kind and most 
friendly    letter4 ,i have made my     
first visit to my friend ,lord ,g----1  

where ,i was taken ill last year2 and   
have borne the journey    well1 and have
 enjoyed the small society here2 but ,i 
am very    weak indeed1 and ,i cannot   
yet walk more than a mile4 ,one of      
three plans1 ,i shall hope to adopt2 two
 of them you have most    amiably       
suggested1 the other is to go to        
,penzance4 ,my only    objection to the 
last is the fear of too much society4   
,whatever    ,i do1 ,i will first come  
to you and take your advice4     ,when  
,i returned1 ,i had little hopes of     
recovery2 but the    assurances of my   
physicians that ,i may again1 with care1
 be    re-established1 have revived me1 
and ,i have certainly gained    ground1 
and gained strength1 by the plan ,i am  
now pursuing4     ,as soon as ,i return 
to ,london1 ,i will write to you4 ,if ,i
 can    find a companion1 ,i think ,mr4 
,c----'s house will do admirably2    but
 ,i must see it1 as a temperate         
situation is a sine qu non4     ,i need 
not say how grateful ,i am for your     

kindness1 and if    ,i recover1 how     
delighted ,i shall be to owe the means  
to so    excellent and invaluable a     
friend4 ,god bless you4      ,i am1 my  
dear ,poole1 your affectionate1      ,h4
 ,,davy4      ,,to ,,the ,,same4        
,firle1 ,nov4 #g4      ,,my ,,dear      
,,poole1     ,i am going to ,london     
to-morrow1 and after staying two or     
three days1 to try a new plan of medical
 treatment1 which my    physicians      
recommend1 ,i shall come westward1 and  
profit by your    kindness1 and adopt   
whichever of the plans will promise to  
be    most salutary4     ,if ,i take    
,mr4 ,c----'s house1 ,lady ,davy will   
come to me4 ,with    respect to society1
 ,i want only a friend1 or one person or
 two    at most1 to prevent entire      
solitude1 and ,i am too weak to bear    
much conversation1 and wholly unfit to  
receive any but persons    with whom ,i 
am in the habits of intimacy4     ,i can
 hardly express to you how deeply ,i    
feel your kindness4         99       99 

99       99       99     ,as ,i must    
travel slowly1 ,i shall not probably be 
at ,stowey    before ,wednesday or      
,thursday next4 ,pray do not ask any    
body    to meet me4 ,i am upon the      
strictest diet1--a wing of a    chicken 
and a plain rice or bread pudding is the
 extreme of my    gourmanderie4 ,god    
bless you4      ,my dear ,poole1 your   
affectionate friend1      ,h4 ,,davy4   
,mr4 ,poole has been so obliging as to  
communicate to me some interesting      
particulars connected with the visit to 
which the foregoing letters allude4     
,during this last visit1 7,november and 
,december #ahbg17 his bodily infirmity  
was very great1 and his sensibility was 
painfully alive on every occasion4      
,unhappily1 he had to sustain the       
affliction of the sudden death of ,mr4  
,r----1 the son of a friend whom he     
highly valued2 and though this          
afflicting event was1 by the considerate
 and anxious attention of ,lady ,davy1  
first communicated to me by letter1 to  

be imparted to him with every           
precaution1 to avoid his being suddenly 
shocked1 yet it was many days before he 
could recover his usual spirits1 feeble 
as they were1 and resume his wonted     
occupation4  ,on his arrival1 he said1  
',here ,i am1 the ruin of what ,i was2' 
but nevertheless1 the same activity and 
ardour of mind continued1 though        
directed to different objects4 ,he      
employed himself two or three hours in  
the morning on his ,salmonia1 which he  
was then writing2 he would afterwards   
take a short walk1 which he accomplished
 with difficulty1 or ride4 ,after       
dinner1 ,i used to read to him some     
amusing book4 ,we were particularly     
interested by ,southey's ,life of       
,nelson4 ',it would give ,southey1' he  
said1 'great pleasure1 if he knew how   
much his narrative affected us4'#ajh    
#ajh ,his admiration of this work bursts
 forth in his ,salmonia1   which he was 
writing at that time4 ,he styles it an  
immortal   monument raised by ,genius to

 ,valour4  ,in the evening1 ,mr4 and    
,mrs4 ,w----1 the former of whom he had 
long known1 frequently came to make a   
rubber at whist4 ,he was averse to      
seeing strangers2 but on being shown the
 drawings of ,natural ,history of a     
friend of mine of great talent1 ,mr4    
,baker of ,bridgwater1 he was anxious to
 know him1 and was much pleased with his
 company4 ,he suggested to him various  
subjects for investigation1 concerning  
insects1 and fish1 particularly the eel4
 ,what pleasure would it give him were  
he now alive1 to learn the interesting  
result of those suggestions6 ,i hope the
 public will soon be made acquainted    
with them4  ,natural ,history in general
 had been a favourite subject with him  
throughout his protracted illness2 and  
during this last visit to me1 he paid   
attention to that only2 'for1' said he1 
',i am prohibited applying1 and indeed  
,i am incapable of applying1 to any     
thing which requires severe attention4' 
,during the same visit1 ,i remember his 

inherent love of the laboratory1 if ,i  
may so express myself1 being manifested 
in a manner which much interested me at 
the moment4 ,on his visiting with me a  
gentleman in this neighbourhood1 who had
 offered him his house1 and who has an  
extensive philosophical apparatus1      
particularly complete in electricity and
 chemistry1 he was fatigued with the    
journey1 and as we were walking round   
the house very languidly1 a door opened1
 and we were in the laboratory4 ,he     
threw a glance around the room1 his eyes
 brightened in the action1 a glow came  
over his countenance1 and he looked like
 himself1 as he was accustomed to appear
 twenty years ago4  ,you are aware that 
he was latterly a good shot1 always an  
expert angler1 and a great admirer of   
old ,isaac ,walton2 and that he highly  
prided himself upon these               
accomplishments4 ,i used to laugh at    
him1 which he did not like2 but it      
amused me to see such a man give so much
 importance to those qualifications4 ,he

 would say1 ',it is not the sport only1 
though there is great pleasure in       
successful dexterity1#aji but it is the 
ardour of pursuit1 pure air1 the        
contemplation of a fine country1 and the
 exercise--all tend to invigorate the   
body1 and to excite the mind to its best
 efforts4'    #aji ,mr4 ,children has   
just communicated to me the following   
amusing anecdote1 which may be adduced  
in illustration of the   delight he took
 in that sporting dexterity to which he 
alludes   in the above passage4 ,davy1  
with a party of friends1 had   been     
engaged for several hours in fishing for
 pike1 but very   unsuccessfully2 our   
philosopher gave up the sport in        
despair1   but his companions having    
determined to try some more propitious  
spots1 left him to his contemplations4  
,about an hour afterwards1   ,mr4       
,children1 on returning to his friend1  
saw him at a distance   seated upon a   
gate1 and apparently lashing the air    
with his   fishing-line4 ,what could be 

his object8 ,as soon as ,mr4 ,children  
came sufficiently near to make a signal1
 ,davy1 by his gestures1   earnestly    
entreated him to keep away1 while he    
continued his   mysterious motions4 ,at 
length1 however1 ,mr4 ,children's       
patience   was exhausted1 and he walked 
up to him4 ,was ever any thing more     
provoking6 exclaimed ,davy2 if you had  
only remained quiet   another minute ,i 
should have caught him--it is most      
vexatious6   ,caught what8 asked ,mr4   
,children4 ,a dragon-fly1 7,libellula17 
answered ,davy4 ,during your absence ,i 
have been greatly amused by   watching  
the feeding habits of that insect1 and  
having observed   the eagerness with    
which they snapped up the little        
'midges1'   ,i determined to arm my hook
 with one1 and ,i can assure you ,i     
have had no small degree of sport2 and  
had it not been for your   unwelcome    
intrusion1 ,i should most undoubtedly   
have captured one   of them4  ,these    
amusements seemed to become more and    

more important in his estimation1 as his
 health declined4 ,it was affecting to  
observe the efforts he made to continue 
them with diminished strength4 ,from    
being unable to walk without fatigue for
 many hours1 he was1 when he came to me 
in ,november #ahbf1 obliged to have a   
pony to carry him to the field1 from    
which he dismounted only on the         
certainty of immediate sport4 ,in the   
following year1 he could only take short
 and occasional rides to the covers1    
with his dogs around him1 and his       
servant walking by his side and carrying
 his gun1 but which ,i believe he never 
fired4  ,during this visit1 he more than
 once observed1 ',i do not wish to live1
 as far as ,i am personally concerned2  
but ,i have views which ,i could        
develope1 if it pleased ,god to save my 
life1 which would be useful to science  
and to mankind4'  ,davy returned to town
 in ,december1 and after an interval    
wrote the following letter3      ,,to   
,,thomas ,,poole1 ,,esq4      ,park     

,street1 ,grosvenor ,square1 ,dec4 #bg1 
#ahbg4      ,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1
     ,i know no reason why ,i have not  
written to you4 ,it has been my         
intention every day1 and ,i have been   
every day prevented by the    sense of  
want of power1 which is so painful a    
symptom of my    malady4     ,i continue
 much as ,i was4 ,my physicians augur   
well1 and ,i have    some repose in the 
hopes connected with the indefinite     
future4    ,in the last twelve-month1   
which ,i hope is a large portion1 on    
the whole1 of my purgatory expiation for
 crimes of commission    or omission1   
the most cheerful1 or rather the least  
miserable1    days that ,i spent1 were a
 good deal owing to your kindness1      
which ,i shall never forget4 ,i would1  
if it were possible1 make    my letter  
something more than a mere bulletin of  
health1 or the    expression of the     
feelings of a sick man2 but ,i can      
communicate    no news4 ,the papers will
 tell you more than is true2 and our    

politicians seem ignorant of what they  
are to do at home1 much    more abroad4 
99       99       99       99       99  
,i have got for you a copy of my        
lectures on the ,chemistry    of        
,agriculture1 which ,i shall send to you
 by the first    opportunity4 ,god bless
 you1 my dear ,poole4      ,i am always 
your sincere1     ,grateful1 and        
affectionate friend1      ,h4 ,,davy4   
,in the letter which follows1 ,davy     
dwells upon a subject in ,natural       
,history1 which appears to have greatly 
occupied his thoughts1 and to have      
continued a predominant subject of his  
contemplation1 even to the latest day of
 his life4      ,,to ,,thomas ,,poole1  
,,esq4      ,park ,street1 ,january #a1 
#ahbh4      ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1     ,i
 write to you immediately1 because that 
part of your letter    which relates to 
,mr4 ,baker's pursuits interests me very
 much3    but before ,i begin on this   
subject1 ,i will give you a short       
bulletin of the state of my health4 ,i  

go on much as ,i did at    ,stowey1 and 
my physicians have made no alterations  
in the plan    of treatment3 ,i am not  
worse1 and they tell me ,i shall be     
better4 ,now for ,mr4 ,baker--,i am very
 glad that he is occupied    with those 
enquiries4 ,i am particularly anxious   
for information    on the generation of 
eels2 it is an unsolved problem since   
the time of ,aristotle4 ,i am sure that 
all eels come from the    sea1 where    
they are bred2 but there may be one or  
two species    or varieties of them4    
,what ,mr4 ,baker says about the        
difference    between the common eel and
 the conger is well worthy of           
attention2 but ,i have known changes    
more extraordinary than    the          
obliteration1 or destruction1 of a small
 tubular member    occasioned by        
difference of habits4     ,were the     
salt-water eels and the fresh-water eels
 which he    examined of the same size8 
,many individuals of various sizes      
should be examined to establish the fact

 of their specific    difference4 ,this 
would be the season for examining the   
genital    organs of eels1 for they     
breed in winter2 and were ,i a little   
better1 ,i should go to the sea for the 
purpose of making    enquiries on the   
subject4     ,sir ,everard ,home is     
firmly convinced that the animal is     
hermaphrodite and impregnates itself3   
this1 though possible1    appears to me 
very strange in so large an animal4 ,if 
,mr4 ,baker    will determine this      
point1 ,i can promise him an immortality
    amongst our philosophical anglers   
and natural historians2 and    if he    
will give us the history of water-flies1
 imitated by    fly-fishers1 he will    
command our immediate gratitude4        
,pray communicate this letter to him    
with my best wishes1 and    with my     
hopes that his talents1 which are very  
great1 will be    applied to enlighten  
us4     ,i can give you no news2 the    
weather is dreadful1 and the blacks     
and yellows are descending in fog4 ,i   

long for the fresh air of    your       
mountains4     ,god bless you1 my dear  
,poole4 ,many--many happy new years to  
you4 ,pray remember me1 with the        
compliments of this day1 to    your     
excellent neighbours at ,stowey4 ,your  
affectionate friend1      ,h4 ,,davy4   
,,to ,,the ,,same4      ,,my ,,dear     
,,poole1      ,park ,street1 ,march #bf4
     ,your letter has given me great    
pleasure2 first1 because you1    who are
 an enlightened judge in such matters1  
approve of my    humble contribution to 
agriculture2 and1 secondly1 because it  
makes me acquainted with your kind      
feelings1 health1 and ,mr4    ,baker's  
interesting pursuits4     ,mr4 ,baker   
appears to me to have distinctly        
established the    point that the eel   
and conger are of different species2 and
    from his zeal and activity1 ,i hope 
the curious problem of the    generation
 of these animals will be solved4 ,i    
shall expect with    impatience the     
results of his enquiries4     ,now for  

my health1 my very dear friend4 ,i wish 
,i could speak    more favourably2 ,i   
certainly do not lose ground1 but ,i am 
doubtful if ,i gain any2 but ,i do not  
despair4     ,i am going1 by the advice 
of my physicians1 to try another        
,continental journey4 ,if ,i get        
considerably better1 ,i shall    winter 
in ,italy1 where1 in this case1 ,i shall
 hope to see you1    and where ,i shall 
have an apartment ready for you in      
,rome4     ,i have not been idle since  
,i left your comfortable and            
hospitable house4 ,i have finished my   
,salmonia1 and sent it    to the        
press4--,flumina amo sylvasque          
inglorius4--,i do not    think you will 
be displeased with this little jeu of my
 sick    hours4     ,mr4 ,a---- was very
 amiable in calling on me4 ,there is    
nothing    that annoys me so much in my 
illness as my helplessness in not       
being able to indulge in society4       
,your grateful and affectionate friend1 
,h4 ,,davy4   ,we will now1 for a while1

 leave our philosopher to pursue his    
journey to ,italy1 while we take a      
review of his ,,salmonia2 the first     
edition of which was published in the   
,spring of #ahbh4 ,the second1 and much 
improved edition1#aaj from which ,i     
shall take my extracts1 is dated from   
,laybach1 ,illyria1 ,september #bh1     
#ahbh1 but which did not appear until   
#ahbi4    #aaj ,salmonia1 or ,days of   
,fly-fishing2 in a series   of          
,conversations2 with some account of the
 habits of   ,fishes belonging to the   
genus ,salmo4 ,by an ,angler4 ,second   
edition4--,london1 ,john ,murray1 #ahbi4
  ,we are told in the preface1 that     
these pages formed the occupation of the
 author during some months of severe and
 dangerous illness1 when he was wholly  
incapable of attending to more useful   
studies1 or of following more serious   
pursuits2--that they constituted his    
amusement in many hours1 which otherwise
 would have been unoccupied and         
tedious2--and that they are published in

 the hope that they may possess an      
interest for those persons who derive   
pleasure from the simplest and most     
attainable kind of rural sports1 and who
 practise the art1 or patronise the     
objects of contemplation1 of the        
philosophical angler4  ,he informs us   
that the conversational manner and      
discursive style were chosen as best    
suited to the state of health of the    
author1 who was incapable of            
considerable efforts and long continued 
attention2 and he adds1 that he could   
not but have in mind a model1 which has 
fully proved the utility and popularity 
of this method of treating this         
subject--,the ,complete ,angler1 by     
,walton and ,cotton4  ,the characters   
chosen to support these conversations1  
were ,,halieus1 who is supposed to be an
 accomplished fly-fisher--,,ornither1   
who is to be regarded as a gentleman    
generally fond of the sports of the     
field1 though not a finished master of  
the art of angling--,,poietes1 who is to

 be considered as an enthusiastic lover 
of nature1 and partially acquainted with
 the mysteries of fly-fishing2 and      
,,physicus1 who is described uninitiated
 as an angler1 but as a person fond of  
enquiries in natural history and        
philosophy4  ,such are the personages by
 whose aid the machinery is to be       
worked2 but he tells us that they are of
 course imaginary1 though the sentiments
 attributed to them1 the author may     
sometimes have gained from recollections
 of real conversations with friends1    
from whose society much of the happiness
 of his early life had been derived2 and
 he admits that1 in the portrait of the 
character of ,,halieus1 given in the    
last dialogue1 a likeness will not fail 
to be recognised to that of the         
character of a most estimable physician1
 ardently beloved by his friends1 and   
esteemed and venerated by the public4   
,the work is dedicated to ,dr4          
,babington1 in remembrance of some      
delightful days passed in his society1  

and in gratitude for an uninterrupted   
friendship of a quarter of a century4   
,i am informed by ,lady ,davy1 that the 
engravings of the fish1 by which the    
work is illustrated1 are from drawings  
of his own execution2 so that he could  
not1 like old ,isaac ,walton1 take the  
liberty to commend the excellent        
pictures to him that likes not the book1
 because they concern not himself4  ,it 
has frequently happened that1 while     
works of deep importance have justly    
conferred celebrity upon the author1 his
 minor productions have been entirely   
indebted to his name for their          
popularity1 and to his authority for    
their value4 ,this1 however1 cannot be  
said of ,salmonia1 for it possesses the 
stamp of original genius1 and bears     
internal evidence of a talent flowing   
down from a very high source of         
intelligence4 ,in a scientific point of 
view1 it exhibits that penetrating      
observation by which a gifted mind is   
enabled to extract out of the most      

ordinary facts and every-day incidents1 
novel views and hidden truths2 while it 
shows that a humble art 7,i beg pardon  
of the brothers of the ,angle7 may1     
through the skill of the master1 be made
 the means of calling forth the         
affections of the heart1 and of         
reflecting all the colours of the fancy4
 ,by regarding the work in relation to  
the history and condition of its author1
 it certainly acquires much additional  
interest4 ,the familiar and inviting    
style of the dialogue1 whenever he      
discusses questions of natural history1 
must convince us that he was as well    
calculated to instruct in the ,lyceum1  
as we long since knew him to be to teach
 in the ,academy4  ,composed in the hour
 of sickness and prostration1 the work  
displays throughout its composition a   
tone of dignified morality and an       
expansion of feeling1 which may be      
regarded as in unison with a mind       
chastened but not subdued1 and looking  
forward to a better state of existence4 

,i envy1 says he1 no quality of the mind
 or intellect in others2 be it genius1  
power1 wit1 or fancy3 but if ,i could   
choose what would be most delightful1   
and ,i believe most useful to me1 ,i    
should prefer a firm religious belief to
 every other blessing2 for it makes life
 a discipline of goodness2 creates new  
hopes1 when all earthly hopes vanish2   
and throws over the decay1 the          
destruction of existence1 the most      
gorgeous of all lights2 awakens life    
even in death1 and from corruption and  
decay calls up beauty and divinity2     
makes an instrument of torture and of   
shame the ladder of ascent to paradise2 
and1 far above all combinations of      
earthly hopes1 calls up the most        
delightful visions of palms and         
amaranths1 the gardens of the blest1 the
 security of everlasting joys1 where the
 sensualist and the sceptic view only   
gloom1 decay1 annihilation1 and despair6
  ,while describing an animated scene of
 insect enjoyment1 he bursts into an    

apostrophe1 highly characteristic of    
that quick and happy talent for seizing 
analogies1 which so eminently           
distinguished all his writings4 ,i shall
 quote the passage4  ,physicus4--,since 
the sun has disappeared1 the cool of the
 evening has1 ,i suppose1 driven the    
little winged plunderers to their homes2
 but see1 there are two or three humble 
bees which seem languid with the cold1  
and yet they have their tongues still in
 the fountain of honey4 ,i believe one  
of them is actually dead1 yet his mouth 
is still attached to the flower4 ,he has
 fallen asleep1 and probably died whilst
 making his last meal of ambrosia4      
,ornither4--,what an enviable destiny1  
quitting life in the moment of          
enjoyment1 following an instinct1 the   
gratification of which has been always  
pleasurable6 so beneficent are the laws 
of ,divine ,wisdom4  ,physicus4--,like  
,ornither1 ,i consider the destiny of   
this insect as desirable1 and ,i cannot 
help regarding the end of human life as 

most happy1 when terminated under the   
impulse of some strong energetic        
feeling1 similar in its nature to an    
instinct4 ,i should not wish to die like
 ,attila1 in a moment of gross sensual  
enjoyment2 but the death of ,epaminondas
 or ,nelson1 in the arms of victory1    
their whole attention absorbed in the   
love of glory1 and of their country1 ,i 
think really enviable4  ,poietes4--,i   
consider the death of the martyr or the 
saint as far more enviable2 for1 in this
 case1 what may be considered as a      
,divine instinct of our nature is called
 into exertion1 and pain is subdued1 or 
destroyed1 by a secure faith in the     
power and mercy of the ,divinity4 ,in   
such cases1 man rises above mortality1  
and shows his true intellectual         
superiority4 ,by intellectual           
superiority1 ,i mean that of his        
spiritual nature1 for ,i do not consider
 the results of reason as capable of    
being compared with those of faith4     
,reason is often a dead weight in life1 

destroying feeling1 and substituting1   
for principle1 calculation and caution2 
and1 in the hour of death1 it often     
produces fear or despondency1 and is    
rather a bitter draught than nectar or  
ambrosia in the last meal of life4      
,halieus4--,i agree with ,poietes4 ,the 
higher and more intense the feeling     
under which death takes place1 the      
happier it may be esteemed2 and ,i think
 even ,physicus will be of our opinion1 
when ,i recollect the conclusion of a   
conversation in ,scotland4 ,the immortal
 being never can quit life with so much 
pleasure as with the feeling of         
immortality secure1 and the vision of   
celestial glory filling the mind1       
affected by no other passion than the   
pure and intense love of ,god4  ,we are 
not to suppose that1 however soothing   
and consolatory such feelings and hopes 
may have been1 they weaned him from the 
world1 or diminished his natural love of
 life2 on the contrary1 no one would    
have more gratefully received the       

services of a ,medea1 as the following  
passage will sufficiently testify4 ,ah6 
could ,i recover any thing like that    
freshness of mind which ,i possessed at 
twenty-five1 and which1 like the dew of 
the dawning morning1 covered all objects
 and nourished all things that grew1 and
 in which they were more beautiful even 
than in midday sunshine1--what would ,i 
not give6 ,all that ,i have gained in an
 active and not unprofitable life4 ,how 
well ,i remember that delightful season1
 when1 full of power1 ,i sought for     
power in others2 and power was sympathy1
 and sympathy power2--when the dead and 
the unknown1 the great of other ages and
 of distant places were made1 by the    
force of the imagination1 my companions 
and friends2--when every voice seemed   
one of praise and love2--when every     
flower had the bloom and odour of the   
rose2 and every spray or plant seemed   
either the poet's laurel1 or the civic  
oak--which appeared to offer themselves 
as wreaths to adorn my throbbing brow4  

,but1 alas6 this cannot be4----  ,after 
the example of the great ,patriarch of  
,anglers1 the author of ,salmonia       
commences1 through the assistance of the
 principal interlocutor of the dialogue1
 ,,halieus1 to enumerate the delights of
 his art1 and to vindicate it from the  
charge of cruelty4  ,halieus4--,the     
search after food is an instinct        
belonging to our nature2 and from the   
savage in his rudest and most primitive 
state1 who destroys a piece of game1 or 
a fish1 with a club or spear1 to man in 
the most cultivated state of society1   
who employs artifice1 machinery1 and the
 resources of various other animals1 to 
secure his object1 the origin of the    
pleasure is similar1 and its object the 
same3 but that kind of it requiring most
 art may be said to characterize man in 
his highest or intellectual state2 and  
the fisher for salmon and trout with the
 fly employs not only machinery to      
assist his physical powers1 but applies 
sagacity to conquer difficulties2 and   

the pleasure derived from ingenious     
resources and devices1 as well as from  
active pursuit1 belongs to this         
amusement4 ,then1 as to its             
philosophical tendency1 it is a pursuit 
of moral discipline1 requiring patience1
 forbearance1 and command of temper4 ,as
 connected with natural science1 it may 
be vaunted as demanding a knowledge of  
the habits of a considerable tribe of   
created beings1--fishes1 and the animals
 that they prey upon1 and an            
acquaintance with the signs and tokens  
of the weather1 and its changes1 the    
nature of waters1 and of the atmosphere4
 ,as to its poetical relations1 it      
carries us into the most wild and       
beautiful scenery of nature2 amongst the
 mountain lakes1 and the clear and      
lovely streams that gush from the higher
 ranges of elevated hills1 or that make 
their way through the cavities of       
calcareous strata4 ,how delightful in   
the early spring1 after the dull and    
tedious time of winter1 when the frosts 

disappear and the sunshine warms the    
earth and waters1 to wander forth by    
some clear stream1 to see the leaf      
bursting from the purple bud1 to scent  
the odours of the bank perfumed by the  
violet1 and enamelled1 as it were1 with 
the primrose and the daisy2 to wander   
upon the fresh turf below the shade of  
trees1 whose bright blossoms are filled 
with the music of the bee2 and on the   
surface of the waters to view the gaudy 
flies sparkling like animated gems in   
the sunbeams1 whilst the bright and     
beautiful trout is watching them from   
below2 to hear the twittering of the    
water birds1 who1 alarmed at your       
approach1 rapidly hide themselves       
beneath the flowers and leaves of the   
water-lily2 and1 as the season advances1
 to find all these objects changed for  
others of the same kind1 but better and 
brighter1 till the swallow and the trout
 contend1 as it were1 for the gaudy     
,mayfly1 and till1 in pursuing your     
amusement in the calm and balmy evening1

 you are serenaded by the songs of the  
cheerful thrush and melodious           
nightingale1 performing the offices of  
paternal love1 in thickets ornamented   
with the rose and woodbine4  ,on        
vindicating the pursuit from the charge 
of cruelty1 he has advanced an argument 
that has not been commonly adduced upon 
this occasion4 ,we have indeed all      
heard1 that the operation of skinning is
 a matter of indifference to eels when  
they are used to it2 but we are now told
 fish are so little annoyed by the hook1
 that though a trout has been hooked and
 played with for some minutes1 he will  
often1 after his escape with the        
artificial fly in his mouth1 take the   
natural fly1 and feed as if nothing had 
happened2 having apparently learnt only 
from the experiment1 that the artificial
 fly is not proper food4 ,i have caught 
pikes with four or five hooks in their  
mouths1 and tackle which they had broken
 only a few minutes before2 and the     
hooks seemed to have had no other effect

 than that of serving as a sort of sauce
 piquante1 urging them to seize another 
morsel of the same kind4  ,our author1  
however1 takes a more special defence1  
by observing that1 unlike old ,isaac1 he
 employs an artificial fly1 instead of a
 living bait4 ,our notions about the    
cruelty of field sports is extremely    
capricious4 ,until the time of the      
,reformation1 the canon law prohibited  
the use of the sanguinary recreations of
 hunting1 hawking1 and fowling1 while   
the clergy1 on account of their leisure1
 were allowed to exercise the harmless  
and humane art of angling4 ,in later    
days1 the indignation against this art  
has been excited by the supposed        
sufferings of the worm or bait1 rather  
than by those of the fish2 and thus far 
the author of ,salmonia assumed a strong
 posture of defence2 but he did not     
avail himself of all the advantages it  
commanded4 ,he might have pleaded1 that 
every fish he caught by his artificial  
fly was destined to prey upon an insect1

 and that by substituting a piece of    
silk for the latter1 he would for every 
fish he might destroy1 save from        
destruction many of those fairy beings  
that animate the air and sparkle in the 
sunbeam2--but it is1 after all1 folly to
 argue upon the subject of cruelty in   
our field sports4 ,that animals should  
live by preying upon each other is the  
very basis of the scheme of creation2   
and in these days it is not necessary to
 expose the absurdities of the system of
 ,samos and ,indostan4 ,dr4 ,franklin1  
at one period of his life1 entertained a
 sentimental abhorrence at eating any   
thing that had possessed life2 and the  
reader may1 perhaps1 not object to be   
reminded of the manner in which he was  
cured of his prejudice4 ,i considered1  
says he1 the capture of every fish as a 
sort of murder1 committed without       
provocation1 since these animals had    
neither done1 nor were capable of doing1
 the smallest injury to any one that    
should justify the measure4 ,this mode  

of reasoning ,i conceived to be         
unanswerable4 ,meanwhile1 ,i had        
formerly been extremely fond of fish2   
and when one of the cod was taken out of
 the frying-pan1 ,i thought its flavour 
delicious4 ,i hesitated some time       
between principle and inclination1 till 
at last recollecting that1 when the cod 
had been opened1 some small fish were   
found in its belly1 ,i said to myself1  
',if you eat each other1 ,i see no      
reason why we may not eat you1'--7,his  
wish was father to that thought7--,i    
accordingly dined on the cod with no    
small degree of pleasure1 and have since
 continued to eat like the rest of      
mankind4  ,,halieus is made to admit the
 danger of analysing too closely the    
moral character of any of our field     
sports2 and yet1 in the concluding      
chapter1 he very unfairly and           
inconsistently attempts to ridicule the 
pursuit of a fox-hunter1 risking his    
neck to see the hounds destroy an animal
 which he preserves to be destroyed1 and

 which is good for nothing4 ,he who     
pursues a pleasure because it is        
rational1 reasons because he cannot     
feel4 ,when the heart1 says ,sterne1    
flies out before the understanding1 it  
saves the judgment a world of pains4    
,having1 as the author thinks           
satisfactorily1 settled the preliminary 
questions1 ,,halieus1 succeeds in       
persuading ,,physicus to join him in    
fishing excursions2 just as ,piscator is
 represented by old ,isaac1 as having   
enlisted ,venator into the brotherhood  
of the angle4  ,the dialogue now        
proceeds with great animation1 during   
which the art and mystery of ,piscatory 
tactics are unfolded with great skill2  
for the details of which the reader must
 be referred to the work itself4 ,if1   
however1 he be not already an angler1 it
 may save him a world of pains to be    
informed1 that to learn to fish by the  
book is little less absurd than to make 
hay by the fair days in the almanack4   
,the manner in which he treats the      

various subjects of natural history     
necessarily connected with the pursuit  
is both amusing and instructive2 and the
 whole work is studded and gemmed1 as it
 were1 with the most poetical           
descriptions4  ,in speaking of the      
swallow1 ,poietes exclaims--,i delight  
in this living landscape6 ,the swallow  
is one of my favourite birds1 and a     
rival of the nightingale2 for he cheers 
my sense of seeing as much as the other 
does my sense of hearing4 ,he is the    
glad prophet of the year1 the harbinger 
of the best season3 he lives a life of  
enjoyment amongst the loveliest forms of
 nature3 winter is unknown to him2 and  
he leaves the green meadows of ,england 
in autumn1 for the myrtle and orange    
groves of ,italy1 and for the palms of  
,africa3 he has always objects of       
pursuit1 and his success is secure4     
,even the beings selected for his prey  
are poetical1 beautiful1 and transient4 
,the ephemer are saved by his means from
 a slow and lingering death in the      

evening1 and killed in a moment1 when   
they have known nothing of life but     
pleasure4 ,he is the constant destroyer 
of insects--the friend of man2 and1 with
 the stork and the ibis1 may be regarded
 as a sacred bird4 ,his instinct1 which 
gives him his appointed seasons1 and    
teaches him always when and where to    
move1 may be regarded as flowing from a 
divine source2 and he belongs to the    
oracles of ,nature1 which speak the     
awful and intelligible language of a    
present ,deity4  ,poietes considers a   
full and clear river as the most        
poetical object in ,nature4--,i will not
 fail to obey your summons4 ,pliny has1 
as well as ,i recollect1 compared a     
river to human life4 ,i have never read 
the passage in his works2 but ,i have   
been a hundred times struck with the    
analogy1 particularly amidst mountain   
scenery4 ,the river1 small and clear in 
its origin1 gushes forth from rocks1    
falls into deep glens1 and wantons and  
meanders through a wild and picturesque 

country1 nourishing only the            
uncultivated tree or flower by its dew  
or spray4 ,in this1 its state of infancy
 and youth1 it may be compared to the   
human mind1 in which fancy and strength 
of imagination are predominant--it is   
more beautiful than useful4 ,when the   
different rills or torrents join1 and   
descend into the plain1 it becomes slow 
and stately in its motions2 it is       
applied to move machinery1 to irrigate  
meadows1 and to bear upon its bosom the 
stately barge2--in this mature state it 
is deep1 strong1 and useful4 ,as it     
flows on towards the sea1 it loses its  
force and its motion1 and at last1 as it
 were1 becomes lost1 and mingled with   
the mighty abyss of waters4  ,halieus   
adds--,one might pursue the metaphor    
still farther1 and say1 that in its     
origin--its thundering and foam1 when it
 carries down clay from the bank1 and   
becomes impure1 it resembles the        
youthful mind1 affected by dangerous    
passions4 ,and the influence of a lake1 

in calming and clearing the turbid      
water1 may be compared to the effect of 
reason in more mature life1 when the    
tranquil1 deep1 cool1 and unimpassioned 
mind is freed from its fever1 its       
troubles1 bubbles1 noise1 and foam4     
,and1 above all1 the sources of a       
river--which may be considered as       
belonging to the atmosphere--and its    
termination in the ocean1 may be        
regarded as imaging the divine origin of
 the human mind1 and its being          
ultimately returned to1 and lost in1 the
 infinite and eternal ,intelligence from
 which it originally sprang4  ,halieus  
offers some curious observations with   
respect to the recollection of fish     
being associated with surrounding       
objects4  ,i have known a fish that ,i  
have pricked retain his station in the  
river1 and refuse the artificial fly1   
day after day1 for weeks together2 but  
his memory may have been kept awake by  
this practice1 and the recollection     
seems local1 and associated with        

surrounding objects2 and if a pricked   
trout is chased into another pool1 he   
will1 ,i believe1 soon again take the   
artificial fly4 ,or1 if the objects     
around him are changed1 as in autumn1 by
 the decay of weeds1 or by their being  
cut1 the same thing happens2 and a flood
 or a rough wind1 ,i believe1 assists   
the fly-fisher1 not merely by obscuring 
the vision of the fish1 but1 in a river 
much fished1 by changing the appearance 
of their haunts3 large trouts almost    
always occupy particular stations1      
under1 or close to1 a large stone or    
tree2 and probably1 most of their       
recollected sensations are connected    
with this dwelling4  ,physicus4--,i     
think ,i understand you1 that the memory
 of the danger and pain does not last   
long1 unless there is a permanent       
sensation with which it can remain      
associated1--such as the station of the 
trout2 and that the recollection of the 
mere form of the artificial fly1 without
 this association1 is evanescent4       

,ornither4--,you are diving into        
metaphysics2 yet1 ,i think1 in fowling1 
,i have observed that the memory of     
birds is local4 ,a woodcock that has    
been much shot at and scared in a       
particular wood1 runs to the side where 
he has usually escaped1 the moment he   
hears the dogs2 but if driven into a new
 wood1 he seems to lose his acquired    
habits of caution1 and becomes stupid4  
,in alluding to the migrations of       
fishes1 ,physicus observes1 ,that he has
 always considered that the two great   
sources of change of place of animals1  
was the providing of food for           
themselves1 and resting-places and food 
for their young4 ,the great supposed    
migrations of herrings from the poles to
 the temperate zone appear to be only   
the approach of successive shoals from  
deep to shallow water1 for the purpose  
of spawning4 ,the migrations of salmon  
and trout are evidently for the purpose 
of depositing their ova1 or of finding  
food after they have spawned4  ,in      

explaining the circumstances which      
render a migration into shallow water   
necessary for the developement of the   
ova1 ,davy evidently bears in mind the  
result of his very first experiment4#aaa
    #aaa ,vol4 i4 page #dj4  ,carp1     
perch1 and pike1 deposit their ova in   
still water1 in spring and summer1 when 
it is supplied with air by the growth of
 vegetables2 and it is to the leaves of 
plants1 which afford a continual supply 
of oxygen to the water1 that the        
impregnated eggs usually adhere4 ,again3
 ,fish in spawning-time always approach 
great shallows1 or shores covered with  
weeds1 which1 in the process of their   
growth1 under the influence of the      
sunshine1 constantly supply pure air to 
the water in contact with them4  ,the   
following passage will afford a good    
specimen of the familiar dialogue1 while
 it will convey to the reader some      
curious facts connected with the        
influence of sunshine4                  
,halieus4--,well1 gentlemen1 what sport8

  ,poietes4--,the fish are rising every 
where2 but though we have been throwing 
over them with all our skill for a      
quarter of an hour1 yet not a single one
 will take2 and ,i am afraid we shall   
return to breakfast without our prey4   
,halieus4--,i will try2 but ,i shall go 
to the other side1 where ,i see a very  
large fish rising--,there6--,i have him 
at the very first throw--,land this     
fish1 and put him into the well4 ,now1  
,i have another2 and ,i have no doubt ,i
 could take half-a-dozen in this very   
place1 where you have been so long in   
fishing without success4                
,physicus4--,you must have a different  
fly2 or1 have you some unguent or charm 
to tempt the fish8  ,halieus4--,no such 
thing4 ,if any of you will give me your 
rod and fly1 ,i will answer for it4 ,i  
shall have the same success4 ,i take    
your rod1 ,physicus--and lo6 ,i have a  
fish6  ,physicus4--,what can be the     
reason of this8 ,it is perfectly        
inexplicable to me4 ,yet ,poietes seems 

to throw as light as you do1 and as well
 as he did yesterday4  ,halieus4--,i am 
surprised that you1 who are a           
philosopher1 cannot discover the reason 
of this--,think a little4  ,all4--,we   
cannot4  ,halieus4--,as you are my      
scholars1 ,i believe ,i must teach you4 
,the sun is bright1 and you have been1  
naturally enough1 fishing with your     
backs to the sun1 which1 not being very 
high1 has thrown the shadows of your    
rods and yourselves upon the water1 and 
you have alarmed the fish1 wherever you 
have thrown a fly4 ,you see1 ,i have    
fished with my face towards the sun1 and
 though inconvenienced by the light1    
have given no alarm4 ,follow my example1
 and you will soon have sport1 as there 
is a breeze playing on the water4       
,physicus4--,your sagacity puts me in   
mind of an anecdote which ,i remember to
 have heard respecting the late eloquent
 statesman1 ,charles ,james ,fox2 who1  
walking up ,bond ,street from one of the
 club-houses with an illustrious        

personage1 laid him a wager1 that he    
would see more cats than the ,prince in 
his walk1 and that he might take which  
side of the way he liked4 ,when they got
 to the top1 it was found1 that ,mr4    
,fox had seen thirteen cats1 and the    
,prince not one4 ,the ,royal personage  
asked for an explanation of this        
apparent miracle1 and ,mr4 ,fox said1   
',your ,royal ,highness took1 of course1
 the shady side of the way1 as most     
agreeable2 ,i knew that the sunny side  
would be left to me1--and cats always   
prefer the sunshine4'                   
,halieus4--,there6 ,poietes1 by         
following my advice1 you have           
immediately hooked a fish2 and while you
 are catching a brace1 ,i will tell you 
an anecdote1 which as much relates to   
fly-fishing as that of ,physicus1 and   
affords an elucidation of a particular  
effect of light4  ,a manufacturer of    
carmine1 who was aware of the           
superiority of the ,french colour1 went 
to ,lyons for the purpose of improving  

his process1 and bargained with the most
 celebrated manufacturer in that capital
 for the acquisition of his secret1 for 
which he was to pay a thousand pounds4  
,he was shown all the processes1 and saw
 a beautiful colour produced1 yet he    
found not the least difference in the   
,french mode of fabrication and that    
which he had constantly adopted4 ,he    
appealed to the manufacturer1 and       
insisted that he must have concealed    
something4 ,the manufacturer assured him
 that he had not1 and invited him to see
 the process a second time4 ,he minutely
 examined the water and the materials1  
which were the same as his own1 and1    
very much surprised1 said1 ',i have lost
 my labour and my money1 for the air of 
,england does not permit us to make good
 carmine4'--',stay1' says the           
,frenchman1 'do not deceive yourself2   
what kind of weather is it now8'--',a   
bright1 sunny day1' said the            
,englishman4--',and such are the days1' 
said the ,frenchman1 'on which ,i make  

my colour4 ,were ,i to attempt to       
manufacture it on a dark or cloudy day1 
my result would be the same as yours4   
,let me advise you1 my friend1 always to
 make carmine on bright and sunny       
days4'--',i will1' says the ,englishman1
 'but ,i fear ,i shall make very little 
in ,london4'  ,poietes4--,your anecdote 
is as much to the purpose as            
,physicus's2 yet ,i am much obliged to  
you for the hint respecting the effect  
of shadow1 for ,i have several times1 in
 ,may and ,june1 had to complain of too 
clear a sky1 and wished1 with ,cotton1  
for      ',a day with not too bright a  
beam2     ,a warm1 but not a scorching  
sun4'  ,a very amusing and philosophical
 conversation on those natural          
phenomena1 which have been vulgarly     
viewed as prophetic of dry or wet       
weather1 may be well adduced as         
illustrative of that genius which1 by   
the aid of a light of its own1 imparts  
to the most trite objects all the charms
 of novelty4  ,poietes4--,i hope we     

shall have another good day to-morrow1  
for the clouds are red in the west4     
,physicus4--,i have no doubt of it1 for 
the red has a tint of purple4           
,halieus4--,do you know why this tint   
portends fine weather8  ,physicus4--,the
 air when dry1 ,i believe1 refracts more
 red1 or heat-making rays2 and as dry   
air is not perfectly transparent1 they  
are again reflected in the horizon4 ,i  
have generally observed a coppery or    
yellow sunset to foretell rain2 but1 as 
an indication of wet weather            
approaching1 nothing is more certain    
than a halo round the moon1 which is    
produced by the precipitated water2 and 
the larger the circle1 the nearer the   
clouds1 and consequently the more ready 
to fall4  ,halieus4--,i have often      
observed1 that the old proverb is       
correct--      ',a rainbow in the       
morning is the shepherd's warning2      
,a rainbow at night is the shepherd's   
delight4'  --,can you explain this omen8
  ,physicus4--,a rainbow can only occur 

when the clouds containing or depositing
 the rain are opposite to the sun2 and  
in the evening the rainbow is in the    
east1 and in the morning in the west2   
and as our heavy rains in this climate  
are usually brought by the westerly     
wind1 a rainbow in the west indicates   
that the bad weather is on the road1 by 
the wind1 to us2 whereas the rainbow in 
the east proves1 that the rain in these 
clouds is passing from us4              
,poietes4--,i have often observed1 that 
when the swallows fly high1 fine weather
 is to be expected or continued2 but    
when they fly low and close to the      
ground1 rain is almost surely           
approaching4 ,can you account for this8 
,halieus4--,swallows follow the flies   
and gnats1 and flies and gnats usually  
delight in warm strata of air2 and as   
warm air is lighter1 and usually moister
 than cold air1 when the warm strata of 
air are high1 there is less chance of   
moisture being thrown down from them by 
the mixture with cold air2 but when the 

warm and moist air is close to the      
surface1 it is almost certain1 that as  
the cold air flows down into it1 a      
deposition of water will take place4    
,poietes4--,i have often seen sea-gulls 
assemble on the land1 and have almost   
always observed1 that very stormy and   
rainy weather was approaching4 ,i       
conclude that these animals1 sensible of
 a current of air approaching from the  
ocean1 retire to the land to shelter    
themselves from the storm4              
,ornither4--,no such thing4 ,the storm  
is their element2 and the little petrel 
enjoys the heaviest gale2 because1      
living on the smaller sea insects1 he is
 sure to find his food in the spray of a
 heavy wave4 ,and you may see him       
flitting above the edge of the highest  
surge4 ,i believe that the reason of the
 migration of sea-gulls and other sea   
birds to the land1 is their security of 
finding food4 ,they may be observed1 at 
this time1 feeding greedily on the earth
 worms and larv driven out of the ground

 by severe floods2 and the fish on which
 they prey in fine weather in the sea1  
leave the surface when storms prevail1  
and go deeper4 ,the search after food1  
as we agreed on a former occasion1 is   
the principal cause why animals change  
their places4 ,the different tribes of  
the wading birds always migrate when    
rain is about to take place2 and ,i     
remember once in ,italy having been long
 waiting1 in the end of ,march1 for the 
arrival of the double snipe in the      
,campagna of ,rome3 a great flight      
appeared on the #crd of ,april1 and the 
day after heavy rain set in1 which      
greatly interfered with my sport4 ,the  
vulture1 upon the same principle1       
follows armies2 and ,i have no doubt1   
that the augury of the ancients was a   
good deal founded upon the observation  
of the instincts of birds4 ,there are   
many superstitions of the vulgar owing  
to the same source4 ,for anglers1 in    
spring1 it is always unlucky to see     
single magpies2 but two may be always   

regarded as a favourable omen2 and the  
reason is1 that in cold and stormy      
weather1 one magpie alone leaves the    
nest in search of food1 the other       
remaining sitting upon the eggs or the  
young ones2 but when two go out         
together1 the weather is warm and mild1 
and thus favourable for fishing4        
,poietes4--,the singular connexions of  
cause and effect1 to which you have just
 referred1 make superstition less to be 
wondered at1 particularly amongst the   
vulgar2 and when two facts1 naturally   
unconnected1 have been accidentally     
coincident1 it is not singular that this
 coincidence should have been observed  
and registered1 and that omens of the   
most absurd kind should be trusted in4  
,in the ,west of ,england1 half a       
century ago1 a particular hollow noise  
on the sea-coast was referred to a      
spirit or goblin1 called ,bucca1 and was
 supposed to foretell a shipwreck2 the  
philosopher knows1 that sound travels   
much faster than currents in the        

air--and the sound always foretold the  
approach of a very heavy storm1 which   
seldom takes place on that wild and     
rocky coast1 surrounded as it is by the 
,atlantic1 without a shipwreck on some  
part of its extensive shores4#aab       
#aab ,davy might also have adduced an   
equally striking   superstition1 in     
illustration of his subject1 from the   
,cornish   mines4 ,the miners not       
unfrequently hear the echo of their own 
pickaxes1 which they attribute to little
 fairies at work1 and   consider it as a
 happy omen4 ,they say upon such        
occasions1 that   there will be good    
luck1 as the ,piskeys are at work4 ,it  
is well   known that the echo depends   
upon some cavity in the vicinity of     
the workmen1--and a cavity1 or vogue1 is
 always an indication of   subterranean 
wealth4  ,physicus4--,all the instances 
of omens you have mentioned are founded 
on reason2 but how can you explain such 
absurdities as ,friday being an unlucky 
day1 the terror of spilling salt1 or    

meeting an old woman8 ,i knew a man of  
very high dignity1 who was exceedingly  
moved by these omens1 and who never went
 out shooting without a bittern's claw  
fastened to his button-hole by a        
riband--which he thought ensured him    
good luck4  ,poietes4--,these1 as well  
as the omens of deathwatches1 dreams1 c4
 are for the most part founded upon some
 accidental coincidences2 but spilling  
of salt1 on an uncommon occasion1 may1  
as ,i have known it1 arise from a       
disposition to apoplexy1 shown by an    
incipient numbness in the hand1 and may 
be a fatal symptom2 and persons         
dispirited by bad omens sometimes       
prepare the way for evil fortune2 for   
confidence in success is a great means  
of insuring it4 ,the dream of ,brutus1  
before the field of ,philippi1 probably 
produced a species of irresolution and  
despondency1 which was the principal    
cause of his losing the battle2 and ,i  
have heard1 that the illustrious        
sportsman1 to whom you referred just    

now1 was always observed to shoot ill1  
because he shot carelessly1 after one of
 his dispiriting omens4  ,halieus4--,i  
have in life met with a few things which
 ,i found it impossible to explain1     
either by chance1 coincidences1 or by   
natural connexions2 and ,i have known   
minds of a very superior class affected 
by them1--persons in the habit of       
reasoning deeply and profoundly4        
,physicus4--,in my opinion1 profound    
minds are the most likely to think      
lightly of the resources of human       
reason2 it is the pert1 superficial     
thinker who is generally strongest in   
every kind of unbelief4 ,the deep       
philosopher sees chains of causes and   
effects so wonderfully and strangely    
linked together1 that he is usually the 
last person to decide upon the          
impossibility of any two series of      
events being independent of each other2 
and in science1 so many natural         
miracles1 as it were1 have been brought 
to light1--such as the fall of stones   

from meteors in the atmosphere1 the     
disarming a thunder-cloud by a metallic 
point1 the production of fire from ice  
by a metal white as silver1 and         
referring certain laws of motion of the 
sea to the moon1--that the physical     
enquirer is seldom disposed to assert1  
confidently1 on any abstruse subjects   
belonging to the order of natural       
things1 and still less so on those      
relating to the more mysterious         
relations of moral events and           
intellectual natures4  ,old ,isaac      
,walton has amused us with a variety of 
absurd fables and superstitions3 the    
author of ,salmonia1 on the other hand1 
touches1 as with the spear of ,ithuriel1
 the monsters and prodigies of the older
 writers1 and they at once assume the   
forms of well-ascertained animals1 or   
vegetables4 ,the sea snake seen by      
,american and ,norwegian captains1      
appears as a company of porpoises1 which
 in their gambols1 by rising and sinking
 in lines1 would give somewhat the      

appearance of the coils of a snake4 ,the
 ,kraken1 or island fish1 is reduced    
into an assemblage of urtic marin1 or   
sea blubbers4 ,the ,mermaid1 into the   
long-haired seal2#aac and lastly1 the   
celebrated ,caithness ,mermaid assumes  
the unpoetical form of a stout young    
traveller2--but this story is far too   
amusing to be dismissed with a passing  
notice4    #aac ,a pretended ,mermaid   
was exhibited some time since in        
,london1 said to have been caught in the
 ,chinese seas4 ,it was soon            
discovered to have been manufactured by 
joining together the head   and bust of 
two different apes to the lower part of 
a kipper   salmon1 which had the fleshy 
fin1 and all the distinct characters    
of the ,salmo ,salar4  ,a worthy        
,baronet1 remarkable for his benevolent 
views and active spirit1 has propagated 
a story of this kind1 and he seems to   
claim for his native country the honour 
of possessing this extraordinary animal2
 but the mermaid of ,caithness was      

certainly a gentleman1 who happened to  
be travelling on that wild shore1 and   
who was seen bathing by some young      
ladies at so great a distance1 that not 
only genus but gender was mistaken4 ,i  
am acquainted with him1 and have had the
 story from his own mouth4 ,he is a     
young man1 fond of geological pursuits1 
and one day in the middle of ,august1   
having fatigued and heated himself by   
climbing a rock to examine a particular 
appearance of granite1 he gave his      
clothes to his ,highland guide1 who was 
taking care of his pony1 and descended  
to the sea4 ,the sun was just setting1  
and he amused himself for some time by  
swimming from rock to rock1 and having  
unclipped hair and no cap1 he sometimes 
threw aside his locks1 and wrung the    
water from them on the rocks4 ,he       
happened the year after to be at        
,harrowgate1 and was sitting at table   
with two young ladies from ,caithness1  
who were relating to a wondering        
audience the story of the mermaid they  

had seen1 which had already been        
published in the newspapers3 they       
described her1 as she usually is        
described by poets1 as a beautiful      
animal with remarkably fair skin and    
long green hair4 ,the young gentleman   
took the liberty1 as most of the rest of
 the company did1 to put a few questions
 to the elder of the two ladies1--such  
as1 on what day and precisely where this
 singular phenomenon had appeared4 ,she 
had noted down not merely the day1 but  
the hour and minute1 and produced a map 
of the place4 ,our bather referred to   
his journal1 and showed that a human    
animal was swimming in the very spot at 
that very time1 who had some of the     
characters ascribed to the mermaid1 but 
who laid no claim to others1            
particularly the green hair and fish's  
tail1 but1 being rather sallow in the   
face1 was glad to have such testimony to
 the colour of his body beneath his     
garments4  ,with this story1 ,i must    
conclude my review of ,salmonia1--a work

 of considerable scientific and popular 
interest1 and which cannot fail to      
become the favourite companion of the   
philosophical angler4 ,the only         
production with which it can be at all  
compared is that of the ,complete       
,angler1 by ,izaac ,walton4 ,i agree    
with the critic who regards the two     
authors as pilgrims bound for the same  
shrine1 resembling each other in their  
general habit--the scalloped hat1 the   
dalmatique1 and the knobbed and spiked  
staff--which equalize all who assume the
 character2 yet1 though alike in        
purpose1 dress1 and demeanour1 the      
observant eye can doubtless discern an  
essential difference betwixt those      
devotees4 ,the burgess does not make his
 approach to the shrine with the stately
 pace of a knight or a noble2 the simple
 and uninformed rustic has not the      
contemplative step of the philosopher1  
or the quick glance of the poet4 ,the   
palm of originality and of exquisite    
simplicity1 which cannot perhaps be     

imitated with entire success1 must      
remain with the common father of        
anglers--the patriarch ,izaac2 but it   
would be absurd to compare his work with
 the one written by the most            
distinguished philosopher of the        
nineteenth century1 whose genius1 like a
 sunbeam1 illumined every recess which  
it penetrated1 imparting to scarcely    
visible objects1 definite forms and     
various colours4  ,if the advanced age  
of ,walton was pleaded by himself as a  
sufficient reason for procuring a writ  
of ease1 the friends of ,davy may surely
 claim at the hands of the critic an    
indulgent reception for a congenial work
 written in the hour of bodily lassitude
 and sickness4 ,this benevolent feeling1
 however1 did not penetrate every heart4
 ,a passage1 which ,i shall presently   
quote1 appears to have given great      
offence to the ,president of the        
,mechanics' ,institute1 and to have been
 considered by him as the indication of 
a covert hostility to the spread of     

knowledge4 ,the earth had scarcely      
closed upon the remains of the          
philosopher1 when1 in his anniversary   
speech1#aad the ,autocrat of all the    
,mechanics1 availing himself of this    
pretext1 assailed his character with the
 charge of conceit1 pride1 and          
arrogance4    #aad ,see a ,report of the
 ,president's speech1 at the sixth      
anniversary of the ,mechanics'          
,institute1 as reported in all the      
journals of the day1 ,december #e1      
#ahbi4  ,the following is the passage in
 ,salmonia1 which provoked this angry   
and unjust philippic4  ,i am sorry to   
say1 ,i think the system carried too far
 in ,england4 ,god forbid1 that any     
useful light should be extinguished6 let
 the persons who wish for education     
receive it2 but it appears to me that1  
in the great cities in ,england1 it is1 
as it were1 forced upon the population2 
and that sciences1 which the lower      
classes can only very superficially     
acquire1 are presented to them2 in      

consequence of which they often become  
idle and conceited1 and above their     
usual laborious occupations4 ,the unripe
 fruit of the tree of knowledge is1 ,i  
believe1 always bitter or sour2 and     
scepticism and                          
discontentment--sicknesses of the       
mind--are often the result of devouring 
it4  ,methinks ,i hear the reader       
exclaim--,how little could ,davy imagine
 that his prophetic words would have    
been so soon fulfilled6--,but ,i would  
seriously recommend to the ,president of
 the ,mechanics' ,institute1 an anecdote
 which1 if properly applied1 cannot fail
 to be instructive4--,when ,diogenes1   
trampling with his dirty feet on the    
embroidered couch of ,plato1 cried      
out--,thus do ,i trample on the pride of
 ,plato6 the philosopher shook his head1
 and replied--,truly1 but with more     
pride thou dost it1 good ,diogenes4     
,,chapter ,,xv4     ,sir ,h4 ,davy's    
paper on the ,phenomena of              
,volcanoes4--,his    experiments on     

,vesuvius4--,theory of ,volcanic        
action4--,his    reception              
abroad4--,anecdotes4--,his last letter  
to ,mr4    ,poole from ,rome4--,his     
paper on the ,electricity of the        
,torpedo4--,consolations in ,travel1 or 
the ,last ,days of a                    
,philosopher4--,analysis of the         
work4--,reflections suggested by    its 
style and composition4--,davy and       
,wollaston compared4--,his    last      
illness4--,arrival at ,geneva4--,,his   
,,death4   ,a short time before ,sir    
,humphry ,davy quitted ,england1 to     
which he was destined never to return1  
he communicated to the ,royal ,society a
 paper ,on the ,phenomena of ,volcanoes2
 which was read on the #bjth of ,march  
#ahbh1 and published in the             
,transactions of that year4  ,the object
 of this memoir was to collect and      
record the various observations and     
experiments which he had made on        
,vesuvius1 during his several visits to 
that volcano4 ,the appearances which it 

presented in #ahad and #ahae have been  
already noticed2 it was in ,december    
#ahai1 and during the two succeeding    
months1 that the mountain offered a     
favourable opportunity for making those 
experiments which form the principal    
subject of the present communication4   
,it was a point of great importance to  
determine whether any combustion was    
going on at the moment the lava issued  
from the mountain2 for this fact being  
once discovered1 and the nature of the  
combustible matter ascertained1 we      
should gain an immense step towards a   
just theory of the sources of volcanic  
action4 ,for this purpose1 he carefully 
examined both the lava and the elastic  
fluids with which it was accompanied4   
,he was unable1 however1 to detect any  
thing like deflagration with nitre1     
which must have taken place had the     
smallest quantity of carbonaceous matter
 been present2 nor could he1 by exposing
 the ignited mass to portions of        
atmospheric air1 discover that any      

appreciable quantity of oxygen had been 
absorbed4 ,on immersing fused lava in   
water1 no decomposition of that fluid   
followed1 so that there could not have  
existed any quantity of the metallic    
bases of the alkalies or earths4 ,common
 salt1 chloride of iron1 the sulphates  
and muriates of potash1 and soda1       
generally constituted the mass of solid 
products2 while steam1 muriatic acid    
fumes1 and occasionally sulphurous acid 
vapours1 formed the principal elastic   
matters disengaged4  ,he informs us it  
was on the #bfth of ,january #ahbj1 that
 he had the honour to accompany his     
,royal ,highness the ,prince of ,denmark
 in an excursion to the mountain1 on    
which occasion his friend1 ,cavalier    
,monticelli1 was also present4 ,at this 
time1 the lava was seen nearly white hot
 through a chasm near the place where it
 flowed from the mountain2 and yet1     
although he threw nitre upon it in large
 quantities through this chasm1 there   
was no more increase of ignition than   

when the experiment was made on lava    
exposed to the free air4 ,he observed   
that the appearance of the sublimations 
was very different from that which they 
had presented on former occasions2 those
 near the aperture were coloured green  
and blue by salt of copper2 but there   
was1 as usual1 a great quantity of      
muriate of iron4 ,on the #eth1 the      
sublimate of the lava was pure chloride 
of sodium2 in the sublimate of ,january 
#fth1 there were both sulphate of soda  
and indications of sulphate of potash2  
but in those which he collected during  
this last visit1 the sulphate of soda   
was in much larger quantities1 and there
 was much more of a salt of potash4     
,for nearly three months the craters1 of
 which there were two1 were in activity4
 ,the larger one threw up showers of    
ignited ashes and stones to a height    
apparently of from two hundred to two   
hundred and fifty feet2 and from the    
smaller crater steam arose with great   
violence4 ,whenever the crater could be 

approached1 it was found incrusted with 
saline matter3 and the walk to the edge 
of the small crater1 on the #fth of     
,january1 was through a mass of loose   
saline matter1 principally common salt  
coloured by muriate of iron1 in which   
the foot sunk to some depth4 ,it was    
easy1 even at a great distance1 to      
distinguish between the steam disengaged
 by one of the craters1 and the earthy  
matter thrown up by the other4 ,the     
steam appeared white in the day1 and    
formed perfectly white clouds1 which    
reflected the morning and evening light 
of the purest tints of red and orange4  
,the earthy matter always appeared as a 
black smoke1 forming dark clouds1 and in
 the night it was highly luminous at the
 moment of the explosion4  ,he concludes
 this paper on ,volcanoes with some     
observations on the theory of their     
phenomena4 ,it appears1 says he1 almost 
demonstrable1 that none of the chemical 
causes anciently assigned for volcanic  
fires can be true4 ,amongst these1 the  

combustion of mineral coal is one of the
 most current2 but it seems wholly      
inadequate to account for the phenomena4
 ,however large the stratum of pit-coal1
 its combustion under the surface could 
never produce violent and excessive     
heat2 for the production of carbonic    
acid gas1 when there was no free        
circulation of air1 must tend constantly
 to impede the process3 and it is       
scarcely possible that carbonaceous     
matter1 if such a cause existed1 should 
not be found in the lava1 and be        
disengaged with the saline or aqueous   
products from the bocca or craters4     
,there are many instances in ,england of
 strata of mineral coal which have been 
long burning2 but the results have been 
merely baked clay and schists1 and it   
has produced no result similar to lava4 
,if the idea of ,lemery were correct1   
that the action of sulphur on iron may  
be a cause of volcanic fires1 sulphate  
of iron ought to be the great product of
 the volcano2 which is known not to be  

the case2 and the heat produced by the  
action of sulphur on the common metals  
is quite inadequate to account for the  
appearances4 ,when it is considered that
 volcanic fires occur and intermit with 
all the phenomena that indicate intense 
chemical action1 it seems not           
unreasonable to refer them to chemical  
causes4 ,but for phenomena upon such a  
scale1 an immense mass of matter must be
 in activity1 and the products of the   
volcano ought to give an idea of the    
nature of the substances primarily      
active4 ,now1 what are these products8  
,mixtures of the earths in an oxidated  
and fused state1 and intensely ignited2 
water and saline substances1 such as    
might be furnished by the sea and air1  
altered in such a manner as might be    
expected from the formation of fixed    
oxidated matter4 ,but it may be said1 if
 the oxidation of the metals of the     
earths be the causes of the phenomena1  
some of these substances ought          
occasionally to be found in the lava1 or

 the combustion ought to be increased at
 the moment the materials passed into   
the atmosphere4 ,but the reply to this  
objection is1 that it is evident that   
the changes which occasion volcanic     
fires take place in immense subterranean
 cavities2 and that the access of air to
 the acting substances occurs long      
before they reach the exterior surface4 
,there is no question but that the      
ground under the solfaterra is hollow2  
and there is scarcely any reason to     
doubt of a subterraneous communication  
between this crater and that of         
,vesuvius3 whenever ,vesuvius is in an  
active state1 the solfaterra is         
comparatively tranquil4 ,i examined the 
bocca of the solfaterra on the #bast of 
,february #ahbj1 two days before the    
activity of ,vesuvius was at its height3
 the columns of steam which usually     
arise in large quantities when ,vesuvius
 is tranquil1 were now scarcely visible1
 and a piece of paper thrown into the   
aperture did not rise again2 so that    

there was every reason to suppose the   
existence of a descending current of    
air4 ,the subterraneous thunder heard at
 such great distances under ,vesuvius is
 almost a demonstration of the existence
 of great cavities below filled with    
ariform matter3 and the same excavations
 which1 in the active state of the      
volcano1 throw out1 during so great a   
length of time1 immense volumes of      
steam1 must1 there is every reason to   
believe1 in its quiet state1 become     
filled with atmospheric air4#aae    #aae
 ,vesuvius is a mountain admirably      
fitted1 from its form and   situation1  
for experiments on the effect of its    
attraction on   the pendulum3 and it    
would be easy in this way to determine  
the   problem of its cavities4 ,on ,etna
 the problem might be solved on a       
larger scale4  ,to what extent          
subterraneous cavities may exist1 even  
in common rocks1 is shown in the        
limestone caverns of ,carniola1 some of 
which contain many hundred thousand     

cubical feet of air2 and in proportion  
as the depth of an excavation is        
greater1 so is the air more fit for     
combustion4  ,the same circumstances    
which would give alloys of the metals of
 the earths the power of producing      
volcanic phenomena1 namely1 their       
extreme facility of oxidation1 must     
likewise prevent them from ever being   
found in a pure combustible state in the
 products of volcanic eruptions2 for    
before they reach the external surface1 
they must not only be exposed to the air
 in the subterranean cavities1 but be   
propelled by steam2 which must possess1 
under the circumstances1 at least the   
same facility of oxidating them as air4 
,assuming the hypothesis of the         
existence of such alloys of the metals  
of the earths as may burn into lava in  
the interior1 the whole phenomena may be
 easily explained from the action of the
 water of the sea and air on those      
metals2 nor is there any fact1 or any of
 the circumstances which ,i have        

mentioned in the preceding part of this 
paper1 which cannot be easily explained 
according to that hypothesis4 ,for      
almost all the volcanoes in the old     
world of considerable magnitude are     
near1 or at no considerable distance    
from the sea3 and if it be assumed that 
the first eruptions are produced by the 
action of sea-water upon the metals of  
the earths1 and that considerable       
cavities are left by the oxidated metals
 thrown out as lava1 the results of     
their action are such as might be       
anticipated2 for1 after the first       
eruptions1 the oxidations which produce 
the subsequent ones may take place in   
the caverns below the surface2 and when 
the sea is distant1 as in the volcanoes 
of ,south ,america1 they may be supplied
 with water from great subterranean     
lakes1 as ,humboldt states that some of 
them throw up quantities of fish4  ,on  
the hypothesis of a chemical cause for  
volcanic fires1 and reasoning from known
 facts1 there appears to me no other    

adequate source than the oxidation of   
the metals which form the bases of the  
earths and alkalies2 but it must not be 
denied1 that considerations derived from
 thermometrical experiments on the      
temperature of mines and of sources of  
hot water1 render it probable that the  
interior of the globe possesses a very  
high temperature3 and the hypothesis of 
the nucleus of the globe being composed 
of fluid matter offers a still more     
simple solution of the phenomena of     
volcanic fires than that which has been 
just developed4  ,it must be admitted   
that the concluding sentence of this    
memoir is rather equivocal4 ,he states  
that the metalloidal theory of volcanoes
 is most chemical1 but that the         
hypothesis which assumes the high       
temperature of the interior of the globe
 is the most simple2 but he leaves us in
 doubt as to his own belief upon the    
subject4 ,in his ,last ,days1 however1  
we shall find that he offers a less     
reserved opinion upon this question4    

99       99       99       99       99  
,with respect to ,sir ,humphry ,davy's  
last journey to ,rome1 ,i have nothing  
of particular interest to relate4       
,universally known and respected1 a     
member of almost every scientific       
society in ,europe1 there was not a part
 of the ,continent in which he felt as a
 stranger in a foreign land4 ,i might1  
in addition to the circumstances which  
have been already mentioned1 relate     
several anecdotes in proof of the       
widely-extended popularity which his    
genius and discoveries had secured for  
him4 ,the following striking incidents  
deserve particular notice4--,whilst     
sporting in ,austria1 he was assaulted  
by some peasants2 and the outrage was no
 sooner made known to the ,emperor1 than
 he expressed his sorrow and indignation
 in the strongest language1 and         
immediately directed that a party of    
troops should surround the district1 and
 a most rigorous search be made for the 
culprits4 ,the search was of course     

successful1 and the ,carinthian boors   
received merited chastisement4  ,for the
 following anecdote ,i am indebted to   
,lady ,davy4 ,her ,ladyship was         
travelling alone1 on account of ill     
health1 and upon arriving at ,basle1 she
 naturally felt a strong desire to visit
 its far-famed library2 it so happened1 
however1 that ,sunday was the only day  
which afforded her this opportunity1 and
 so strictly is the sabbath observed at 
that place1 that she was at once        
informed that an admission to the       
library1 under any circumstances1 was   
altogether impossible4 ,she nevertheless
 addressed a note to the librarian1     
stating to him her name1 and the reasons
 for her unusual request4 ,he           
immediately returned an answer1 and     
appointed the hour of ten for her visit4
 ,having shown her all that deserved    
inspection1 he concluded his attentions 
by saying1 ,madam1 ,i have held the keys
 of this library for thirty years1      
during which period only three persons  

have been admitted to see its treasures 
on the ,sunday2 two of these were       
crowned heads1 the third the wife of the
 most celebrated philosopher in ,europe4
  ,the following is the last letter     
which ,davy ever wrote to his           
much-valued friend ,mr4 ,poole4--       
,,to ,,thomas ,,poole1 ,,esq4      ,,my 
,,dear ,,poole1      ,rome1 ,feb4 #f1   
#ahbi4     ,i have not written to you   
during my absence from ,england1        
because ,i had no satisfactory account  
of any marked progress    towards health
 to give you1 and the feelings of an    
invalid are    painful enough for       
himself1 and should1 ,i think1 never    
form a    part of his correspondence2   
for they are not diminished by the      
conviction that they are felt by others4
 ,would ,i were better6 ,i    would then
 write to you an agreeable letter from  
this glorious    city2 but ,i am here   
wearing away the winter2 a ruin amongst 
ruins6 ,i am anxious to hear from       
you1--very anxious1 so pray    write to 

me with this address1 ,sir ,h4 ,davy1   
,inglese1 posta    restanti1 ,rovigo1   
,italia4 ,you know you must pay the     
postage    to the frontier1 otherwise   
the letters1 like one a friend sent     
to me1 will go back to you4 ,pray be so 
good as to be particular    in the      
direction1--the ,inglese is necessary4  
,i hope you got a    copy of my little  
trifle ,salmonia4 ,i ordered copies to  
be    sent to you1 to ,mr4 ,w----1 and  
to ,mr4 ,baker3 but as the course    of 
letters in foreign countries is         
uncertain1 ,i am not sure you           
received them2 if not1 you will have    
lost little2 a second    edition will   
soon be out1 which will be in every     
respect more    worthy of your perusal1 
being1 ,i think1 twice 7not saying much 
for it7 as entertaining and             
philosophical4 ,i will take care by     
early orders that you have this book4 ,i
 write and philosophize    a good deal1 
and have nearly finished a work with a  
higher    aim than the little book ,i   

speak of above1 and which ,i shall      
dedicate to you4 ,it contains the       
essence of my philosophical    opinions1
 and some of my poetical reveries4 ,it  
is1 like the    ,salmonia1 an amusement 
of my sickness2 but paulo majora        
canamus4 ,i sometimes think of the lines
 of ,waller1 and seem    to feel their  
truth3      ,the soul's dark cottage1   
batterd and decay'd1     ,lets in new   
lights through chinks that ,time has    
made4     ,i have1 notwithstanding my   
infirmities1 attended to scientific     
objects whenever it was in my power1 and
 ,i have sent the ,royal    ,society a  
paper which they will publish1 on the   
peculiar    ,electricity of the         
,torpedo1 which ,i think bears remotely 
upon the functions of life4 ,i attend a 
good deal to ,natural    ,history1 and  
,i think ,i have recognised in the      
,mediterranean    a new species of eel1 
a sort of link between the conger    and
 the murna of the ancients4 ,i have no  
doubt ,mr4 ,baker is    right about the 

distinction between the conger and the  
common    eel4 ,i am very anxious to    
hear what he thinks about their         
generation4 ,pray get from him a        
distinct opinion on this    subject4 ,i 
am at this moment getting the eels in   
the markets    here dissected1 and have 
found ova in plenty4 ,pray tell me      
particularly what ,mr4 ,baker has done2 
this is a favourite    subject with me1 
and you can give me no news so          
interesting4    ,my dear friend1 ,i     
shall never forget your kindness to me4 
,you1    with one other person1 have    
given me the little happiness ,i    have
 enjoyed since my severe visitation4    
,i fight against sickness and fate1     
believing ,i have still    duties to    
perform1 and that even my illness is    
connected in    some way with my being  
made useful to my fellow-creatures4 ,i  
have this conviction full on my mind1   
that intellectual beings    spring from 
the same breath of ,infinite            
,intelligence1 and    return to it      

again1 but by different courses4 ,like  
rivers1 born    amidst the clouds of    
heaven1 and lost in the deep and eternal
    ocean--some in youth1 rapid and     
short-lived torrents2 some in           
manhood1 powerful and copious rivers2   
and some in age1 by a    winding and    
slow course1 half lost in their career1 
and making    their exit through many   
sandy and shallow mouths4 ,i hope to    
be at ,rovigo about the first week in   
,april4 ,i travel slowly    and with my 
own horses4 ,if you will come and join  
me there1 ,i    can give you a place in 
a comfortable carriage1 and can show    
you the most glorious country in        
,europe--,illyria and ,styria1    and   
take you to the ,french frontier before 
the beginning    of autumn1--perhaps to 
,england4 ,if you can come1 do so at    
once4 ,i have two servants1 and can     
accommodate you with every    thing4 ,i 
think of taking some baths before ,i    
return1 in ,upper    ,austria2 but ,i   
write as if ,i were a strong man1 when  

,i am like    a pendulum1 as it were1   
swinging between death and life4        
,god bless you1 my dear ,poole4         
,your grateful and affectionate friend1 
,h4 ,,davy4     ,pray remember me to our
 friends at ,stowey4   ,his paper on the
 ,electricity of the ,torpedo1 to which 
he alludes in the foregoing letter1     
appears to have been written shortly    
after he had finished his ,salmonia1 as 
it is dated from ,lubiana1 ,illyria1 on 
the #bdth of ,october1 and it was read  
before the ,royal ,society on the #bjth 
of ,november #ahbh1 and published in the
 first part of the ,transactions for    
#ahbi4 ,it will be remembered1 that this
 subject had long engaged his attention2
 and he expresses his surprise that the 
electricity of living animals should not
 have been an object of greater         
attention1 both on account of its       
physiological importance1 and its       
general relation to the science of      
electro-chemistry4  ,when ,volta        
discovered his wonderful pile1 he       

imagined he had made a perfect          
resemblance of the organ of the         
,gymnotus and ,torpedo2 and ,davy       
observes1 that whoever has felt the     
shocks of the natural and artificial    
instruments must have been convinced1 as
 far as sensation is concerned1 of their
 strict analogy4  ,after the discovery  
of the chemical power of the ,voltaic   
instrument1 he was naturally desirous of
 ascertaining whether this property was 
possessed by the electrical organs of   
living animals2 for which purpose1 he   
instituted various experiments1 but he  
could not discover that such was the    
fact4 ,upon mentioning his researches to
 ,signor ,volta1 with whom he passed    
some time in the summer of #ahae1 the   
,italian philosopher showed him a       
peculiar form of his instrument1 which  
appeared to fulfil the conditions of the
 organs of the torpedo2 viz4 a pile1 of 
which the fluid substance was a very    
imperfect conductor1 such as honey or a 
strong saccharine extract1 which        

required a certain time to become       
charged1 and which did not decompose    
water1 though it communicated weak      
shocks4  ,the discovery by ,oersted of  
the effects of ,voltaic electricity on  
the magnetic needle induced ,davy to    
examine whether the electricity of      
living animals possessed a similar      
power4 ,having1 after some trouble1     
procured two lively and recently caught 
,torpedoes1 he passed the shocks from   
the largest of these animals a number of
 times through the circuit of an        
extremely delicate magnetic             
electrometer1 but1 although every       
precaution was used1 not the slightest  
deviation of1 or effect on1 the needle  
could be perceived4  ,these negative    
results1 says he1 may be explained by   
supposing that the motion of the        
electricity in the torpedinal organ is  
in no measurable time1 and that a       
current of some continuance is necessary
 to produce the deviation of the        
magnetic needle2 and ,i found that the  

magnetic electrometer was equally       
insensible to the weak discharge of a   
,leyden jar as to that of the torpedinal
 organ2 though whenever there was a     
continuous current from the smallest    
surfaces in ,voltaic combinations of the
 weakest power1 but in which some       
chemical action was going on1 it was    
instantly and powerfully affected4 ,two 
series of zinc and silver1 and paper    
moistened in salt and water1 caused the 
permanent deviation of the needle       
several degrees1 though the plates of   
zinc were only one-sixth of an inch in  
diameter4  ,it would be desirable to    
pursue these enquiries with the         
electricity of the ,gymnotus1 which is  
so much more powerful than that of the  
,torpedo2 but if they are now to be     
reasoned upon1 they seem to show a      
stronger analogy between common and     
animal electricity1 than between        
,voltaic and animal electricity2 it is  
however1 ,i think1 more probable that   
animal electricity will be found of a   

distinctive and peculiar kind4  ,common 
electricity is excited upon             
non-conductors1 and is readily carried  
off by conductors and imperfect         
conductors4 ,voltaic electricity is     
excited upon combinations of perfect and
 imperfect conductors1 and is only      
transmitted by perfect conductors1 or   
imperfect conductors of the best kind4  
,magnetism1 if it be a form of          
electricity1 belongs only to perfect    
conductors2 and1 in its modifications1  
to a peculiar class of them4  ,the      
animal electricity resides only in the  
imperfect conductors forming the organs 
of living animals1 and its object in the
 economy of nature is to act on living  
animals4  ,distinctions might be        
established in pursuing the various     
modifications or properties of          
electricity in these different forms2   
but it is scarcely possible to avoid    
being struck by another relation of this
 subject4 ,the torpedinal organ depends 
for its powers upon the will of the     

animal4 ,john ,hunter has shown how     
copiously it is furnished with nerves4  
,in examining the columnar structure of 
the organ of the ,torpedo1 ,i have never
 been able to discover arrangements of  
different conductors similar to those in
 galvanic combinations1 and it seems not
 improbable that the shock depends upon 
some property developed by the action of
 the nerves4  ,to attempt to reason upon
 any phenomena of this kind as dependent
 upon a specific fluid would be wholly  
vain4 ,little as we know of the nature  
of electrical action1 we are still more 
ignorant of the nature of the functions 
of the nerves4 ,there seems1 however1 a 
gleam of light worth pursuing in the    
peculiarities of animal                 
electricity1--its connexion with so     
large a nervous system1 its dependence  
upon the will of the animal1 and the    
instantaneous nature of its transfer1   
which may lead1 when pursued by adequate
 enquirers1 to results important for    
physiology4  ,he concludes this paper by

 expressing his fear that the weak state
 of his health will prevent him from    
following the subject with the attention
 it seems to deserve2 and he therefore  
communicates these imperfect trials to  
the ,royal ,society1 in the hope that   
they may lead to more extensive and     
profound researches4  ,we come now to   
the consideration of the last production
 of his genius--,consolations in        
,travel1 or the ,last ,days of a        
,philosopher3 ,a work which1 he informs 
us in the preface1 was composed         
immediately after ,salmonia1 under the  
same unfavourable and painful           
circumstances1 and at a period when his 
constitution suffered from new attacks4 
,from this exercise of the mind1 he     
tells us1 that he derived some pleasure 
and some consolation1 when most other   
sources of consolation and pleasure were
 closed to him2 and he ventures to hope 
that those hours of sickness may be not 
altogether unprofitable to persons in   
perfect health4 ,his brother1 ,dr4      

,davy1 who edited the work after the    
decease of ,sir ,humphry1 informs us    
that it was concluded at the very moment
 of the invasion of the author's last   
illness1 and that1 had his life been    
prolonged1 it is probable some additions
 and some changes would have been made4 
,the characters of the persons of the   
dialogue1 continues the ,editor1 were   
intended to be ideal1 at least in great 
part2--such they should be considered by
 the reader2 and it is to be hoped1 that
 the incidents introduced1 as well as   
the persons1 will be viewed only as     
subordinate and subservient to the      
sentiments and the doctrines4 ,the      
dedication1 it may be specially noticed1
 is the ,author's own1 and in the very  
words dictated by himself at a time when
 he had lost the power of writing1      
except with extreme difficulty1 owing to
 the paralytic attack1 although he      
retained in a very remarkable manner all
 his mental faculties unimpaired and    
unclouded4 ,the words of the ,dedication

 are ,,to ,,thomas ,,poole1 ,,esq4 of   
,nether ,stowey2 in remembrance of      
thirty years of continued and faithful  
friendship4  ,this is a most            
extraordinary and interesting work3     
extraordinary1 not only from the wild   
strength of its fancy1 and the          
extravagance of its conceptions1 but    
from the bright light of scientific     
truth which is constantly shining       
through its metaphorical tissue1 and    
irradiating its most shadowy imaginings4
 ,it may be compared to the tree of the 
lower regions in the neid1 to every leaf
 of which was attached a dream2 and yet1
 however wildly his fancy may dream1 his
 philosophy never sleeps2 and in his    
exit from the land of phantoms1 the     
author can in no instance be accused of 
having mistaken the gate of ivory for   
that of horn4 ,to the biographer1 the   
work is of the highest interest and     
value1 by confirming1 in a remarkable   
manner1 the opinion so frequently       
expressed in the course of these        

memoirs1 with respect to the diversified
 talents of ,sir ,humphry ,davy2 and    
above all1 by elucidating that rare     
combination of imagination with         
judgment1 which imparted to his genius  
its more striking peculiarities4  ,the  
work consists of six ,dialogues3--#a4   
,,the ,,vision2 #b4 ,,discussions       
,,connected ,,with ,,the ,,vision ,,in  
,,the ,,colos,,um2 #c4 ,,the ,,unknown2 
#d4 ,,the ,,proteus1 ,,or ,,immortality2
 #e4 ,,the ,,chemical ,,philosopher2 and
 #f4 ,,pola1 ,,or ,,time4  ,the         
interlocutors of the first dialogue are 
two intellectual ,englishmen1 one of    
whom the author calls ,ambrosio2 a man  
of highly cultivated taste1 great       
classical erudition1 and minute         
historical knowledge3 a ,catholic in    
religion1 but so liberal in his         
sentiments1 that in another age he might
 have been secretary to ,ganganelli4    
,the other friend1 whom he calls        
,onuphrio1 was a man of a very different
 character3 belonging to the ,english   

aristocracy1 he had some of the         
prejudices usually attached to birth and
 rank2 but his manners were gentle1 his 
temper good1 and his disposition        
amiable4 ,having been partly educated at
 a northern university in ,britain1 he  
had adopted views in religion which went
 even beyond toleration1 and which might
 be regarded as entering the verge of   
scepticism4 ,for a patrician1 he was    
very liberal in his political views4    
,his imagination was poetical and       
discursive1 his taste good1 and his tact
 extremely fine1--so exquisite1 indeed1 
that it sometimes approached to morbid  
sensibility1 and disgusted him with     
slight defects1 and made him keenly     
sensible of small perfections to which  
common minds have been indifferent4     
,the author1 with these his two friends1
 makes an excursion to the ,colosum1 and
 the conversation1 which a view of those
 magnificent ruins produced1 together   
with the account of a dream1 or vision1 
which occurred to him while left alone  

amidst these mouldering monuments1 forms
 the subject-matter of the first        
dialogue4 ,it is impossible for any     
person of the least imagination to      
contemplate this decay of former        
magnificence without strong emotion2 but
 the direction and tone of such feeling 
will be necessarily modified by the     
qualities of the mind in which it is    
excited2 and the author has therefore   
very properly assigned to each of the   
dramatis person1 such opinions as might 
best correspond with his character and  
temperament4  ,they are all represented 
as being struck with the transiency of  
human monuments2 but ,ambrosio views    
with triumph the sanctifying influence  
of a few crosses planted around the     
ruins1 in arresting the farther decay of
 the pile4 ,without the influence of    
,christianity1 he exclaims1 these       
majestic ruins would have been dispersed
 or levelled to the dust4 ,plundered of 
their lead and iron by the barbarians1  
,goths and ,vandals1 and robbed even of 

their stones by ,roman princes--the     
,barberini1 they owe what remains of    
their relics to the sanctifying         
influence of that faith which has       
preserved for the world all that was    
worth preserving1 not merely arts and   
literature1 but likewise that which     
constitutes the progressive nature of   
intellect1 and the institutions which   
afford to us happiness in this world1   
and hopes of a blessed immortality in   
the next4 ,and he continues1--,what a   
contrast the present application of this
 building1 connected with holy feelings 
and exalted hopes1 is to that of the    
ancient one1 when it was used for       
exhibiting to the ,roman people the     
destruction of men by wild beasts1 or of
 men more savage than wild beasts by    
each other1 to gratify a horrible       
appetite for cruelty1 founded upon a    
still more detestable lust1 that of     
universal domination6 ,and who would    
have supposed1 in the time of ,titus1   
that a faith1 despised in its           

insignificant origin1 and persecuted    
from the supposed obscurity of its      
founder and its principles1 should have 
reared a dome to the memory of one of   
its humblest teachers1 more glorious    
than was ever framed for ,jupiter or    
,apollo in the ancient world1 and have  
preserved even the ruins of the temples 
of the ,pagan deities1 and have burst   
forth in splendour and majesty1         
consecrating truth amidst the shrines of
 error1 employing the idols of the      
,roman superstition for the most holy   
purposes1 and rising a bright and       
constant light amidst the dark and      
starless night which followed the       
destruction of the ,roman empire6  ,it  
was not to be expected that ,onuphrio1  
whose views are represented as verging  
upon scepticism1 should have tacitly    
coincided in these opinions of          
,ambrosio4 ,he admits1 indeed1 that some
 little of the perfect state in which   
these ruins exist may have been owing to
 the causes just described2 but these   

causes1 he maintains1 have only lately  
begun to operate1 and the mischief was  
done before ,christianity was           
established at ,rome4 ,feeling          
differently on these subjects1 says he1 
,i admire this venerable ruin rather as 
the record of the destruction of the    
power of the greatest people that ever  
existed1 than as a proof of the triumph 
of ,christianity2 and ,i am carried     
forward1 in melancholy anticipation1 to 
the period when even the magnificent    
dome of ,st4 ,peter's will be in a      
similar state to that in which the      
,colosum now is1 and when its ruins may 
be preserved by the sanctifying         
influence of some new and unknown faith2
 when perhaps the statue of ,jupiter1   
which at present receives the kiss of   
the devotee1 as the image of ,st4       
,peter1 may be employed for another holy
 use1 as the personification of a future
 saint or divinity2 and when the        
monuments of the ,papal magnificence    
shall be mixed with the same dust as    

that which now covers the tombs of the  
,csars4  ,such1 ,i am sorry to say1 is  
the general history of all the works and
 institutions belonging to humanity4    
,they rise1 flourish1 and then decay and
 fall2 and the period of their decline  
is generally proportional to that of    
their elevation4 ,in ancient ,thebes or 
,memphis1 the peculiar genius of the    
people has left us monuments from which 
we can judge of their arts1 though we   
cannot understand the nature of their   
superstitions4 ,of ,babylon and of      
,troy1 the remains are almost extinct2  
and what we know of those famous cities 
is almost entirely derived from literary
 records4 ,ancient ,greece and ,rome we 
view in the few remains of their        
monuments2 and the time will arrive when
 modern ,rome shall be what ancient     
,rome now is2 and ancient ,rome and     
,athens will be what ,tyre or ,carthage 
now are1 known only by coloured dust in 
the desert1 or coloured sand1 containing
 the fragments of bricks1 or glass1     

washed up by the wave of a stormy sea4  
,for this desponding view of passing    
events1 ,onuphrio finds consolation in  
the evidences of revealed religion4 ,in 
the origin1 progress1 elevation1        
decline1 and fall of the empires of     
antiquity1 he sees proofs that they were
 intended for a definite end in the     
scheme of human redemption2 and he finds
 prophecies which have been amply       
verified4 ,he regards the foundation or 
the ruin of a kingdom1 which appears in 
civil history so great an event1 as     
comparatively of small moment in the    
history of man and in his religious     
institutions4 ,he considers the         
establishment of the worship of one ,god
 amongst a despised and contemned       
people1 as the most important           
circumstance in the history of the early
 world4 ,he regards the ,christian      
dispensation as naturally arising out of
 the ,jewish1 and the doctrines of the  
,pagan nations all preparatory to the   
triumph and final establishment of a    

creed fitted for the most enlightened   
state of the human mind1 and equally    
adapted to every climate and every      
people4  ,we cannot but regard these    
passages with great interest1 as        
indicating the train of thought which   
must have occupied the mind of their    
author1 and as proving that1 in his     
latter days1 he not only studied the    
doctrines of ,christianity1 but derived 
the greatest consolation from its       
tenets4  ,after some farther            
conversation1 ,onuphrio and ,ambrosio   
leave their friend the author to pursue 
his meditations amidst the solitude of  
the ruins4  ,seated in the moonshine on 
one of the steps leading to the seats   
supposed to have been occupied by the   
patricians in the ,colosum at the time  
of the public games1 the train of ideas 
in which he had before indulged         
continued to flow with a vividness and  
force increased by the stillness and    
solitude of the scene1 and by the full  
moon1 which1 he observes1 has always a  

peculiar effect on these moods of       
feeling in his mind1 giving to them a   
wildness and a kind of indefinite       
sensation1 such as he supposes belong at
 all times to the true poetical         
temperament4  ,it must be so1 thought   
he1 no new city will rise again out of  
the double ruins of this2 no new empire 
will be founded upon these colossal     
remains of that of the old ,romans4 ,the
 world1 like the individual1 flourishes 
in youth1 rises to strength in manhood1 
falls into decay in age2 and the ruins  
of an empire are like the decrepid frame
 of an individual1 except that they have
 some tints of beauty1 which nature     
bestows upon them4 ,the sun of          
civilization arose in the ,east1        
advanced towards the ,west1 and is now  
at its meridian2 in a few centuries     
more1 it will probably be seen sinking  
below the horizon1 even in the new      
world2 and there will be left darkness  
only where there is a bright light1     
deserts of sand where there were        

populous cities1 and stagnant morasses  
where the green meadow1 or the bright   
corn-field once appeared4 ,time1 he     
exclaimed1 which purifies1 and1 as it   
were1 sanctifies the mind1 destroys and 
brings into utter decay the body2 and   
even in nature its influence seems      
always degrading4 ,she is represented by
 the poet as eternal in her youth2 but  
amongst these ruins she appears to me   
eternal in her age1 and here1 no traces 
of renovation appear in the ancient of  
days4  ,he had scarcely concluded this  
ideal sentence1 when his reverie became 
deeper1 and his imagination called up a 
spirit1 who1 having rebuked him for his 
ignorance and presumption1 undeceives   
him in his views of the history of the  
world1 by unfolding to him in a vision  
the progress of man from a state of     
barbarity to that of high civilization4 
,he is first shown a country covered    
with forests and marshes2 wild animals  
were grazing in large savannahs1 and    
carnivorous beasts1 such as lions and   

tigers1 occasionally disturbing and     
destroying them4 ,man appeared as a     
naked savage1 feeding upon wild fruits1 
or devouring shell-fish1 or fighting    
with clubs for the remains of a whale   
which had been thrown upon the shore4   
,his habitation was a cave in the       
earth--,see the birth of ,time6         
exclaimed the ,genius2 look at man in   
his newly-created state1 full of youth  
and vigour4 ,do you see aught in this   
state to admire or envy8  ,in the next  
scene1 a country opened upon his view1  
which appeared partly wild and partly   
cultivated2 and men were seen covered   
with the skins of animals1 and driving  
cattle to enclosed pastures2 others were
 reaping and collecting corn1 and others
 again were making it into bread4       
,cottages appeared furnished with many  
of the conveniences of life4 ,the       
,genius now said1 ,look at these groups 
of men who are escaped from the state of
 infancy2 they owe their improvement to 
a few superior minds still amongst them4

 ,that aged man whom you see with a     
crowd around him taught them to build   
cottages2 from that other they learnt to
 domesticate cattle2 from others1 to    
collect and sow corn and seeds of fruit4
 ,and these arts will never be lost2    
another generation will see them more   
perfect4 ,you shall be shown other      
visions of the passages of time2 but as 
you are carried along the stream which  
flows from the period of creation to the
 present moment1 ,i shall only arrest   
your transit to make you observe some   
circumstances which will demonstrate the
 truths ,i wish you to know4 ,he then   
proceeds to describe in succession the  
different scenes as they appeared before
 him1 and to relate the observations by 
which his genius1 or intellectual guide1
 accompanied him4  ,a great extent of   
cultivated plains1 large cities on the  
sea-shore1 palaces1 forums1 and temples1
 were displayed before him4 ,he saw men 
associated in groups1 mounted on horses1
 and performing military exercises2     

galleys moved by oars on the ocean2     
roads intersecting the country covered  
with travellers1 and containing         
carriages moved by men or horses4 ,the  
,genius now said1 ,you see the early    
state of civilization of man3 the       
cottages of the last race you beheld    
have become improved into stately       
dwellings1 palaces1 and temples1 in     
which use is combined with ornament4    
,the few men to whom1 as ,i said before1
 the foundations of these improvements  
were owing1 have had divine honours paid
 to their memory4 ,but look at the      
instruments belonging to this           
generation1 and you will find they were 
only of brass4 ,you see men who are     
talking to crowds around them1 and      
others who are apparently amusing       
listening groups by a kind of song or   
recitation2 these are the earliest bards
 and orators2 but all their signs of    
thought are oral1 for written language  
does not yet exist4  ,the ,genius next  
presented to him a scene of varied      

business and imagery4 ,he saw a man who 
bore in his hands the same instruments  
as our modern smiths1 presenting a vase1
 which appeared to be made of iron1     
amidst the acclamations of an assembled 
multitude2 and he saw in the same place 
men who carried rolls of papyrus in     
their hands1 and wrote upon them with   
reeds containing ink1 made from the soot
 of wood mixed with a solution of       
glue4--,see1 the ,genius said1 an       
immense change produced in the condition
 of society by the two arts of which you
 now see the origin2 the one1 that of   
rendering iron malleable1 which is owing
 to a single individual1 an obscure     
,greek2 the other1 that of making       
thought permanent in written            
characters1--an art which has gradually 
arisen from the hieroglyphics which you 
may observe on yonder pyramids4 ,you    
will now see human life more replete    
with power and activity4  ,in the scenes
 that succeeded1 he saw bronze          
instruments thrown away2 malleable iron 

converted into hard steel1 and applied  
to a thousand purposes of civilized     
life2 bands of men traversing the sea1  
founding colonies1 building cities1 and1
 wherever they established themselves1  
carrying with them their peculiar arts4 
,he saw the ,roman world succeeded by   
cities filled with an idle and luxurious
 population1 and the farms which had    
been cultivated by warriors1 who left   
the plough to take the command of       
armies1 now in the hands of slaves2 and 
the militia of free men supplanted by   
bands of mercenaries1 who sold the      
,empire to the highest bidder4 ,he saw  
immense masses of warriors collecting in
 the ,north and ,east1 carrying with    
them no other proofs of cultivation but 
their horses and steel arms4 ,he saw    
these savages every where plundering    
cities and destroying the monuments of  
arts and literature4 ,ruin1 desolation1 
and darkness were before him1 and he    
closed his eyes to avoid the melancholy 
scene4 ,see1 said the ,genius1 the      

termination of a power believed by its  
founders invincible1 and intended to be 
eternal4 ,but you will find1 though the 
glory and greatness belonging to its    
military genius have passed away1 yet   
those belonging to the arts and         
institutions by which it adorned and    
dignified life1 will again arise in     
another state of society4  ,upon again  
opening his eyes1 he saw ,italy         
recovering from her desolation1 towns   
arising with governments almost upon the
 model of ancient ,athens and ,rome1 and
 these different small states rivals in 
arts and arms2--he saw the remains of   
libraries1 which had been preserved in  
monasteries and churches by a holy      
influence1 which even the ,goth and     
,vandal respected1 again opened to the  
people2--he saw ,rome rising from her   
ashes1 the fragments of statues found   
amidst the ruins of her palaces and     
imperial villas1 becoming the models for
 the regeneration of art2--he saw       
magnificent temples raised in this city1

 become the metropolis of a new and     
,christian world1 and ornamented with   
the most brilliant master-pieces of the 
arts of design4--,now1 the ,genius said1
 society has taken its modern and       
permanent aspect4 ,consider for a moment
 its relations to letters and to arms1  
as contrasted with those of the ancient 
world4 ,he looked1 and he saw that1 in  
the place of the rolls of papyrus1      
libraries were now filled with books4   
,behold1 the ,genius said1 ,,the        
,,printing ,,press6 ,by the invention of
 ,faust1 the productions of genius are1 
as it were1 made imperishable1 capable  
of indefinite multiplication1 and       
rendered an unalienable heritage of the 
human mind4 ,by this art1 apparently so 
humble1 the progress of society is      
secured1 and man is spared the          
humiliation of witnessing again scenes  
like those which followed the           
destruction of the ,roman ,empire4 ,now 
look to the warriors of modern times2   
you see the spear1 the javelin1 and the 

cuirass are changed for the musket and  
the light artillery4 ,the ,german monk  
who discovered gunpowder did not meanly 
affect the destinies of mankind2 wars   
are become less bloody by becoming less 
personal2 mere brutal strength is       
rendered of comparatively little avail2 
all the resources of civilization are   
required to move a large army2 wealth1  
ingenuity1 and perseverance become the  
principal elements of success2 civilized
 man is rendered in consequence         
infinitely superior to the savage1 and  
gunpowder gives permanence to his       
triumph1 and secures the cultivated     
nations from being ever again overrun by
 the inroads of millions of             
barbarians4#aaf    #aaf ,this is a      
question which ,gibbon has very         
eloquently   discussed 7,general        
,observations on the ,fall of the ,roman
 ,empire   in the ,west1 vol4 vi47      
,cannon and fortifications now form   an
 impregnable barrier against the ,tartar
 horse2 and ,europe is   secure from any

 future irruption of barbarians2 since1 
before   they can conquer1 they must    
cease to be barbarous4 ,what an         
extraordinary illustration does this    
principle find in the   history of our  
possessions in ,india1 where1 to speak  
in round   numbers1 thirty thousand     
,europeans keep no less than one hundred
   million of natives in subjection6    
,the ,genius then directs his attention 
to scenes in which are displayed the    
triumphs of modern science2 such as the 
steam-engine1 and the thousand resources
 furnished by the chemical and          
mechanical arts2 and she concludes by   
endeavouring to impress upon him the    
conviction1 ,that the results of        
intellectual labour1 or of scientific   
genius1 are permanent1 and incapable of 
being lost4 ,monarchs change their      
plans1 governments their objects1 a     
fleet or an army effect their purpose   
and then pass away2 but a piece of steel
 touched by the magnet preserves its    
character for ever1 and secures to man  

the dominion of the trackless ocean4 ,a 
new period of society may send armies   
from the shores of the ,baltic to those 
of the ,euxine1 and the empire of the   
followers of ,mahomet may be broken in  
pieces by a ,northern people1 and the   
dominion of the ,britons in ,asia may   
share the fate of ,tamerlane or         
,zengis-khan2 but the steam-boat which  
ascends the ,delaware1 or the ,st4      
,lawrence1 will be continued to be used1
 and will carry the civilization of an  
improved people into the deserts of     
,north ,america1 and into the wilds of  
,canada4 ,in the common history of the  
world1 as compiled by authors in        
general1 almost all the great changes of
 nations are confounded with changes in 
their dynasties1 and events are usually 
referred either to sovereigns1 chiefs1  
heroes1 or their armies1 which do1 in   
fact1 originate from entirely different 
causes1 either of an intellectual or    
moral nature4  ,having instructed him in
 the history of man as an inhabitant of 

the earth1 the ,genius proceeds to      
reveal to him the mysteries of spiritual
 natures1 in which the author evidently 
shows his attachment to the belief that 
our intellectual essence is destined    
hereafter to enjoy a higher and better  
state of planetary existence1#aag       
drinking intellectual light from a purer
 source1 and approaching nearer to the  
,infinite and ,divine mind4 ,i shall not
 attempt to follow him and his ,genius  
to the verge of the solar system1       
witnessing in his career the inhabitants
 of planets and comets4 ,we may upon    
this occasion truly apply to the author 
the words of ,lucretius--               
,processit longe flammantia moenia      
mundi4      ,his vigorous and active    
mind was hurl'd     ,beyond the flaming 
limits of the world4--,,creech4  ,in the
 former part of the dialogue1 his       
poetical coruscations appeared only as  
brilliant sparks thrown off by the      
rapidity of the machinery which he      
worked for a useful end and for a       

definite purpose2 his vivid imagination 
may now be compared to a display of     
fire-works1 which dazzle and confound   
without enlightening the senses1 and    
leave the spectator in still more       
profound darkness4    #aag ,under the   
article ',sensation1' in the            
,philosophical   ,dictionary1 we find   
,voltaire indulging in a similar        
speculation4   ,it may be1 that in other
 globes the inhabitants possess         
sensations of which we can form no idea4
 ,it is possible that the   number of   
our senses augments from globe to globe1
 and that an   existence with           
innumerable and perfect senses will be  
the final   attainment of all being4    
,his ,,second ,,dialogue1 entitled      
,discussions connected with the ,vision 
in the ,colosum1 may be considered as a 
commentary upon the views he had        
unfolded2 and a more appropriate spot1  
perhaps1 could not have been selected   
for a conversation upon the progress of 
civilization1 than the summit of        

,vesuvius1 from which1 to adopt the     
language of ,ambrosio1 ,we see not only 
the power and activity of man as        
existing at present1 and of which the   
highest example may be represented by   
the steam-boat departing from ,palermo1 
but we may likewise view scenes which   
carry us into the very bosom of         
antiquity1 and as it were make us live  
with the generations of past ages4  ,the
 author1 who assumes throughout this    
dialogue the name of ,philalethes1 after
 having been duly rallied by his friends
 on the subject of his vision1 thus     
expresses himself3--,i will acknowledge 
that the vision in the ,colosum is a    
fiction2 but the most important parts of
 it really occurred to me in sleep1     
particularly that in which ,i seemed to 
leave the earth and launch into the     
infinity of space1 under the guidance of
 a tutelary genius4 ,and the origin and 
progress of civil society form likewise 
parts of another dream which ,i had many
 years ago2 and it was in the reverie   

which happened when you quitted me in   
the ,colosum1 that ,i wove all these    
thoughts together1 and gave them the    
form in which ,i narrated them to       
you4--,i do not say that they are       
strictly to be considered as an accurate
 representation of my waking thoughts2  
for ,i am not quite convinced that      
dreams are always the representations of
 the state of the mind1 modified by     
organic diseases or by associations4    
,there are certainly no absolutely new  
ideas produced in sleep2 yet ,i have had
 more than one instance1 in the course  
of my life1 of most extraordinary       
combinations occurring in this state1   
which have had considerable influence on
 my feelings1 my imagination1 and my    
health4  ,philalethes now relates a fact
 to which his preceding observation more
 immediately referred2 he anticipates   
unbelief1--but he declares that he      
mentions nothing but a simple fact4     
,almost a quarter of a century ago1 ,i  
contracted that terrible form of typhus 

fever known by the name of jail         
fever1--,i may say1 not from any        
imprudence of my own1 but whilst engaged
 in putting in execution a plan for     
ventilating one of the great prisons of 
the metropolis4#aah ,my illness was     
severe and dangerous2 as long as the    
fever continued1 my dreams and deliriums
 were most painful and oppressive2 but  
when weakness consequent to exhaustion  
came on1 and when the probability of    
death seemed to my physicians greater   
than that of life1 there was an entire  
change in all my ideal combinations4 ,i 
remained in an apparently senseless or  
lethargic state1 but1 in fact1 my mind  
was peculiarly active2 there was always 
before me the form of a beautiful woman1
 with whom ,i was engaged in the most   
interesting and intellectual            
conversation4    #aah ,see page #bhg1   
vol4 i4 for an account of this event4   
,ambrosio and ,onuphrio very naturally  
suggest that this could have been no    
other than the image of some favourite  

maiden which had haunted his            
imagination2 but ,philalethes rejects   
with indignation such an explanation of 
the vision4 ,i will not1 he exclaims1   
allow you to treat me with ridicule on  
this point1 till you have heard the     
second part of my tale4 ,ten years after
 ,i had recovered from the fever1 and   
when ,i had almost lost the recollection
 of the vision1 it was recalled to my   
memory by a very blooming and graceful  
maiden fourteen or fifteen years old1   
that ,i accidentally met during my      
travels in ,illyria2 but ,i cannot say  
that the impression made upon my mind by
 this female was very strong4 ,now comes
 the extraordinary part of the          
narrative3 ten years after1--twenty     
years after my first illness1 at a time 
when ,i was exceedingly weak from a     
severe and dangerous malady1 which for  
many years threatened my life1 and when 
my mind was almost in a desponding      
state1 being in a course of travels     
ordered by my medical advisers1 ,i again

 met the person who was the             
representative of my visionary female2  
and to her kindness and care1 ,i        
believe1 ,i owe what remains to me of   
existence4 ,my despondency gradually    
disappeared1 and though my health still 
continued weak1 life began to possess   
charms for me which ,i had thought were 
for ever gone2 and ,i could not help    
identifying the living angel with the   
vision which appeared as my guardian    
genius during the illness of my youth4  
,the reader will probably agree with    
,onuphrio1 in seeing in this history    
nothing beyond the influence of an      
imagination excited by disease4  ,the   
discourse now turns upon that part of   
the vision in the ,colosum in which was 
exhibited the early state of man1 after 
his first creation1 and which ,ambrosio 
considers as not only incompatible with 
revelation1 but likewise with reason and
 every thing that we know respecting the
 history or traditions of the early     
nations of antiquity4  ,i shall merely  

state the objection which ,ambrosio     
offers4 ,i must then refer the reader to
 the work itself for an account of the  
discussion it provoked4                 
,ambrosio4--,you consider man1 in his   
early state1 a savage like those who now
 inhabit ,new ,holland1 or ,new         
,zealand1 acquiring1 by the little use  
that they make of a feeble reason1 the  
power of supporting and extending life4 
,now1 ,i contend that1 if man had been  
so created1 he must inevitably have been
 destroyed by the elements1 or devoured 
by savage beasts1 so infinitely his     
superiors in physical force4  ,during   
the discussion1 an opinion is advanced  
by ,ambrosio1 so singular1 that ,i must 
be allowed to quote it4 ,i consider1    
says he1 all the miraculous parts of our
 religion as effected by changes in the 
sensations or ideas of the human mind1  
and not by physical changes in the order
 of nature6 ,to ,infinite ,wisdom and   
,power1 a change in the intellectual    
state of the human being may be the     

result of a momentary will1 and the mere
 act of faith may produce the change4   
,how great the powers of imagination    
are1 even in ordinary life1 is shown by 
many striking facts1 and nothing seems  
impossible to this imagination when     
acted upon by ,divine influence4  ,this 
is surely a most extraordinary line of  
argument for the apologist of the       
,christian faith1 and of the miracles by
 which it is supported4  ,in the ,,third
 ,,dialogue1 called the ,unknown1 the   
author and his friends1 ,ambrosio and   
,onuphrio1 make an excursion to the     
remains of the temples of ,pstum4 ,were 
my existence to be prolonged through ten
 centuries1 exclaims the author1 ,i     
think ,i could never forget the pleasure
 ,i received on that delicious spot4 ,in
 contemplating beautiful scenery1 much  
of its interest depends upon the        
feelings and associations of the moment2
 and the author was upon this occasion  
evidently in that poetical frame of mind
 which sheds a magic light over every   

landscape1 and converts the most        
ordinary objects into emblems of        
morality3 in the admixture of the olive 
and the cypress tree1 he saw a          
connection1 to memorialize1 as it were1 
how near each other are life and death1 
joy and sorrow2 while the music of the  
birds1 and1 above all1 the cooing of the
 turtle-doves1 by overpowering the      
murmuring of the waves and the whistling
 of the winds1 served but to show him   
that1 in the strife of nature1 the voice
 of love is predominant4  ,with their   
hearts touched by the scene they had    
witnessed1 the travellers descended to  
the ruins1 and began to examine those   
wonderful remains which have outlived   
even the name of the people by whom they
 were raised4 ,while engaged in         
measuring the ,doric columns in the     
interior of the ,temple of ,neptune1 a  
stranger1 remarkable both in dress and  
appearance1 was observed to be writing  
in a memorandum book2 the author        
immediately addresses him1 and becoming 

mutually pleased with each other1 they  
enter into a conversation of high       
scientific interest4  ,the sentiments   
delivered by the ,,unknown1 for by this 
title is the philosopher designated1    
notwithstanding their dramatic dress1   
are evidently to be received as the     
bequest of the latest scientific        
opinions of ,sir ,h4 ,davy upon several 
important subjects1 and must            
consequently command our respect and    
consideration4  ,to a question relative 
to the nature of the masses of          
travertine1 of which the ruins          
consisted1 the ,unknown replied1 that   
they were certainly produced by         
deposition from water2 and he rather    
believed1 that a lake in the immediate  
neighbourhood of the city furnished the 
quarry4 ,the party are then described as
 visiting this spot4  ,there was        
something peculiarly melancholy in the  
character of this water2 all the herbs  
around it were grey1 as if incrusted    
with marble2 a few buffaloes were       

slaking their thirst in it1 which ran   
wildly away at our approach1 and        
appeared to retire into a rocky         
excavation or quarry at the end of the  
lake4 ',there1' said the stranger1 'is  
what ,i believe to be the source of     
those large and durable stones which you
 see in the plain before you4 ,this     
water rapidly deposits calcareous       
matter1 and even1 if you throw a stick  
into it1 a few hours is sufficient to   
give it a coating of this substance4    
,whichever way you turn your eyes1 you  
see masses of this recently produced    
marble1 the consequence of the          
overflowing of the lake during the      
winter floods4'         99       99     
99       99       99  ,this water is    
like many1 ,i may say most1 of the      
sources which rise at the foot of the   
,apennines2 it holds carbonic acid in   
solution1 which has dissolved a portion 
of the calcareous matter of the rock    
through which it has passed3--this      
carbonic acid is dissipated in the      

atmosphere1 and the marble1 slowly      
thrown down1 assumes a crystalline form1
 and produces coherent stones4 ,the lake
 before us is not particularly rich in  
the quantity of calcareous matter1 for1 
as ,i have found by experience1 a pint  
of it does not afford more than five or 
six grains2 but the quantity of fluid   
and the length of time are sufficient to
 account for the immense quantities of  
tufa and rock which1 in the course of   
ages1 have accumulated in this          
situation4         99       99       99 
99       99  ,it can1 ,i think1 be      
scarcely doubted that there is a source 
of volcanic fire at no great distance   
from the surface1 in the whole of       
southern ,italy2 and1 this fire acting  
upon the calcareous rocks of which the  
,apennines are composed1 must constantly
 detach from them carbonic acid1 which  
rising to the sources of the springs1   
deposited from the waters of the        
atmosphere1 must give them their        
impregnation1 and enable them to        

dissolve calcareous matter4 ,i need not 
dwell upon tna1 ,vesuvius1 or the       
,lipari ,islands1 to prove that volcanic
 fires are still in existence2 and there
 can be no doubt that1 in earlier       
periods1 almost the whole of ,italy was 
ravaged by them2 even ,rome itself1 the 
eternal city1 rests upon the craters of 
extinct volcanoes2 and ,i imagine that  
the traditional and fabulous record of  
the destruction made by the             
conflagration of ,phaeton1 in the       
chariot of the ,sun1 and his falling    
into the ,po1 had reference to a great  
and tremendous igneous volcanic eruption
 which extended over ,italy1 and ceased 
only near the ,po1 at the foot of the   
,alps4 ,be this as it may1 the sources  
of carbonic acid are numerous1 not      
merely in the ,neapolitan but likewise  
in the ,roman and ,tuscan states4 ,the  
most magnificent waterfall in ,europe1  
that of the ,velino near ,terni1 is     
partly fed by a stream containing       
calcareous matter dissolved by carbonic 

acid1 and it deposits marble1 which     
crystallizes even in the midst of its   
thundering descent and foam1 in the bed 
in which it falls4  ,there is a lake in 
,latium1 a few yards above the ,lacus   
,albula1 where the ancient ,romans      
erected their baths1 which sends down a 
considerable stream of tepid water to   
the larger lake2 but this water is less 
strongly impregnated with carbonic acid2
 the largest lake is actually a         
saturated solution of this gas1 which   
escapes from it in such quantities in   
some parts of its surface1 that it has  
the appearance of being actually in     
ebullition4 ,its temperature ,i         
ascertained to be1 in the winter1 in the
 warmest parts1 above #hj degrees of    
,fahrenheit1 and as it appears to be    
pretty constant1 it must be supplied    
with heat from a subterraneous source1  
being nearly twenty degrees above the   
mean temperature of the atmosphere4     
,kircher has detailed1 in his ,mundus   
,subterraneus1 various wonders          

respecting this lake1 most of which are 
unfounded2 such as1 that it is          
unfathomable1--that it has at the bottom
 the heat of boiling water1 and that    
floating islands rise from the gulf     
which emits it4 ,it must certainly be   
very difficult1 or even impossible1 to  
fathom a source which rises with so much
 violence from a subterraneous          
excavation2 and at a time when chemistry
 had made small progress1 it was easy to
 mistake the disengagement of carbonic  
acid for an actual ebullition4 ,the     
floating islands are real2 but neither  
the ,jesuit1 nor any of the writers who 
have since described this lake1 had a   
correct idea of their origin1 which is  
exceedingly curious4 ,the high          
temperature of this water1 and the      
quantity of carbonic acid that it       
contains1 render it peculiarly fitted to
 afford a pabulum or nourishment to     
vegetable life2 the banks of travertine 
are every where covered with reeds1     
lichens1 conferv1 and various kinds of  

aquatic vegetables2 and at the same time
 that the process of vegetable life is  
going on1 the crystallizations of the   
calcareous matter1 which is every where 
deposited in consequence of the escape  
of carbonic acid1 likewise proceed1     
giving a constant milkiness to what from
 its tint would otherwise be a blue     
fluid4 ,so rapid is the vegetation1     
owing to the decomposition of the       
carbonic acid1 that even in winter1     
masses of conferv and lichens1 mixed    
with deposited travertine1 are          
constantly detached by the current of   
water from the bank1 and float down the 
stream1 which being a considerable      
river1 is never without many of these   
small islands on its surface2 they are  
sometimes only a few inches in size1 and
 composed merely of dark green conferv1 
or purple or yellow lichens2 but they   
are sometimes even of some feet in      
diameter1 and contain seeds and various 
species of common water-plants1 which   
are usually more or less incrusted with 

marble4 ,there is1 ,i believe1 no place 
in the world where there is a more      
striking example of the opposition or   
contrast of the laws of animate and     
inanimate nature1 of the forces of      
inorganic chemical affinity and those of
 the powers of life4 ,vegetables1 in    
such a temperature1 and every where     
surrounded by food1 are produced with a 
wonderful rapidity2 but the             
crystallizations are formed with equal  
quickness1 and they are no sooner       
produced than they are destroyed        
together4 ,the quantity of vegetable    
matter and its heat make it the resort  
of an infinite variety of insect tribes2
 and1 even in the coldest days in       
winter1 numbers of flies may be observed
 on the vegetables surrounding its banks
 or on its floating islands1 and a      
quantity of their larv may be seen      
there1 sometimes incrusted and entirely 
destroyed by calcareous matter1 which is
 likewise often the fate of the insects 
themselves1 as well as of various       

species of shell-fish that are found    
amongst the vegetables which grow and   
are destroyed in the travertine on its  
banks4         99       99       99     
99       99  ,i have passed many hours1 
,i may say1 many days1 in studying the  
phenomena of this wonderful lake2 it has
 brought many trains of thought into my 
mind connected with the early changes of
 our globe1 and ,i have sometimes       
reasoned from the forms of plants and   
animals preserved in marble in this warm
 source1 to the grander depositions in  
the secondary rocks1 where the zoophytes
 or coral insects have worked upon a    
grand scale1 and where palms and        
vegetables now unknown are preserved    
with the remains of crocodiles1 turtles1
 and gigantic extinct animals of the    
,sauri genus1 and which appear to have  
belonged to a period when the whole     
globe possessed a much higher           
temperature4         99       99        
99       99       99  ,then1 from all we
 know1 this lake1 except in some change 

in its dimensions1 continues nearly in  
the same state in which it was described
 seventeen hundred years ago by ,pliny1 
and ,i have no doubt contains the same  
kinds of floating islands1 the same     
plants1 and the same insects4 ,during   
the fifteen years that ,i have known it1
 it has appeared precisely identical in 
these respects2 and yet it has the      
character of an accidental phenomenon   
depending upon subterraneous fire4 ,how 
marvellous then are those laws by which 
even the humblest types of organic      
existence are preserved1 though born    
amidst the sources of their destruction1
 and by which a species of immortality  
is given to generations1 floating1 as it
 were1 like evanescent bubbles on a     
stream raised from the deepest caverns  
of the earth1 and instantly losing what 
may be called its spirit in the         
atmosphere6  ,from this interesting     
discourse on the formation of           
,travertine1 the conversation naturally 
turned to ,geology2 and ,i shall here   

again be compelled to give another      
copious extract1 in order to show what  
were the latest opinions of ,sir ,h4    
,davy upon this subject4 ,if any doubt  
could exist as to the views here given  
being those entertained by the author1  
it is at once removed by his letter to  
,mr4 ,poole1 in which1 alluding to the  
work under review1 he says1 ,it contains
 the essence of my philosophical        
opinions4  ,on the geological scheme of 
the early history of the globe1 there   
are only analogies to guide us1 which   
different minds may apply and interpret 
in different ways2 but ,i will not      
trifle with a long preliminary          
discourse4 ,astronomical deductions and 
actual measures by triangulation prove  
that the globe is an oblate spheroid    
flattened at the poles2 and this form1  
we know1 by strict mathematical         
demonstrations1 is precisely the one    
which a fluid body revolving round its  
axis and become solid at its surface by 
the slow dissipation of its heat or     

other causes1 would assume4 ,i suppose1 
therefore1 that the globe1 in the first 
state in which the imagination can      
venture to consider it1 was a fluid mass
 with an immense atmosphere1 revolving  
in space round the sun1 and that by its 
cooling1 a portion of its atmosphere was
 condensed in water which occupied a    
part of the surface4 ,in this state1 no 
forms of life1 such as now belong to our
 system1 could have inhabited it2 and ,i
 suppose the crystalline rocks1 or1 as  
they are called by geologists1 the      
primary rocks1 which contain no vestiges
 of a former order of things1 were the  
results of the first consolidation on   
its surface4 ,upon the farther cooling1 
the water which more or less had covered
 it1 contracted2 depositions took place1
 shell-fish1 and coral insects of the   
first creation began their labours1 and 
islands appeared in the midst of the    
ocean1 raised from the deep by the      
productive energies of millions of      
zoophytes4 ,these islands became covered

 with vegetables fitted to bear a high  
temperature1 such as palms1 and various 
species of plants similar to those which
 now exist in the hottest part of the   
world4 ,and the submarine rocks or      
shores of these new formations of land  
became covered with aquatic vegetables1 
on which various species of shell-fish  
and common fishes found their           
nourishment4 ,the fluids of the globe in
 cooling deposited a large quantity of  
the materials they held in solution1 and
 these deposits agglutinating together  
the sand1 the immense masses of coral   
rocks1 and some of the remains of the   
shells and fishes found round the shores
 of the primitive lands1 produced the   
first order of secondary rocks4  ,as the
 temperature of the globe became lower1 
species of the oviparous reptiles were  
created to inhabit it2 and the turtle1  
crocodile1 and various gigantic animals 
of the ,sauri kind1 seem to have haunted
 the bays and waters of the primitive   
lands4 ,but in this state of things     

there was no order of events similar to 
the present1--the crust of the globe was
 exceedingly slender1 and the source of 
fire a small distance from the surface4 
,in consequence of contraction in one   
part of the mass1 cavities were opened1 
which caused the entrance of water1 and 
immense volcanic explosions took place1 
raising one part of the surface1        
depressing another1 producing mountains 
and causing new and extensive           
depositions from the primitive ocean4   
,changes of this kind must have been    
extremely frequent in the early epochas 
of nature2 and the only living forms of 
which the remains are found in the      
strata that are the monuments of these  
changes1 are those of plants1 fishes1   
birds1 and oviparous reptiles1 which    
seem most fitted to exist in such a war 
of the elements4  ,when these           
revolutions became less frequent1 and   
the globe became still more cooled1 and 
the inequalities of its temperature     
preserved by the mountain chains1 more  

perfect animals became its inhabitants1 
many of which1 such as the mammoth1     
megalonix1 megatherium1 and gigantic    
hyena1 are now extinct4 ,at this period1
 the temperature of the ocean seems to  
have been not much higher than it is at 
present1 and the changes produced by    
occasional eruptions of it have left no 
consolidated rocks4 ,yet one of these   
eruptions appears to have been of great 
extent and of some duration1 and seems  
to have been the cause of those immense 
quantities of water-worn stones1 gravel1
 and sand1 which are usually called     
diluvian remains2--and it is probable   
that this effect was connected with the 
elevation of a new continent in the     
southern hemisphere by volcanic fire4   
,when the system of things became so    
permanent1 that the tremendous          
revolutions depending upon the          
destruction of the equilibrium between  
the heating and cooling agencies were no
 longer to be dreaded1 the creation of  
man took place2 and since that period   

there has been little alteration in the 
physical circumstances of our globe4    
,volcanoes sometimes occasion the rise  
of new islands1 portions of the old     
continents are constantly washed by     
rivers into the sea1 but these changes  
are too insignificant to affect the     
destinies of man1 or the nature of the  
physical circumstances of things4 ,on   
the hypothesis that ,i have adopted1    
however1 it must be remembered1 that the
 present surface of the globe is merely 
a thin crust surrounding a nucleus of   
fluid ignited matter2 and consequently1 
we can hardly be considered as actually 
safe from the danger of a catastrophe by
 fire4         99       99       99     
99       99  ,i beg you to consider the 
views ,i have been developing as merely 
hypothetical1 one of the many           
resting-places that may be taken by the 
imagination in considering this subject4
 ,there are1 however1 distinct facts in 
favour of the idea1 that the interior of
 the globe has a higher temperature than

 the surface2 the heat increasing in    
mines the deeper we penetrate1 and the  
number of warm sources which rise from  
great depths1 in almost all countries1  
are certainly favourable to the idea4   
,the opinion1 that volcanoes are owing  
to this general and simple cause1 is1 ,i
 think1 likewise more agreeable to the  
analogies of things1 than to suppose    
them dependent upon partial chemical    
changes1 such as the action of air and  
water upon the combustible bases of the 
earths and alkalies1 though it is       
extremely probable that these substances
 may exist beneath the surface1 and may 
occasion some results of volcanic       
fire2--and on this subject my notion may
 perhaps be the more trusted1 as for a  
long while ,i thought volcanic eruptions
 were owing to chemical agencies of the 
newly discovered metals of the earths   
and alkalies1 and ,i made many and some 
dangerous experiments in the hope of    
confirming this notion1 but in vain4    
99       99       99       99       99  

,i have no objection to the 'refined    
,plutonic view1' 7of ,professor         
,playfair and ,sir ,james ,hall17 as    
capable of explaining many existing     
phenomena2 indeed1 you must be aware    
that ,i have myself had recourse to it4 
,what ,i contend against is1 its        
application to explain the formations of
 the secondary rocks1 which ,i think    
clearly belong to an order of facts not 
at all embraced by it4 ,in the ,plutonic
 system1 there is one simple and        
constant order assumed1 which may be    
supposed eternal4 ,the surface is       
constantly imagined to be disintegrated1
 destroyed1 degraded1 and washed into   
the bosom of the ocean by water1 and as 
constantly consolidated1 elevated1 and  
regenerated by fire2 and the ruins of   
the old form the foundations of the new 
world4 ,it is supposed that there are   
always the same types both of dead and  
living matter1--that the remains of     
rocks1 of vegetables1 and animals of one
 age are found imbedded in rocks raised 

from the bottom of the ocean in another4
 ,now1 to support this view1 not only   
the remains of living beings which at   
present people the globe1 might be      
expected to be found in the oldest      
secondary strata1 but even those of the 
art of man1 the most powerful and       
populous of its inhabitants1 which is   
well known not to be the case4 ,on the  
contrary1 each stratum of the secondary 
rocks contains remains of peculiar and  
mostly now unknown species of vegetables
 and animals4 ,in those strata which are
 deepest1 and which must consequently be
 supposed to be the earliest deposited1 
forms even of vegetable life are rare2  
shells and vegetable remains are found  
in the next order2 the bones of fishes  
and oviparous reptiles exist in the     
following class2 the remains of birds1  
with those of the same genera mentioned 
before1 in the next order2 those of     
quadrupeds of extinct species in a still
 more recent class2 and it is only in   
the loose and slightly consolidated     

strata of gravel and sand1 and which are
 usually called diluvian formations1    
that the remains of animals1 such as now
 people the globe1 are found1 with      
others belonging to extinct species4    
,but in none of these formations1       
whether called secondary1 tertial1 or   
diluvial1 have the remains of man1 or   
any of his works1 been discovered4 ,it  
is1 ,i think1 impossible to consider the
 organic remains found in any of the    
earlier secondary strata1 the           
lias-limestone and its congenerous      
formations1 for instance1 without being 
convinced1 that the beings whose organs 
they formed belonged to an order of     
things entirely different from the      
present4 ,gigantic vegetables1 more     
nearly allied to the palms of the       
equatorial countries than to any other  
plants1 can only be imagined to have    
lived in a very high temperature2 and   
the immense reptiles1 the ,megalosauri1 
with paddles instead of legs1 and       
clothed in mail1 in size equal1 or even 

superior to the whale2 and the great    
amphibia ,plethiosauri1 with bodies like
 turtles1 but furnished with necks      
longer than their bodies1 probably to   
enable them to feed on vegetables       
growing in the shallows of the primitive
 ocean1 seem to show a state in which   
low lands1 or extensive shores1 rose    
above an immense calm sea1 and when     
there were no great mountain chains to  
produce inequalities of temperature1    
tempests1 or storms4 ,were the surface  
of the earth now to be carried down into
 the depths of the ocean1 or were some  
great revolution of the waters to cover 
the existing land1 and it was again to  
be elevated by fire1 covered with       
consolidated depositions of sand or mud1
 how entirely different would it be in  
its characters from any of the secondary
 strata6 ,its great features would      
undoubtedly be the works of man3 hewn   
stones1 and statues of bronze and       
marble1 and tools of iron1 and human    
remains1 would be more common than those

 of animals1 on the greatest part of the
 surface2 the columns of ,pstum1 or of  
,agrigentum1 or the immense iron bridges
 of the ,thames1 would offer a striking 
contrast to the bones of the crocodiles1
 or ,sauri1 in the older rocks1 or even 
to those of the mammoth1 or ,elephas    
primogenius1 in the diluvial strata4    
,and whoever dwells upon this subject   
must be convinced1 that the present     
order of things1 and the comparatively  
recent existence of man1 as the master  
of the globe1 is as certain as the      
destruction of a former and a different 
order1 and the extinction of a number of
 living forms1 which have now no types  
in being1 and which have left their     
remains wonderful monuments of the      
revolutions of nature4  ,the ,,fourth   
,,dialogue1 to which is given the title 
of ,the ,proteus1 or ,immortality1 is of
 a more desultory nature than those     
which precede it4 ,it contains many     
beautiful descriptions of scenery in the
 ,alpine country of ,austria2 furnishes 

an interesting account of that most     
singular reptile the ,proteus ,anguinus1
 which is found only in the limestone   
caverns of ,carniola1 and concludes with
 reflections upon the indestructibility 
of the sentient principle4  ,the        
author's companion1 during the tour he  
describes1 is a scientific friend1 whom 
he calls ,eubathes4 ,the dialogue opens 
with a passage of considerable pathos   
and eloquence3 the author having been   
recalled to ,england by a melancholy    
event1 the death of a very near and dear
 relation1 describes his feelings on    
entering ,london4  ,in my youth1 and    
through the prime of manhood1 ,i never  
entered ,london without feelings of     
pleasure and hope4 ,it was to me as the 
grand theatre of intellectual activity1 
the field of every species of enterprise
 and exertion1 the metropolis of the    
world of business1 thought1 and action4 
,there1 ,i was sure to find the friends 
and companions of my youth1 to hear the 
voice of encouragement and praise4      

,there1 society of the most refined kind
 offered daily its banquets to the mind1
 with such variety that satiety had no  
place in them1 and new objects of       
interest and ambition were constantly   
exciting attention either in politics1  
literature1 or science4  ,i now entered 
this great city in a very different tone
 of mind--one of settled melancholy1 not
 merely produced by the mournful event  
which recalled me to my country1 but    
owing likewise to an entire change in   
the condition of my physical1 moral1 and
 intellectual being4 ,my health was     
gone1 my ambition was satisfied2 ,i was 
no longer excited by the desire of      
distinction2 what ,i regarded most      
tenderly was in the grave2 and to take a
 metaphor1 derived from the change      
produced by time in the juice of the    
grape1 my cup of life was no longer     
sparkling1 sweet1 and effervescent2 it  
had lost its sweetness without losing   
its power1 and it had become bitter4    
,there is perhaps not a more splendid   

passage to be found in the work2 and it 
is scarcely inferior to ,dr4 ,johnson's 
memorable conclusion to the preface of  
his ,dictionary4  ,after passing a few  
months in ,england1 says he1 and        
enjoying 7as much as ,i could enjoy any 
thing7 the society of the few friends   
who still remained alive1 the desire of 
travel again seized me4 ,i had preserved
 amidst the wreck of time1 one feeling  
strong and unbroken--the love of natural
 scenery2 and this1 in advanced life1   
formed a principal motive for my plans  
of conduct and action4  ,the fall of the
 ,traun1 about ten miles below ,gmnden1 
was one of his favourite haunts2 and he 
describes an accident of the most awful 
description which befell him at this    
place4 ,while amusing himself on the    
water by a rapid species of locomotion1 
in a boat so secured by a rope as to    
allow only of a limited range1 the      
tackle gave way1 and he was rapidly     
precipitated down the cataract4 ,he     
remained for some time after his rescue 

in a state of insensibility1 and on     
recovering found himself attended by his
 mysterious friend the ,unknown1 who had
 so charmed him in his excursion to     
,pstum4  ,with this stranger1 he        
proceeded on his tour2 and he again     
becomes the medium through which much   
philosophical information is conveyed to
 the reader4  ,they visit together the  
grotto of the ,maddalena at ,adelsberg1 
and he gives us the conversation that   
took place in that extraordinary cavern4
  ,philalethes4--,if the awful chasms of
 dark masses of rock surrounding us     
appear like the work of demons1 who     
might be imagined to have risen from the
 centre of the earth1 the beautiful     
works of nature above our heads may be  
compared to a scenic representation of a
 temple or banquet-hall for fairies or  
genii1 such as those fabled in the      
,arabian romances4  ,the ,unknown4--,a  
poet might certainly place here the     
palace of the king of the ,gnomes1 and  
might find marks of his creative power  

in the small lake close by1 on which the
 flame of the torch is now falling2 for1
 there it is that ,i expect to find the 
extraordinary animals which have been so
 long the objects of my attention4      
,eubathes4--,i see three or four        
creatures1 like slender fish1 moving on 
the mud below the water4  ,the          
,unknown4--,i see them2 they are the    
,protei1--now ,i have them in my        
fishing-net1 and now they are safe in   
the pitcher of water4 ,at first view1   
you might suppose this animal to be a   
lizard1 but it has the motions of a     
fish4 ,its head1 and the lower part of  
its body and its tail1 bear a strong    
resemblance to those of the eel2 but it 
has no fins2 and its curious bronchial  
organs are not like the gills of fishes2
 they form a singular vascular          
structure1 as you see1 almost like a    
crest1 round the throat1 which may be   
removed without occasioning the death of
 the animal1 who is likewise furnished  
with lungs4 ,with this double apparatus 

for supplying air to the blood1 it can  
live either below or above the surface  
of the water4 ,its fore-feet resemble   
hands1 but they have only three claws or
 fingers1 are too feeble to be of use in
 grasping1 or supporting the weight of  
the animal2 the hinder feet have only   
two claws or toes1 and in larger        
specimens are found so imperfect as to  
be almost obliterated4 ,it has small    
points in place of eyes1 as if to       
preserve the analogy of nature4 ,its    
nasal organs appear large2 and it is    
abundantly furnished with teeth1 from   
which it may be concluded that it is an 
animal of prey2 yet in its confined     
state it has never been known to eat1   
and it has been kept alive for many     
years by occasionally changing the water
 in which it is placed4  ,eubathes4--,is
 this the only place in ,carniola where 
these animals are found8  ,the          
,unknown4--,they were first discovered  
here by the late ,baron ,zois2 but they 
have since been found1 though rarely1 at

 ,sittich1 about thirty miles distant1  
thrown up by water from a subterraneous 
cavity2 and ,i have lately heard it     
reported that some individuals of the   
same species have been recognised in the
 calcareous strata in ,sicily4 ,i think 
it cannot be doubted1 that their natural
 residence is an extensive deep         
subterranean lake1 from which in great  
floods they sometimes are forced through
 the crevices of the rocks into this    
place where they are found2 and it does 
not appear to me impossible1 when the   
peculiar nature of the country in which 
we are is considered1 that the same     
great cavity may furnish the individuals
 which have been found at ,adelsberg and
 at ,sittich4         99       99       
99       99       99  ,this adds one    
more instance to the number already     
known of the wonderful manner in which  
life is produced and perpetuated in     
every part of our globe1 even in places 
which seem the least suited to organized
 existence4 ,and the same infinite power

 and wisdom which has fitted the camel  
and the ostrich for the deserts of      
,africa1 the swallow that secretes its  
own nest for the caves of ,java1 the    
whale for the ,polar seas1 and the morse
 and white bear for the ,arctic ice1 has
 given the ,proteus to the deep and dark
 subterraneous lakes of ,illyria1--an   
animal to whom the presence of light is 
not essential1 and who can live         
indifferently in air and in water1 on   
the surface of the rock1 or in the      
depths of the mud4  ,much interesting   
physiological discussion follows4 ,i    
shall1 however1 merely notice the       
opinion delivered by the ,unknown1 on   
the subject of respiration1 and which ,i
 think shows that1 at the conclusion of 
his career1 ,davy entertained the same  
notions1 with regard to the             
communication of some ethereal principle
 to the blood1 as he maintained in the  
earlier part of his life4#aai--,the     
obvious chemical alteration of the air  
is sufficiently simple in this process2 

a certain quantity of carbon only is    
added to it1 and it receives an addition
 of heat or vapour2 the volumes of      
elastic fluid inspired and expired      
7making allowance for change of         
temperature17 are the same1 and if      
ponderable agents only were to be       
regarded1 it would appear as if the only
 use of respiration were to free the    
blood from a certain quantity of        
carbonaceous matter4 ,but it is probable
 that this is only a secondary object1  
and that the change produced by         
respiration upon the blood is of a much 
more important kind4 ,oxygen1 in its    
elastic state1 has properties which are 
very characteristic2 it gives out light 
by compression1 which is not certainly  
known to be the case with any other     
elastic fluid except those which oxygen 
has entered without undergoing          
combustion2 and from the fire it        
produces in certain processes1 and from 
the manner in which it is separated by  
positive electricity in the gaseous     

state from its combinations1 it is not  
easy to avoid the supposition1 that it  
contains1 besides its ponderable        
elements1 some very subtile matter which
 is capable of assuming the form of heat
 and light4 ,my idea is1 that the common
 air inspired enters into the venous    
blood entire1 in a state of dissolution1
 carrying with it its subtile or        
ethereal part1 which in ordinary cases  
of chemical change is given off2 that it
 expels from the blood carbonic acid gas
 and azote2 and that1 in the course of  
the circulation1 its ethereal part and  
its ponderable part undergo changes     
which belong to laws that cannot be     
considered as chemical1--the ethereal   
part probably producing animal heat and 
other effects1 and the ponderable part  
contributing to form carbonic acid and  
other products4 ,the arterial blood is  
necessary to all the functions of life1 
and it is no less connected with the    
irritability of the muscles and the     
sensibility of the nerves than with the 

performance of all the secretions4      
#aai ,see vol4 i4 page #gj4  ,the       
,,fifth ,,dialogue is entitled ,the     
,chemist4 ,its object is to demonstrate 
the importance of this noble science4   
,an interlocutor is made to disparage   
its utility1 and to mark its weaker     
points4 ,these of course are answered1  
the sceptic becomes a true believer1 and
 the intellectual gladiators separate   
mutually satisfied with each other4     
,eubathes4--,i feel disposed to join you
 in attacking this favourite study of   
our friend1 but merely to provoke him to
 defend it1 in order to call forth his  
skill and awaken his eloquence4  ,the   
,unknown4--,i have no objection4 ,let   
there be a fair discussion3 remember1 we
 fight only with foils1 and the point of
 mine shall be covered with velvet4     
,after having enumerated the scientific 
attainments necessary to constitute the 
chemist1 and described the apparatus    
essential for understanding what has    
been already done in the science1 he    

proceeds to define the intellectual     
qualities which he considers necessary  
for discovery1 or for the advancement of
 the science4 ,amongst them1 patience1  
industry1 and neatness in manipulation1 
and accuracy and minuteness in observing
 and registering the phenomena which    
occur1 are essential4 ,a steady hand and
 a quick eye are most useful            
auxiliaries2 but there have been very   
few great chemists who have preserved   
these advantages through life2 for the  
business of the laboratory is often a   
service of danger1 and the elements1    
like the refractory spirits of romance1 
though the obedient slaves of the       
magician1 yet sometimes escape the      
influence of his talisman1 and endanger 
his person4 ,both the hands and eyes of 
others1 however1 may be sometimes       
advantageously made use of4 ,by often   
repeating a process or an observation1  
the errors connected with hasty         
operations or imperfect views are       
annihilated2 and1 provided the assistant

 has no preconceived notions of his own1
 and is ignorant of the object of his   
employer in making the experiment1 his  
simple and bare detail of facts will    
often be the best foundation for an     
opinion4 ,with respect to the higher    
qualities of intellect necessary for    
understanding and developing the general
 laws of the science1 the same talents1 
,i believe1 are required as for making  
advancement in every other department of
 human knowledge2 ,i need not be very   
minute4 ,the imagination must be active 
and brilliant in seeking analogies2 yet 
entirely under the influence of the     
judgment in applying them4 ,the memory  
must be extensive and profound2 rather1 
however1 calling up general views of    
things than minute trains of            
thought2--the mind must not be like an  
,encyclopedia1--a burthen of knowledge1 
but rather a critical ,dictionary1 which
 abounds in generalities1 and points out
 where more minute information may be   
obtained4         99       99       99  

99       99  ,in announcing even the    
greatest and most important discoveries1
 the true philosopher will communicate  
his details with modesty and reserve2 he
 will rather be a useful servant of the 
public1 bringing forth a light from     
under his cloak when it is needed in    
darkness1 than a charlatan exhibiting   
fire-works1 and having a trumpeter to   
announce their magnificence4  ,i see you
 are smiling1 and think what ,i am      
saying in bad taste2 yet1               
notwithstanding1 ,i will provoke your   
smiles still farther1 by saying a word  
or two on his other moral qualities4    
,that he should be humble-minded1 you   
will readily allow1 and a diligent      
searcher after truth1 and neither       
diverted from this great object by the  
love of transient glory or temporary    
popularity1 looking rather to the       
opinion of ages than to that of a day1  
and seeking to be remembered and named  
rather in the epochas of historians than
 in the columns of newspaper writers or 

journalists4 ,he should resemble the    
modern geometricians in the greatness of
 his views and the profoundness of his  
researches1 and the ancient alchemists  
in industry and piety4 ,i do not mean   
that he should affix written prayers and
 inscriptions#abj of recommendations of 
his processes to ,providence1 as was the
 custom of ,peter ,wolfe1 who was alive 
in my early days2 but his mind should   
always be awake to devotional feelings2 
and in contemplating the variety and the
 beauty of the external world1 and      
developing its scientific wonders1 he   
will always refer to that ,infinite     
,wisdom1 through whose beneficence he is
 permitted to enjoy knowledge2 and1 in  
becoming wiser1 he will become          
better1--he will rise at once in the    
scale of intellectual and moral         
existence1 his increased sagacity will  
be subservient to a more exalted faith1 
and in proportion as the veil becomes   
thinner through which he sees the causes
 of things1 he will admire more the     

brightness of the divine light by which 
they are rendered visible4    #abj ,in  
illustration of the pious custom here   
alluded to by ,sir   ,h4 ,davy1 it may  
be observed1 that the vessels of the    
alchemists   very commonly bore some    
emblem2 such1 for instance1 as that of  
the cross2 and from which1 indeed1 the  
word crucible derived   its appellation4
  ,the ,,sixth ,,and ,,last ,,dialogue1 
entitled ,,pola1 or ,,time1 presents a  
series of reflections1 to which a view  
of the decaying amphitheatre at ,pola1  
an ancient town in the peninsula of     
,istria1 is represented as having given 
origin4 ,on former occasions1 the       
inspection of the mouldering works of   
past ages called up trains of thought   
rather of a moral than of a physical    
character2 in the present dialogue1 the 
effects of time are considered in their 
relations to the mechanical and chemical
 laws by which material forms are       
destroyed1 or rather changed1--for the  
author has shown by a number of         

beautiful examples1 that without decay  
there can be no reproduction1 and that  
the principle of change is a principle  
of life4  ,having considered the        
influence of gravitation1 the chemical  
and mechanical agencies of water1 air1  
and electricity1 and the energies of    
organized beings1 in producing those    
diversified phenomena which1 in our     
metaphysical abstractions1 we           
universally refer to ,time1 he proceeds 
to enquire how far art can counteract   
their operation4 ,a great philosopher1  
he observes1 has said1 ,man can in no   
other way command ,nature but in obeying
 her laws3 it is evident that1 by the   
application of some of those principles 
which she herself employs1 we may for a 
while arrest the progress of changes    
which are ultimately inevitable4  ,yet1 
when all is done that can be done in the
 work of conservation1 it is only       
producing a difference in the degree of 
duration4 ,it is evident that none of   
the works of a mortal can be eternal1 as

 none of the combinations of a limited  
intellect can be infinite4 ,the         
operations of ,nature1 when slow1 are no
 less sure2 however man may1 for a time1
 usurp dominion over her1 she is certain
 of recovering her empire4 ,he converts 
her rocks1 her stones1 her trees1 into  
forms of palaces1 houses1 and ships2 he 
employs the metals found in the bosom of
 the earth1 as instruments of power1 and
 the sands and clays which constitute   
its surface1 as ornaments and resources 
of luxury2 he imprisons air by water1   
and tortures water by fire to change1 or
 modify1 or destroy the natural forms of
 things4 ,but in some lustrums his works
 begin to change1 and in a few centuries
 they decay and are in ruins2 and his   
mighty temples1 framed as it were for   
immortal and divine purposes1 and his   
bridges formed of granite and ribbed    
with iron1 and his walls for defence1   
and the splendid monuments by which he  
has endeavoured to give eternity even to
 his perishable remains1 are gradually  

destroyed2 and these structures1 which  
have resisted the waves of the ocean1   
the tempests of the sky1 and the stroke 
of the lightning1 shall yield to the    
operation of the dews of heaven1--of    
frost1 rain1 vapour1 and imperceptible  
atmospheric influences2 and as the worm 
devours the lineaments of his mortal    
beauty1 so the lichens and the moss and 
the most insignificant plants shall feed
 upon his columns and his pyramids1 and 
the most humble and insignificant insect
 shall undermine and sap the foundations
 of his colossal works1 and make their  
habitations amongst the ruins of his    
palaces and the falling seats of his    
earthly glory4  ,on no occasion can such
 a subject be presented to a            
contemplative mind1 without filling it  
with awe and wonder2 but the            
circumstances under which these         
reflections are presented to us1 in the 
last days of our philosopher1 impress   
upon them an almost oracular solemnity4 
,when we remember that while the mind of

 the philosopher was thus engaged in    
identifying the processes of decay with 
those of renovation in the system of    
nature1 his body was palsied1 and the   
current of his life fast ebbing1 we     
cannot but admire that active           
intelligence which sparkled with such   
undiminished lustre amidst the wreck of 
its earthly tenement4  ,in the extracts 
which have been introduced from this    
last work1 ,i trust the pledge that was 
given in the earlier part of these      
memoirs1 has been redeemed by showing   
that a powerful imagination is not      
necessarily incompatible with a sound   
judgment1 that the flowers of fancy are 
not always blighted by the cold         
realities of science1 but that the poet 
and philosopher may1 under the auspices 
of a happy genius1 mutually assist each 
other in expounding the mysteries of    
nature4 ,it cannot be denied1 as a      
general aphorism1 that the tree which   
expands its force in flowers is         
generally deficient in fruit2 but the   

mind of ,davy1 to borrow one of his own 
metaphors1 may be likened to those      
fabled of the ,hesperides1 which        
produced at once buds1 leaves1 blossoms1
 and fruits4  ,the happy effects        
resulting from this rare and nicely     
adjusted combination of talents1 offer  
themselves as interesting subjects of   
biographical contemplation1 and they can
 be studied only with success by a      
comparative analysis of different minds4
  ,that the superiority of ,davy greatly
 depended upon the vivacity and compass 
of his imagination cannot be doubted1   
and such an opinion was well expressed  
by ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert1 in his late   
address to the ,society3--,the poetic   
bent of ,davy's mind seems never to have
 left him4 ,to that circumstance ,i     
would ascribe the distinguishing        
features in his character and in his    
discoveries3--a vivid imagination       
sketching out new tracks in regions     
unexplored1 for the judgment to select  
those leading to the recesses of        

abstract truth4  ,i have always thought 
that the mind of the late ,dr4 ,clarke1 
the ,mineralogical ,professor of        
,cambridge1 was little less imaginative 
than that of ,davy2 but it was deficient
 in judgment1 and therefore often       
conducted him to error instead of to    
truth4 ,dr4 ,black was not deficient in 
imagination1 and certainly not in       
judgment2 but there was a constitutional
 apathy1 arising probably from ill      
health1 which damped his noblest        
efforts4#aba    #aba ,in addition to the
 anecdote already related of him1 the   
following may serve to give a still     
greater force to this   opinion4 ,soon  
after the appearance of ,mr4            
,cavendish's paper on   hydrogen gas1 in
 which he made an approximation to the  
specific   gravity of that body1 showing
 that it was at least ten times         
lighter than common air1 ,dr4 ,black    
invited a party of his   friends to     
supper1 informing them that he had a    
curiosity to   show them4 ,dr4 ,hutton  

and several others assembled1 when1     
having   the allentois of a calf filled 
with hydrogen gas1 upon setting   it at 
liberty1 it immediately ascended1 and   
adhered to the   ceiling4 ,the          
phenomenon was easily accounted for3 it 
was taken   for granted that a small    
black thread had been attached to the   
allentois1--that this thread passed     
through the ceiling1 and that   some one
 in the apartment above1 by pulling the 
thread1 elevated   it to the ceiling1   
and kept it in that position4 ,this     
explanation   was so probable1 that it  
was acceded to by the whole company2    
though1 like many other plausible       
theories1 it was not true2   for when   
the allentois was brought down1 no      
thread whatever was   found attached to 
it4 ,dr4 ,black explained the cause of  
the ascent   to his admiring friends2   
but such was his unaccountable apathy1  
that he never gave the least account of 
this curious experiment   even to his   
class2 and more than twelve years       

elapsed before this   obvious property  
of hydrogen gas was applied to the      
elevation of   air balloons1 by ,m4     
,charles1 in ,paris4    ,i am indebted  
for this anecdote to the ,history of    
,chemistry1 a   very able work by ,dr4  
,thomson1 constituting the third number 
of   the ,national ,library4  ,it is by 
the rarity with which the talent of     
seizing upon remote analogies is        
associated with a spirit of patient and 
subtile investigation of details1 and a 
quick perception of their value1 that   
the fact so truly stated by ,mr4        
,babbage is to be explained2 viz4 that  
long intervals frequently elapse between
 the discovery of new principles in     
science and their practical application3
 thus he observes1 that the principle of
 the hydrostatic paradox was known as a 
speculative truth in the time of        
,stevinus1 as far back as the year      
#afjj1--;and its application to raising 
heavy weights has long been stated in   
elementary treatises on natural         

philosophy1 as well as constantly       
exhibited in lectures2 yet it may fairly
 be regarded as a mere abstract         
principle1 until the late ,mr4 ,bramah1 
by substituting a pump1 instead of the  
smaller column1 converted it into a most
 valuable and powerful engine4 ,the     
principle of the convertibility of the  
centres of oscillation and suspension in
 the pendulum1 discovered by ,huygens   
more than a century and a half ago1     
remained1 until within these few years1 
a sterile though most elegant           
proposition2 when1 after being hinted at
 by ,prony1 and distinctly pointed out  
by ,bonenberger1 it was employed by     
,captain ,kater as the foundation of a  
most convenient method of determining   
the length of the pendulum4 ,the        
interval which separated the discovery  
of ,dr4 ,black1 of latent heat1 from the
 beautiful and successful application of
 it to the steam-engine1 was            
comparatively short2 but it required the
 efforts of two minds2 and both were of 

the highest order4#abb    #abb          
,reflections on the ,decline of ,science
 in ,england1 page #ae4  ,the           
discoveries of ,davy present themselves 
in striking contrast with such          
instances4 ,the same powerful genius    
that developed the laws of              
electro-chemical decomposition1 was the 
first to apply them for the purpose of  
obviating metallic corrosion2 and the   
nature of fire-damp1 and the fact of its
 combustion being arrested in its       
passage through capillary tubes1 were   
alike the discoveries of him who first  
applied them for the construction of a  
safety-lamp4#abc    #abc ,while upon    
this subject1 it is impossible not to   
notice the   discoveries of ,dr4        
,franklin1 who combined in a remarkable 
degree   a fertile imagination with a   
solid judgment2 and the fruit of   this 
union is to be seen in the invention of 
conductors for the   security of ships  
and buildings against the effects of    
lightning4   ,the philosopher who1      

predicating the identity of lightning   
and   electricity1 conceived the bold   
and grand idea of drawing it   down from
 the thunder-cloud1 an experiment which 
in another age   would have consigned   
him to the dungeon for impiety1 or to   
the   stake for witchcraft1 himself     
applied this wonderful discovery to     
the preservation of buildings1 by the   
invention of pointed rods   of iron4 ,of
 this invention it may be truly said1   
that he beat   ,nature with her own     
weapons1 and triumphed over her power by
 an   obedience to her own laws4  ,in   
contrasting the genius of ,wollaston    
with that of ,davy1 let me not be       
supposed to invite a comparison to the  
disparagement of either1 but rather to  
the glory of both1 for by mutual        
reflection each will glow the brighter4 
,if the animating principle of ,davy's  
mind was a powerful imagination1        
generalizing phenomena1 and casting them
 into new combinations1 so may the      
striking characteristic of ,wollaston's 

genius be said to have been an almost   
superhuman perception of minute detail4 
,davy was ever imagining something      
greater than he knew2 ,wollaston always 
knew something more than he             
acknowledged3--in ,wollaston1 the       
predominant principle was to avoid      
error2 in ,davy1 it was the desire to   
discover truth4 ,the tendency of ,davy1 
on all occasions1 was to raise          
probabilities into facts2 while         
,wollaston as continually made them     
subservient to the expression of doubt4 
,wollaston was deficient in imagination1
 and under no circumstances could he    
have become a ,poet2 nor was it to be   
expected that his investigations should 
have led him to any of those            
comprehensive generalizations which     
create new systems of philosophy4 ,he   
well knew the compass of his powers1 and
 he pursued the only method by which    
they could be rendered available in     
advancing knowledge4 ,he was a giant in 
strength1 but it was the strength of    

,antus1 mighty only on the earth4 ,the  
extreme caution and reserve of his      
manner were inseparably connected with  
the habits of his mind2 they pervaded   
every part of his character2 in his     
amusements and in his scientific        
experiments1 he displayed the same nice 
and punctilious observation1--whether he
 was angling for trout1#abd or testing  
for elements1    #abd ,sir ,humphry     
,davy has told us an anecdote which well
   illustrates this observation1 while  
it affords a gratifying   testimony of  
the kind feeling he entertained towards 
a kindred   philosopher4--,there        
was--alas6 that ,i must say there       
was6--an   illustrious philosopher1 who 
was nearly of the age of fifty   before 
he made angling a pursuit1 yet he became
 a distinguished   fly-fisher1 and the  
amusement occupied many of his leisure  
hours1   during the last twelve years of
 his life4 ,he indeed applied his       
preeminent acuteness1 his science1 and  
his philosophy1 to aid the   resources  

and exalt the pleasures of this         
amusement4 ,i remember   to have seen   
,dr4 ,wollaston1 a few days after he had
 become   a fly-fisher1 carrying at his 
button-hole a piece of ,indian   rubber1
 when by passing his silkworm link      
through a fissure in   the middle1 he   
rendered it straight1 and fit for       
immediate use4   ,many other anglers    
will remember other ingenious devices of
 my   admirable and ever-to-be-lamented 
friend4--,salmonia4 ,additional   ,note1
 ,edit4 #b4 he alike relied for success 
upon his subtile   discrimination of    
minute circumstances4  ,by comparing the
 writings as well as the discoveries of 
these two great philosophers1 we shall  
readily perceive the intellectual       
distinctions ,i have endeavoured to     
establish4 ,from their fruits shall ye  
know them4 ,the discoveries of ,davy    
were the results of extensive views and 
new analogies2 those of ,wollaston were 
derived from a more exact examination of
 minute and1 to ordinary observers1     

scarcely appreciable differences4 ,this 
is happily illustrated by a comparison  
of the means by which each discovered   
new metals4 ,the alkaline bases were the
 products of a comprehensive            
investigation1 which had developed a new
 order of principles2 the detection of  
palladium and rhodium among the ores of 
platinum1 was the reward of delicate    
manipulation1 and microscopic scrutiny4 
,as chemical operators1 ,i have already 
pointed out their striking              
peculiarities1 and they will be found to
 be in strict keeping with the other    
features of their respective characters4
 ,i might extend the parallel farther2  
but ,dr4 ,henry1 in the eleventh edition
 of his ,system of ,chemistry1 has      
delineated the intellectual portraits of
 these two philosophers with so masterly
 a hand1 that by quoting the passage1   
all farther observation will be rendered
 unnecessary4  ,to those high gifts of  
nature1 which are the characteristics of
 genius1 and which constitute its very  

essence1 both those eminent men united  
an unwearied industry and zeal in       
research1 and habits of accurate        
reasoning1 without which even the       
energies of genius are inadequate to the
 achievement of great scientific        
designs4 ,with these excellencies1      
common to both1 they were nevertheless  
distinguishable by marked intellectual  
peculiarities4 ,bold1 ardent1 and       
enthusiastic1 ,davy soared to greater   
heights2 he commanded a wider horizon2  
and his keen vision penetrated to its   
utmost boundaries4 ,his imagination1 in 
the highest degree fertile and          
inventive1 took a rapid and extensive   
range in pursuit of conjectural         
analogies1 which he submitted to close  
and patient comparison with known facts1
 and tried by an appeal to ingenious and
 conclusive experiments4 ,he was imbued 
with the spirit1 and was a master in the
 practice1 of the inductive logic2 and  
he has left us some of the noblest      
examples of the efficacy of that great  

instrument of human reason in the       
discovery of truth4 ,he applied it1 not 
only to connect classes of facts of more
 limited extent and importance1 but to  
develope great and comprehensive laws1  
which embrace phenomena that are almost 
universal to the natural world4 ,in     
explaining those laws1 he cast upon them
 the illumination of his own clear and  
vivid conceptions2--he felt an intense  
admiration of the beauty1 order1 and    
harmony1 which are conspicuous in the   
perfect ,chemistry of ,nature2--and he  
expressed those feelings with a force of
 eloquence which could issue only from a
 mind of the highest powers and of the  
finest sensibilities4 ,with much less   
enthusiasm from temperament1 ,dr4       
,wollaston was endowed with bodily      
senses#abe of extraordinary acuteness   
and accuracy1 and with great general    
vigour of understanding4 ,trained in the
 discipline of the exact sciences1 he   
had acquired a powerful command over his
 attention1 and had habituated himself  

to the most rigid correctness1 both of  
thought and of language4 ,he was        
sufficiently provided with the resources
 of the mathematics1 to be enabled to   
pursue with success profound enquiries  
in mechanical and optical philosophy1   
the results of which enabled him to     
unfold the causes of phenomena not      
before understood1 and to enrich the    
arts connected with those sciences1 by  
the invention of ingenious and valuable 
instruments4 ,in ,chemistry1 he was     
distinguished by the extreme nicety and 
delicacy of his observations2 by the    
quickness and precision with which he   
marked resemblances and discriminated   
differences2 the sagacity with which he 
devised experiments and anticipated     
their results2 and the skill with which 
he executed the analysis of fragments of
 new substances1 often so minute as to  
be scarcely perceptible by ordinary     
eyes4 ,he was remarkable1 too1 for the  
caution with which he advanced from     
facts to general conclusions3 a caution 

which1 if it sometimes prevented him    
from reaching at once to the most       
sublime truths1 yet rendered every step 
of his ascent a secure station1 from    
which it was easy to rise to higher and 
more enlarged inductions4 ,thus these   
illustrious men1 though differing       
essentially in their natural powers and 
acquired habits1 and moving1            
independently of each other1 in         
different paths1 contributed to         
accomplish the same great ends--the     
evolving new elements2 the combining    
matter into new forms2 the increase of  
human happiness by the improvement of   
the arts of civilized life2 and the     
establishment of general laws1 that will
 serve to guide other philosophers      
onwards1 through vast and unexplored    
regions of scientific discovery4    #abe
 ,mr4 ,babbage considers it as a great  
mistake to suppose   that ,dr4          
,wollaston's microscopic accuracy       
depended upon the   extraordinary       
acuteness of the bodily senses2 a       

circumstance1   he says1 which1 if it   
were true1 would add but little to his  
philosophical character4 ,he is inclined
 to view it in a far   different light1 
and to see in it one of the natural     
results of   the precision of his       
knowledge and of the admirable training 
of   his intellectual faculties4        
99       99       99       99       99  
,my history draws towards a             
conclusion4--,sir ,humphry ,davy1 during
 the latter days of his life1 was       
cheered by the society and affectionate 
attentions of his godson1 the son of his
 old friend ,mr4 ,james ,tobin4#abf ,he 
had been the companion of his travels1  
and he was the solace of his declining  
hours4    #abf ,this inestimable man    
died on his plantation at ,nevis1 on    
the #aith of ,october #ahad1 in the     
forty-eighth year of his age4  ,he had  
been resident for some months at ,rome1 
where he occupied the second floor of a 
house in ,via di ,pietra1 a street that 
leads out of the ,corso4 ,during this   

period1 he declined receiving any       
visitors1 and had constantly some one by
 his side reading light works of        
interest to him1 an amusement which was 
even continued during his meals4  ,as   
soon as the account of ,sir ,humphry    
having sustained another paralytic      
seizure was communicated to ,lady ,davy1
 who was in ,london at the time1 she    
immediately set off1 and so rapidly was 
her journey performed1 that she reached 
,rome in little more than twelve days4  
,dr4 ,john ,davy1 also1 hastened from   
,malta1 on receiving intelligence of his
 brother's imminent danger4  ,during his
 slow and partial recovery from this    
seizure1 he learnt the circumstance of  
his name having been introduced into    
parliamentary proceedings1 in the       
following manner4 ,on the #bfth of      
,march #ahbi1 on presenting a petition  
in favour of the ,catholic claims from a
 very great and most respectable meeting
 at ,edinburgh1 ,sir ,james ,mackintosh1
 after having mentioned the name of ,sir

 ,walter ,scott as being at the head of 
the petitioners1 continued              
thus3--,although not pertinent to this  
petition1 yet connected with the cause1 
,i indulge in the melancholy pleasure of
 adding to the first name in ,british   
literature the first name in ,british   
science--that of ,sir ,humphry ,davy4   
,though on a sick-bed at ,rome1 he was  
not so absorbed by his sufferings as not
 to feel and express the glow of joy    
that shot across his heart at the glad  
tidings of the introduction of a bill   
which he hailed as alike honourable to  
his religion and his country4  ,i am    
assured that the last mark of           
satisfaction which he evinced from any  
intelligence communicated to him was on 
reading the above passage4 ,he showed a 
pleasure unusual in his state of languor
 at the justice thus done1 in the face  
of his country1 to his consistency1 to  
his zeal for religion and liberty1 and  
to the generous sentiments which cheered
 his debility4 ,the marks of his        

pleasure were observed by those who were
 brought most near to him by the        
performance of every kind office4       
,although there appeared some faint     
indications of reviving power1 his most 
sanguine friends scarcely ventured to   
indulge a hope that his life would be   
much longer protracted4 ,nor did he     
himself expect it4 ,the expressions in  
his ,will 7printed in an ,appendix7     
sufficiently testify the opinion he had 
for some time entertained of the        
hopelessness of his case4  ,in addition 
to this ,will1 he left a paper of       
directions1 which have been religiously 
observed by his widow4 ,he desires1 for 
instance1 that the interest arising from
 a hundred pounds stock may be annually 
paid to the ,master of the ,penzance    
,grammar ,school1 on condition that the 
boys may have a holiday on his          
birthday4#abg ,there is something       
singularly interesting in this          
favourable recollection of his native   
town1 and of the associations of his    

early youth4 ,it adds one more example  
to show that1 whatever may have been our
 destinies1 and however fortune may have
 changed our conditions1 where the heart
 remains uncorrupted1 we shall1 as the  
world closes upon us1 fix our           
imaginations upon the simplicities of   
our youth1 and be cheered and warmed by 
the remembrance of early pleasures1     
hallowed by feelings of regard for the  
memory of those who have long since     
slept in the grave4    #abg ,i          
understand that the present ,master1 the
 ,reverend ,mr4   ,morris1 has expressed
 his intention to apply the above sum to
   purchasing a medal1 which he intends 
to bestow as a ,prize to the   most     
meritorious scholar4  ,with that        
restlessness which characterises the    
disease under which ,sir ,humphry ,davy 
suffered1 he became extremely desirous  
of quitting ,rome1 and of establishing  
himself at ,geneva4 ,his friends were   
naturally anxious to gratify every wish2
 and ,lady ,davy kindly preceded him on 

the journey1 in order that she might at 
each stage make arrangements for his    
comfortable reception4 ,apartments were 
prepared for him at ,l',hotel de la     
,couronne1 in the ,rue du ,rhone2 and at
 three o'clock on the #bhth of ,may1    
having slept the preceding evening at   
,chambery1 he arrived at ,geneva1       
accompanied by his brother1 ,mr4 ,tobin1
 and his servant4  ,at four o'clock he  
dined1 ate heartily1 was unusually      
cheerful1 and joked with the waiter     
about the cookery of the fish1 which he 
appeared particularly to admire2 and he 
desired that1 as long as he remained at 
the hotel1 he might be daily supplied   
with every possible variety that the    
lake afforded4 ,he drank tea at eleven1 
and having directed that the feather-bed
 should be removed1 retired to rest at  
twelve4  ,his servant1 who slept in a   
bed parallel to his own1 in the same    
alcove1 was however very shortly called 
to attend him1 and he desired that his  
brother might be summoned4 ,i am        

informed that1 on ,dr4 ,davy's entering 
the room1 he said1 ,i am dying1 or words
 to that effect2 and when it is all     
over1 ,i desire that no disturbance of  
any kind may be made in the house2 lock 
the door1 and let every one retire      
quietly to his apartment4 ,he expired at
 a quarter before three o'clock1 without
 a struggle4  ,on the following morning1
 his friends ,sismondi#abh and ,de      
,candolle were sent for2 and the        
,syndics1 as soon as the circumstance of
 his death was communicated to them1    
gave directions for a public funeral on 
the ,monday2 at which the magistrates1  
the professors1 the ,english residents  
at ,geneva1 and such inhabitants as     
desired it1 were invited to attend4 ,the
 ceremony was ordered to be conducted   
after the custom of ,geneva1 which is   
always on foot--no hearse2 nor did a    
single carriage attend4 ,the cemetery is
 at ,plain-,palais1 some little distance
 out of the walls of the town4 ,the     
,couronne being at the opposite         

extremity1 the procession was long4     
#abh ,simond de ,sismondi1 the          
celebrated author of the ,history of    
the ,italian ,republic4  ,the following 
was the order of the procession3--#abi  
#abi ,for these particulars ,i am       
indebted to ,sir ,egerton ,brydges4     
,the ,two ,syndics1 7in their robes7    
,m4 ,,mastow1                           
,m4 ,,gallatin4      ,magistrates of the
 ,republic1              ,m4 ,,fazio1   
,m4 ,,salladin4      ,professors of the 
,college1 in their robes1     ,,mm4     
,simond de ,sismondi--,a4 de ,candolle4 
,,the ,,english4      ,lord ,,eglington1
     ,lord ,,twedell1     ,right ,hon4  
,,wm4 ,,wyckham1     ,capt4 ,,archibald 
,,hamilton1     ,mr4 ,,campbell1        
,mr4 ,,franks1     ,,wm4 ,,hamilton1    
,esq41 ,ex-,ambassador at ,naples4      
,sir ,,egerton ,,brydges1 ,bart4        
,colonel ,,alcock1     ,captain         
,,swinters1     ,mr4 ,,alcock1     ,mr4 
,,drew1     ,mr4 ,,heywood1     ,mr4    
,,sitwell1        c4      ,the ,students

 of the ,college4      ,the ,citizens of
 ,geneva4  ,the ,english service was    
performed by the ,rev4 ,john ,magers1 of
 ,queen's ,college1 and the ,rev4 ,mr4  
,burgess4  ,the grave was stated in the 
public prints to be next to that of his 
friend the late ,professor ,m4 ,a4      
,pictet3 this is not the fact4 ,it is   
far away from it1 on the second line of 
,no4 #bi1 the fourth grave from the end 
of the west side of the ,cemetery4      
99       99       99       99       99  
,sir ,humphry ,davy having died without 
issue1 his baronetcy has become extinct4
  ,at present1 the only memorial raised 
to commemorate the name of this         
distinguished philosopher is a ,tablet  
placed in ,westminster ,abbey by his    
widow4 ,it is thus inscribed3--         
,,to ,,the ,,memory ,,of     ,,sir      
,,humphry ,,davy1 ,,baronet2            
,,distinguished ,,throughout ,,the      
,,world     ,,by ,,his     ,,discoveries
 ,,in ,,chemical ,,science4             
,,president ,,of ,,the ,,royal          

,,society2     ,,member ,,of ,,the      
,,national ,,institute ,,of ,,france4   
,,born #ag ,,december #aggh1 ,,at       
,,penzance4     ,,died #bh ,,may #ahbi1 
,,at ,,geneva1     ,,where ,,his        
,,remains ,,are ,,interred4   ,the      
numerous scientific societies of which  
he was a member1 will1 no doubt1        
consecrate his memory4 ,an eloquent     
,eloge has been read by ,baron ,cuvier  
before the ,institute of ,france2 but it
 has not yet been published3 ,i have    
obtained1 however1 a copy of a speech   
delivered upon the same occasion1 by ,h4
 ,c4 ,van der ,boon ,mesch1 before the  
,institute of the ,netherlands4  ,mr4   
,davies ,gilbert1 his early friend and  
patron1 has likewise paid to his memory 
a just and appropriate testimony of     
respect and admiration1 in an address   
from the chair of the ,royal ,society4  
,the inhabitants of ,penzance and its   
neighbourhood1 animated by feelings of  
honourable pride and strong local       
attachment1 will shortly1 it is         

understood1 raise a pyramid of massive  
granite to his memory1 on one of those  
elevated spots of silence and solitude1 
where he delighted in his boyish days to
 commune with the elements1 and where   
the ,spirit of ,nature moulded his      
genius in one of her wildest moods4  ,as
 yet1 no intention on the part of the   
,government to commemorate this great   
philosopher1 by the erection of a       
national monument1 has been manifested3 
for the credit1 however1 of an age which
 is so continually distinguished as the 
most enlightened period in our history1 
,i do hope the disgrace of such an      
omission may pass from us2 although1 ,i 
confess1 it is rather to be wished than 
expected1 when it is remembered that not
 a niche has been graced by the statue  
of ,watt1 while the giant iron children 
of his inventive genius are serving     
mankind in every quarter of the         
civilized world4 ,a very erroneous      
impression would seem to exist with     
regard to the object and importance of  

such monuments4 ,they are not to honour 
the dead1 but to improve the living2 not
 to give lustre to the philosopher1 but 
to afford a salutary incentive to the   
disciple2 not to perpetuate discoveries1
 for they can never be lost2 but to     
animate scientific genius1 and to engage
 it upon objects that may be useful to  
the commonwealth4 ,let it be remembered1
 that the ardour of the ,roman youth was
 kindled into active emulation1 whenever
 they beheld the images of their        
ancestors4  ,nam spe audivi1 ,q4        
,maximum1 ,p4 ,scipionem1 prterea       
civitatis nostr prclaros viros1 solitos 
ita dicere1 cm majorum imagines         
intuerentur1 vehementissim sibi animum  
ad virtutem accendi4 ,scilicet non ceram
 illam1 neque figuram tantam vim in sese
 habere2 sed memori rerum gestarum eam  
flammam egregiis viris in pectore       
crescere1 neque prius sedari1 qum virtus
 eorum famam atque gloriam              
adquaverit4#acj    #acj ,sallust4 ,bell4
 ,jugurth4  ,the fame of such a         

philosopher as ,davy can never be       
exalted by any frail memorial which man 
can raise4 ,his monument is in the great
 ,temple of ,nature4#aca ,his           
chroniclers are ,time and the ,elements4
 ,the destructive agents which reduce to
 dust the storied urn1 the marble       
statue1 and the towering pyramid1 were  
the ministers of his power1 and their   
work of decomposition is a perpetual    
memorial of his intelligence4    #aca   
,greek3 ,andrn gar epiphann pasa g      
taphos1 kai ou   stln monon en t oikeia 
smainei epigraph1 alla kai en t m       
proskous agraphos mnm par' hekast ts    
gnms mallon  tou   ergou                
endiaitatai4--,thucydides1 ,b4 #dc4     
,a ,,sketch ,,of ,,the ,,history ,,of   
,,chemical ,,science1 ,,with ,a ,,view  
,,to ,,exhibit ,,the ,,revolutions      
,,produced ,,in ,,its ,,doctrines ,,by  
,,the ,,discoveries ,,of ,,sir ,,humphry
 ,,davy4   ,the rapidity with which     
chemical opinions have risen into       
notice1 flourished for a while1 and then

 fallen into disrepute1 to be succeeded 
by others equally precarious in their   
tenure and ephemeral in their           
popularity1 are circumstances which the 
superficial reasoner has ever deplored1 
and the ,sciolist as constantly         
converted into arguments against the    
soundness of the science which produced 
them4 ,the leaves of a season will      
sprout1 expand1 and wither2 and the dry 
foliage will be pushed off by the       
propulsion of new buds2 but this last   
change is not effected in them1 until   
they have absorbed the light and dews of
 heaven for the nourishment of the plant
 that bore them2 and when even they     
shall have fallen to the earth1 they    
will farther supply its spreading roots 
with fresh soil for its future growth   
and healthy developement2 and entering  
into new combinations1 will re-appear in
 the same tree under fresh forms of     
usefulness and symmetry4 ,in like       
manner1 chemical theories are but for a 
season2 they are nothing more than      

general expressions of known facts2 they
 may delight by their ingenuity1 as     
vegetable forms captivate by their      
beauty1 but their real and substantial  
use is to extend science2 and as facts  
accumulate under their operation1 they  
must give way to others better adapted  
to the increased growth and expansion of
 knowledge2 nor does the utility of     
theories cease with their               
rejection1--they afford objects of      
analogy and comparison which assist the 
philosopher in his progress to truth1   
while their elements furnish materials  
for future arrangements4 ,were it       
otherwise1 we should behold science in  
its advancement as a shapeless mass1    
enlarging by constant appositions1 but  
without a single sign of growth or      
inward sympathy4  ,if chemical theories 
have undergone more rapid and frequent  
changes than those of other branches1   
the circumstance has arisen from the    
rapid manner in which new and important 
facts have been successively added to   

the general store4  ,whatever may be the
 vices attributed to ,chemistry on such 
occasions1 they have belonged to the    
philosophers engaged in its pursuit1 and
 are no evidence of the frailty of the  
science itself2 and here it must be     
admitted1 that there exists in one      
portion of mankind a self-love which    
cannot patiently submit to a change of  
opinions of which they are either the   
authors or defenders1 while in another  
there predominates a timidity which     
naturally leads them1 amidst the storm  
of controversy1 to cling to the wreck of
 a shattered theory1 rather than to     
trust themselves to a new and untried   
bark4  ,in our review of the history of 
,science1 we have frequently to witness 
how the wisest philosopher has strained 
truth1 for the support of a favourite   
doctrine1 and measured and accommodated 
facts to theory1 instead of adapting    
theories to facts--but this vice does   
not belong exclusively to chemical      
philosophers4 ,huygens1 the celebrated  

,dutch ,astronomer1 from some imaginary 
property in the number six1 having      
discovered one of ,saturn's moons1      
absolutely declined looking for any     
more1 merely because that one1 when     
added to the four moons of ,jupiter1 and
 to the one belonging to the ,earth1    
made up the required number4  ,such     
reflections naturally arise on viewing1 
with a philosophic eye1 the progress and
 modifications of chemical opinions2 and
 it is essential that they should be    
duly appreciated upon the present       
occasion2 for1 before any just estimate 
can be formed of the talents and        
services of ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 we must
 thoroughly consider1 in all their      
bearings and relations1 the various     
prejudices with which he had to contend 
in his efforts to modify a gigantic     
theory1 which enjoyed an unrestrained   
dominion in the chemical world1 and for 
many years continued to be the pride of 
,france and the admiration of ,europe4  
,it would be quite foreign to the plan  

of this sketch1#acb which the reader    
must consider as wholly subservient to  
the object that has been announced1 to  
enquire how far the ancients1 in their  
metallurgical processes1 can be said to 
have exercised the arts of chemistry4   
,equally vain would it be to enter into 
a history of that system of delusion and
 imposture1 so long practised under the 
denomination of ,alchymy4 ,it is only   
necessary to consider ,chemistry in its 
dignified and purely scientific form2   
and we have only to notice those        
commanding discoveries and opinions     
which led to the developement of that   
system1 which the genius of ,davy was   
destined to modify4    #acb ,this       
historical sketch has no pretensions to 
originality4   ,it is compiled from the 
best authors1 and from the ,introduction
   to ,sir ,h4 ,davy's ,elements of     
,chemical ,philosophy4  ,the origin of  
,chemistry1 as a science1 cannot be     
dated farther back than about the middle
 of the seventeenth century2 and        

,beccher1 the contemporary of ,boyle1   
who was born at ,spires in #afce1 was   
unquestionably the first to construct   
any thing like a general theory4 ,he    
formed the bold idea of explaining the  
whole system of the earth by the mutual 
agency and changes of a few elements4   
,and by supposing the existence of a    
vitrifiable1 a metallic1 and an         
inflammable earth1 he attempted to      
account for the various productions of  
rocks1 crystalline bodies1 and metallic 
veins1 assuming a continual interchange 
of principles between the atmosphere1   
the ocean1 and the solid surface of the 
globe1 and considering the operations of
 nature as all capable of being imitated
 by art4  ,albertus ,magnus had advanced
 the opinion that the metals were earthy
 substances impregnated with a certain  
inflammable principle2 but ,beccher     
supported the idea of this principle not
 only as the cause of metallization1 but
 likewise of combustibility4 ,stahl1    
however1 one of the most extraordinary  

men that ,germany ever produced1 having 
adopted and amplified this theory1      
carried off the entire credit of being  
its founder1 and it is universally      
spoken of as the ,stahlian ,theory4     
,this theory forms so important a       
feature in the history of chemistry1 and
 so long maintained its ascendency in   
the schools1 that it will be necessary  
to give the reader a short summary of   
its principles4 ,it assumed that all    
combustible bodies are compounds3 one of
 the constituents being volatile1 and   
therefore easily dissipated during the  
act of combustion2 while the other1     
being fixed1 constantly remained as the 
residue of the process4 ,this volatile  
principle1 for which ,stahl invented the
 term ,phlogiston1 was considered as    
being identical in every species of     
combustible matter2 in short1 it was    
supposed that there was but one         
principle of combustibility in nature1  
and that was the imaginary phantom      
,phlogiston1 which for nearly a century 

possessed the schools of ,europe1 and1  
like an evil spirit1 crossed the path of
 the philosopher at every step1 and by  
its treacherous glare allured him from  
the steady pursuit of truth2 for1       
whether a substance were combustible or 
not1 its nature could never be          
investigated without a reference to its 
supposed relations with ,phlogiston2 its
 presence1 or its absence1 was supposed 
to stamp a character upon all bodies1   
and to occasion all the changes which   
they undergo4 ,hence chemistry and      
combustion came to be in some measure   
identified2 and a theory of combustion  
was considered the same thing as a      
theory of chemistry4  ,the identity of  
,phlogiston in all combustible bodies   
was founded upon observations and       
experiments of so decisive a nature1    
that after the existence of the         
principle itself was admitted1 they     
could not fail to be satisfactory4 ,when
 phosphorus is made to burn1 it gives   
out a strong flame1 much heat is        

evolved1 and the phosphorus is          
dissipated in fumes1 which1 if properly 
collected1 will quickly absorb moisture 
from the atmosphere1 and produce an acid
 liquid known by the name of phosphoric 
acid4 ,phosphorus then must consist1 say
 the ,stahlians1 of ,phlogiston and this
 acid4 ,again--,if this liquid be       
evaporated to a dry substance1 mixed    
with a quantity of charcoal powder1 and 
then heated in a vessel from which the  
external air is excluded1 a portion1 or 
the whole of the charcoal will          
disappear1 and phosphorus will be       
reproduced1 possessing all the          
properties that it had before it was    
subjected to combustion4 ,in this case1 
it was supposed that the charcoal       
restored the phlogiston4 ,there was much
 plausibility in all this1 as well as in
 the reasoning which followed4 ,since we
 may employ1 with equal success1 any    
kind of combustible body for the purpose
 of changing phosphoric acid into       
phosphorus1 such as lamp-black1 sugar1  

resin1 or even several of the metals1 it
 was concluded that all such bodies     
contain a common principle which they   
communicate to the phosphoric acid2 and 
since the new body formed is in all     
cases identical1 the principle          
communicated must also be identical4    
,hence combustible bodies contain an    
identical principle1 and this principle 
is ,phlogiston4  ,the same theory       
applied with equal force to the burning 
of sulphur and several of the metals1   
and to their reconversion by combustible
 bodies4  ,when lead is kept nearly at a
 red-heat in the open air for some time1
 it is converted into a pigment called  
red lead2 this is a calx of lead4 ,to   
restore this calx again to metallic     
lead1 it is only necessary to heat it in
 contact with almost any combustible    
matter2 all these bodies therefore must 
contain one common principle1 which they
 communicated to the red lead1 and by so
 doing reconverted it to the state of   
metal4 ,metals then were regarded as    

compounds of calces and phlogiston4     
,thus far the theory works glibly       
enough2 but now comes a startling fact1 
which was long unnoticed by the blind   
adherents of ,stahl1 or1 if noticed1    
intentionally overlooked4 ,it was       
observed very early1 that when a metal  
was converted into a calx1 its weight   
was increased4 ,when this difficulty    
first forced itself upon the attention  
of the ,phlogistians1 it was necessary  
that they should either explain it1 or  
at once abandon their theory4 ,they     
accordingly endeavoured to evade the    
difficulty1 not only by asserting that  
phlogiston had no weight1 but that it   
was actually endowed with a principle of
 levity4  ,it was not possible1 however1
 that any rational notions should have  
been entertained upon the subject of    
combustion1 at a period when the        
composition of the atmosphere even was  
unknown4 ,let us therefore follow the   
stream of discovery1 skimming the       
surface merely1 as it flowed onward     

towards quite a new field of            
science--,pneumatic ,chemistry4  ,boyle 
and ,hooke1 who had improved the        
air-pump invented by ,otto de ,guericke1
 of ,madenburgh1 first used this        
apparatus for investigating the         
properties of air2 and they concluded   
from their experiments that air was     
absolutely necessary to combustion and  
respiration1 and that one part of it    
only was employed in these processes2   
and ,hooke formed the sagacious         
conclusion1 that this principle is the  
same as the substance fixed in nitre1   
and that combustion is a chemical       
process1 the solution of the burning    
body in elastic fluid1 or its union with
 this matter4  ,mayow1 of ,oxford1 in   
#afgd1 published his treatises on the   
,nitro-arial spirit1 in which he        
advanced opinions similar to those of   
,boyle and ,hooke1 and supported them by
 a number of original and curious       
experiments4  ,dr4 ,hales1 about #agbd1 
resumed the investigations commenced    

with so much success by ,boyle1 ,hooke1 
and ,mayow2 and endeavoured to ascertain
 the chemical relations of air to other 
substances1 and to ascertain by         
statistical experiments the cases in    
nature1 in which it is absorbed or      
emitted4 ,he obtained a number of       
curious and important results2 he       
disengaged elastic fluids from various  
substances1 and drew the conclusion1    
that air was a chemical element in many 
compound bodies1 and that flame resulted
 from the action and reaction of arial  
and sulphurous particles2 but all his   
reasonings were contaminated with the   
notion of one elementary principle      
constituting elastic matter1 and        
modified in its properties by the       
effluvia of solid or fluid bodies4  ,the
 light of ,pneumatic science which had  
dawned under ,hooke1 ,mayow1 and ,hales1
 burst forth in splendour under the     
ascendency of that constellation of     
,british science1 ,black1 ,cavendish1   
and ,priestley4  ,in #agef1 ,dr4 ,black 

published his researches on calcareous1 
magnesian1 and alkaline substances1 by  
which he proved the existence of a      
gaseous body1 perfectly distinct from   
the air of the atmosphere4 ,he showed1  
that quick-lime differed from marble and
 chalk by not containing this substance1
 which he proved to be a weak acid1     
capable of being expelled from alkaline 
and earthy bodies by stronger acids4    
,as nothing is more instructive than to 
enquire into the circumstances which    
have led to a great discovery1 ,i quote 
with pleasure the following passage from
 ,dr4 ,thomson's ,history of ,chemistry4
  ,it was the good fortune of chemical  
science that1 at this time 7#agea71 the 
opinions of professors were divided     
concerning the manner in which certain  
lithonthriptic medicines1 particularly  
lime-water1 acted in alleviating the    
excruciating pains of the stone and     
gravel4 ,the students usually partake of
 such differences of opinion3 they are  
thereby animated to more serious study1 

and science gains by their emulation4   
,all the medicines which were then in   
vogue as solvents of calculi had a      
greater or less resemblance to caustic  
potash or soda2 substances so acrid1    
when in a concentrated state1 that in a 
short time they reduce the fleshy parts 
of the animal body to a mere pulp4 ,they
 all seemed to derive their efficacy    
from quick-lime1 which again derived its
 power from the fire4 ,it was therefore 
very natural for them to ascribe its    
power to igneous matter imbibed from the
 fire1 retained by the lime1 and        
communicated by it to alkalies which it 
renders powerfully acrid4 ,it appears   
from ,dr4 ,black's note-books1 that he  
originally entertained the opinion1 that
 caustic alkalies acquired igneous      
matter from quick-lime4 ,in one of them1
 he hints at some way of catching this  
matter as it escapes from lime1 while it
 becomes mild by exposure to the air2   
but on the opposite blank page is       
written1 ',nothing escapes--the cup     

rises considerably by absorbing air4' ,a
 few pages further on1 he compares the  
loss of weight sustained by an ounce of 
chalk when calcined1 with its loss while
 dissolved in muriatic acid4  ,these    
experiments laid open the whole mystery1
 as appears by another memorandum4      
',when ,i precipitate lime by a common  
alkali1 there is no effervescence3 the  
air quits the alkali for the lime2 but  
it is lime no longer1 but c4 c4 c3 it   
now effervesces1 which good lime will   
not4'--,what a multitude of important   
consequences naturally flowed from this 
discovery6 ,he now knew to what the     
causticity of alkalies is owing1 and how
 to induce it1 or remove it1 at         
pleasure4 ,the common notion was        
entirely reversed4 ,lime imparts nothing
 to the alkalies2 it only removes from  
them a peculiar kind of air 7carbonic   
acid gas7 with which they were combined1
 and which prevented their natural      
caustic properties from being developed4
 ,all the former mysteries disappear1   

and the greatest simplicity appears in  
those operations of nature which before 
appeared so intricate and obscure4  ,dr4
 ,thomson afterwards observes1--,the    
discovery which ,dr4 ,black had made1   
that marble is a combination of lime and
 a peculiar substance1 to which he gave 
the name of fixed air1 began gradually  
to attract the attention of chemists in 
other parts of the world4 ,it was       
natural1 in the first place1 to examine 
the nature and properties of this fixed 
air1 and the circumstances under which  
it is generated4 ,it may seem strange   
and unaccountable that ,dr4 ,black did  
not enter with ardour into this new     
career which he had himself opened1 and 
that he allowed others to reap the corn 
after having himself sown the grain4    
,yet he did take some steps towards     
ascertaining the properties of fixed    
air2 though ,i am not certain what      
progress he made4 ,he knew that a candle
 would not burn in it1 and that it is   
destructive to life1 when any living    

animal attempts to breathe it4 ,he knew 
that it is formed in the lungs during   
the breathing of animals1 and that it is
 generated during the fermentation of   
wine and beer4 ,whether he was aware    
that it possesses the properties of an  
acid1 ,i do not know2 though with the   
knowledge which he possessed that it    
combines with alkalies and alkaline     
earths1 and neutralizes them1 or at     
least blunts and diminishes their       
alkaline properties1 the conclusion that
 it partook of acid properties was      
scarcely avoidable4 ,all these1 and     
probably some other properties of fixed 
air1 he was in the constant habit of    
stating in his lectures from the very   
commencement of his academical career2  
though1 as he never published any thing 
on the subject himself1 it is not       
possible to know exactly how far his    
knowledge of the properties of fixed air
 extended4 ,the oldest manuscript copy  
of his lectures that ,i have seen was   
taken down in writing in the year #aggc2

 and before that time ,mr4 ,cavendish   
had published his paper on fixed air and
 hydrogen gas1 and had detailed the     
properties of each4 ,it was impossible  
from the manuscript of ,dr4 ,black's    
lectures1 to know which of the          
properties of fixed air stated by him   
were discovered by himself1 and which   
were taken from ,mr4 ,cavendish4  ,an   
idea so novel and important as that of  
an air possessing properties quite      
different from that of the atmosphere1  
existing in a fixed and solid state in  
various bodies1 was not received without
 doubt1 and even opposition4 ,several   
,german enquirers endeavoured to        
controvert it4 ,meyer attempted to show 
that limestone became caustic1 not by   
the emission of elastic matter1 but by  
combining with a peculiar substance in  
the fire2 the loss of weight1 however1  
was wholly inconsistent with such a view
 of the question3 and ,bergman at       
,upsal1 ,macbride in ,ireland1 ,keir at 
,birmingham1 and ,cavendish in ,london1 

fully demonstrated the truth of the     
opinion of ,black1 and a few years were 
sufficient to establish his theory upon 
an immutable foundation1 and to open a  
new road to most important discoveries4 
,the knowledge of one elastic fluid1    
entirely different in its properties    
from air1 very naturally suggested the  
probability of the existence of others4 
,the processes of fermentation which had
 been observed by the ancient chemists1 
and those by which ,hales had disengaged
 and collected elastic substances1 were 
now regarded under a novel point of     
view2 and the consequence was1 that a   
number of new bodies1 possessed of very 
extraordinary properties1 were          
discovered4  ,mr4 ,cavendish1 about the 
year #agfe1 invented an apparatus for   
examining elastic fluids confined by    
water1 which has since been called the  
hydro-pneumatic apparatus4 ,he          
discovered inflammable air1 and         
described its properties2 he ascertained
 the relative weights of fixed air1     

inflammable air1 and common air1 and    
made a number of beautiful and accurate 
experiments on the properties of these  
elastic substances4  ,dr4 ,priestley1 in
 #agga1 entered the same path of        
enquiry2 and principally by repeating   
the processes of ,hales1 added a number 
of most important facts to this         
department of chemical philosophy4 ,he  
discovered nitrous air1 nitrous oxide1  
and dephlogisticated air1 7oxygen7 and  
by substituting mercury for water in the
 pneumatic apparatus1 ascertained the   
existence of several ariform bodies     
which are rapidly absorbable by water2  
such as muriatic acid gas1 sulphurous   
acid gas1 and ammonia4  ,scheele1       
independently of ,priestley1 also       
discovered several of the ariform       
bodies2 he ascertained likewise the     
composition of the atmosphere2 he       
brought to light fluoric acid1 prussic  
acid1 and the substance which he termed 
dephlogisticated marine acid1 the       
oxy-muriatic acid of the ,french school1

 and the chlorine of ,davy4  ,sir       
,humphry ,davy1 in the preface to his   
,chemical ,philosophy1 observes that    
,black1 ,cavendish1 ,priestley1 and     
,scheele1 were undoubtedly the greatest 
chemical discoverers of the eighteenth  
century2 and that their merits are      
distinct1 peculiar1 and of the most     
exalted kind4 ,he thus defines them3    
,,black made a smaller number of        
original experiments than either of the 
other philosophers2 but being the first 
labourer in this new department of the  
science1 he had greater difficulties to 
overcome4 ,his methods are distinguished
 for their simplicity2 his reasonings   
are admirable for their precision2 and  
his modest1 clear1 and unaffected manner
 is well calculated to impress upon the 
mind a conviction of the accuracy of his
 processes1 and the truth and candour of
 his researches4  ,,cavendish was       
possessed of a minute knowledge of most 
of the departments of ,natural          
,philosophy3 he carried into his        

chemical researches a delicacy and      
precision1 which have never been        
exceeded3 possessing depth and extent of
 mathematical knowledge1 he reasoned    
with the caution of a geometer upon the 
results of his experiments2 and it may  
be said of him1 what1 perhaps1 can      
scarcely be said of any other person1   
that whatever he accomplished1 was      
perfect at the moment of its production4
 ,his processes were all of a finished  
nature2 executed by the hand of a       
master1 they required no correction2 the
 accuracy and beauty of his earliest    
labours even have remained unimpaired   
amidst the progress of discovery1 and   
their merits have been illustrated by   
discussion and exalted by time4  ,,dr4  
,,priestley began his career of         
discovery without any general knowledge 
of chemistry1 and with a very imperfect 
apparatus4 ,his characteristics were    
ardent zeal and the most unwearied      
industry4 ,he exposed all the substances
 he could procure to chemical agencies1 

and brought forward his results as they 
occurred1 without attempting logical    
method or scientific arrangement4 ,his  
hypotheses were usually founded upon a  
few loose analogies2 but he changed them
 with facility2 and being framed without
 much effort1 they were relinquished    
with little regret4 ,he possessed in the
 highest degree ingenuousness and the   
love of truth4 ,his manipulations1      
though never very refined1 were always  
simple1 and often ingenious4 ,chemistry 
owes to him some of her most important  
instruments of research1 and many of her
 most useful combinations2 and no single
 person ever discovered so many new and 
curious substances4  ,,scheele possessed
 in the highest degree the faculty of   
invention2 all his labours were         
instituted with an object in view1 and  
after happy or bold analogies4 ,he owed 
little to fortune or to accidental      
circumstances3 born in an obscure       
situation1 occupied in the duties of an 
irksome employment1 nothing could damp  

the ardour of his mind1 or chill the    
fire of his genius2 with very small     
means1 he accomplished very great       
things4 ,no difficulties deterred him   
from submitting his ideas to the test of
 experiment4 ,occasionally misled in his
 views1 in consequence of the           
imperfection of his apparatus1 or the   
infant state of the enquiry1 he never   
hesitated to give up his opinions the   
moment they were contradicted by facts4 
,he was eminently endowed with that     
candour which is characteristic of great
 minds1 and which induces them to       
rejoice as well in the detection of     
their own errors1 as in the discovery of
 truth4 ,his papers are admirable models
 of the manner in which experimental    
research ought to be pursued2 and they  
contain details on some of the most     
important and brilliant phenomena of    
chemical philosophy4  ,the discovery of 
the gases1 of a new class of bodies more
 active than any others in most of the  
phenomena of nature and art1 could not  

fail to modify the whole theory of      
chemistry1 and1 under the genius of     
,lavoisier1 it ultimately led to the    
establishment of those new doctrines1   
which it is the principal object of this
 history to expound2 but before this    
task can be accomplished1 it will be    
necessary to consider the rise and      
progress of opinion concerning chemical 
attraction1 and heat and light1 since   
these subjects are too intimately       
interwoven with the anti-phlogistic     
system to be separated from any         
examination of its principles4  ,boyle1 
says ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 was one of the
 most active experimenters1 and         
certainly the greatest chemist of his   
age4 ,he introduced the use of tests1 or
 re-agents1 active substances for       
detecting the presence of other bodies3 
he overturned the ideas which at that   
time were prevalent1 that the results of
 operations by fire were the real       
elements of things2 and he ascertained a
 number of important facts respecting   

inflammable bodies1 and alkalies1 and   
the phenomena of combination2 but       
neither he nor any of his contemporaries
 endeavoured to account for the changes 
of bodies by any fixed principles4  ,the
 solutions of the phenomena were        
attempted either on rude mechanical     
notions1 or by occult qualities1 or     
peculiar subtile spirits or ethers1     
supposed to exist in the different      
bodies4 ,and it is to the same great    
genius who developed the laws that      
regulate the motions of the heavenly    
bodies1 that chemistry owes the first   
distinct philosophical elucidations of  
the powers which produce the changes and
 apparent transmutations of the         
substances belonging to the earth4      
,sugar dissolves in water1 alkalies     
unite with acids1 metals dissolve in    
acids4 ,is not this1 says ,newton1 on   
account of an attraction between their  
particles8 ,copper dissolved in aqua    
fortis is thrown down by iron4 ,is not  
this because the particles of the iron  

have a stronger attraction for the      
particles of the acid1 than those of    
copper2 and do not different bodies     
attract each other with different       
degrees of force8  ,in #agai1 ,geoffroy 
endeavoured to ascertain the relative   
attractive powers of bodies for each    
other1 and to arrange them1 under the   
form of a table1 in an order in which   
these forces1 which he named affinities1
 were expressed4  ,concerning the nature
 of heat1 there are two opinions which  
have ever divided the chemical world4   
,the one considers it merely as a       
property of matter1 and that it consists
 in an undefinable motion1 or vibration 
of its particles2 the other1 on the     
contrary1 regards it as a distinct and  
subtile substance1 sui generis4 ,each of
 these opinions has been supported by   
the greatest philosophers1 and for a    
long period the arguments on both sides 
appeared equally plausible and forcible4
 ,the discovery of ,dr4 ,black1 however1
 gave a preponderance to the scale in   

favour of its materiality4  ,it was     
during his residence in ,glasgow1       
between the year #agei and #agfc1 says  
,dr4 ,thomson1 that he brought to       
maturity those speculations concerning  
the combination of heat with matter1    
which had frequently occupied a portion 
of his thoughts4  ,before ,dr4 ,black's 
discovery1 it was universally supposed  
that solids were converted into liquids 
by a small addition of heat1 after they 
have been once raised to the melting    
point1 and that they returned again to  
the solid state on a very small         
diminution of the quantity of heat      
necessary to keep them at that          
temperature4 ,an attentive view1        
however1 of the phenomena of            
liquefaction and solidification         
gradually led this sagacious philosopher
 to a different conclusion4 ,by         
observations which it is unnecessary to 
detail1 he became satisfied that when   
ice is converted into water1 it unites  
with a quantity of heat1 without having 

its temperature increased2 and that when
 water is frozen into ice1 it gives out 
a quantity of heat without having it    
diminished4 ,the heat thus combined1    
then1 is the cause of the fluidity of   
the water2 and as it is not sensible to 
the thermometer1 ,dr4 ,black called it  
latent heat4  ,there is such an analogy 
between the cessation of thermometric   
expansion during the liquefaction of    
ice1 and during the conversion of water 
into steam1 that there could be no      
hesitation about explaining both in the 
same way4 ,dr4 ,black1 therefore1       
immediately concluded that1 as water is 
ice united to a certain quantity of     
latent heat1 so steam is water united to
 a still greater quantity4  ,this       
beautiful theory enables us to          
understand phenomena in nature which    
were previously quite inexplicable4 ,we 
now comprehend how the thaw which       
supervenes after intense frost1 should  
so slowly melt the wreaths of snow and  
beds of ice4 ,had1 indeed1 the          

transition of water from its solid into 
its liquid state not been accompanied by
 this great change in its relation to   
heat1 every thaw would have occasioned a
 frightful inundation1 and a single     
night's frost must have solidified our  
rivers and lakes4 ,neither animal nor   
vegetable life could have subsisted     
under such sudden and violent           
transitions4 ,it would appear1 then1    
that water1 during the act of freezing1 
is acted upon by two opposite powers3 it
 is deprived of heat by exposure to a   
medium whose temperature is below #cb2  
and it is supplied with heat by the     
evolution of that principle from itself1
 viz4 of that portion which constituted 
its fluidity4 ,as these powers are      
exactly equal1 the temperature of the   
water must remain unchanged till the    
latent heat1 necessary to its fluidity1 
is all evolved4  ,although these facts  
have been admitted by all1 it has been  
contended by many that the absorption of
 heat by bodies is the necessary effect1

 and not the efficient cause1 of change 
of form1--the consequence of what has   
been called a change of their capacity3 
thus ice1 it is supposed1 in becoming   
water1 has its capacity for heat        
increased1 and the absorption of heat is
 a consequence of such increased        
capacity4 ,this theory1 however1 is     
deficient1 inasmuch as it fails to      
explain the cause of that change of     
form1 which is assumed to account for   
the increase of capacity4  ,light1 like 
heat1 has been considered by some       
philosophers as a subtile fluid filling 
space1 and rendering bodies visible by  
the undulations into which it is thrown2
 while others1 with ,newton at their    
head1 regard it as a substance          
consisting of small particles1          
constantly separating from luminous     
bodies1 moving in straight lines1 and   
rendering objects visible by passing    
from them and entering the eye4 ,the    
late experiments of ,dr4 ,young would   
incline us to prefer the undulatory to  

the corpuscular hypothesis4  ,by this   
preliminary sketch1 the reader has been 
prepared for viewing with advantage the 
theory of ,lavoisier2 in the            
construction of which he will see little
 more than a happy generalization of the
 several discoveries which have been    
enumerated4 ,indeed1 this observation   
will apply to all great systems of      
philosophy2 facts1 developed by         
successive enquirers1 go on             
accumulating1 until1 after an interval1 
a happy genius arises who connects and  
links them together2 and thus generally 
receives that meed of praise which1 in  
stricter justice1 would be apportioned  
and awarded to the separate             
contributors4 ,it is far from my        
intention to disparage the merits of    
,lavoisier2 but the materials of his    
system were undoubtedly furnished by    
,black1 ,priestley1 and ,cavendish4     
,the most important modification of the 
phlogistic theory--for there were       
several others--may be said to be that  

suggested by ,dr4 ,crawford4 ,dr4       
,priestley had found that the air in    
which combustibles were suffered to burn
 till they were extinguished1 underwent 
a very remarkable change1 for no        
combustible would afterwards burn in it1
 and no animal could breathe it without 
suffocation4 ,dr4 ,crawford1 like many  
others1 concluded1 that this change was 
owing to phlogiston2 but he for the     
first time applied ,dr4 ,black's        
doctrine of latent heat1 for the        
explanation of the origin of the heat   
and light which appear during the       
process4 ,according to this philosopher1
 the phlogiston of the combustible      
combines1 during combustion1 with the   
air1 and at the same time separates the 
caloric and light with which that fluid 
had been previously united4 ,the heat   
and the light1 then1 which appear during
 combustion1 exist previously in the    
air4 ,this theory was very different    
from ,stahl's1 and certainly a great    
deal more satisfactory2 but still the   

question--,what is phlogiston8 remained 
to be answered4  ,mr4 ,kirwan attempted 
to answer it1 and to prove that         
phlogiston is no other than hydrogen4   
,this opinion1 which ,mr4 ,kirwan       
informs us was first suggested by the   
discoveries of ,dr4 ,priestley1 met with
 a very favourable reception from the   
chemical world1 and was adopted1 amongst
 many others1 by ,mr4 ,cavendish4 ,the  
object of ,mr4 ,kirwan was to prove1    
that hydrogen exists as a component part
 of every combustible body2 that during 
combustion it separates from the        
combustible body1 and combines with the 
oxygen of the air4 ,at the same time1   
,lavoisier was engaged in examining the 
experiment of ,bayen1 and those of the  
,british philosophers4 ,bayen1 in #aggd1
 had shown that mercury converted into a
 calx1 or earth1 by the absorption of   
air1 could be revived without the       
addition of any inflammable substance2  
and hence he concluded1 that there was  
no necessity for supposing the existence

 of any peculiar principle of           
inflammability1 in order to account for 
the calcination of metals2 but he formed
 no opinion respecting the nature of the
 air produced from the calx of mercury4 
,lavoisier1 in #agge1 showed that it was
 an air1 which supported flame and      
respiration better than common air1     
which he afterwards named oxygen3 the   
same substance that ,priestley and      
,scheele had procured from other        
metallic bodies the year before1 and had
 particularly described4  ,lavoisier    
also discovered that the same air is    
produced during the revivification of   
metallic calces by charcoal1 as that    
which is emitted during the calcination 
of limestones2 hence he concluded1 that 
this elastic fluid is composed of oxygen
 and charcoal3 and from his experiments 
on nitrous acid and oil of vitriol1 he  
also inferred that this gas entered into
 the composition of these substances4   
,lavoisier was now enabled to explain   
the phenomena of combustion1 without    

having recourse1 to phlogiston3 a       
principle merely supposed to exist1     
because combustion could not be         
explained without it4  ,his new theory  
depends upon the two laws discovered by 
himself and ,dr4 ,black2 viz4 that when 
a combustible is raised to a certain    
temperature1 it begins to combine with  
the oxygen of the atmosphere1 and that  
this oxygen during its condensation lets
 go the latent caloric1 and the light   
with which it was combined while in the 
gaseous state4 ,hence their appearance  
during every combustion4 ,hence also the
 change which the combustible undergoes 
in consequence of combustion4  ,it      
followed from this view1 that the       
metallic calces were combinations of    
metals with oxygen2 and on examining the
 products of certain inflammable bodies1
 and finding them to be acid1 the       
conclusion was extended by a plausible  
analogy to other acids whose bases were 
unknown1 and the general proposition was
 established that oxygen was the        

universal principle of acidity2 that    
acids resulted from the union of a      
peculiar combustible base1 called the   
radical1 with the common principle1     
oxygen1 technically termed the          
acidifier4  ,these views1 regarding the 
phenomena of combustion and             
acidification1 may be considered as     
constituting what has been termed the   
,anti-phlogistic system4  ,it was some  
time1 however1 after this system was    
promulgated1 before its author was able 
to gain a single convert1               
notwithstanding his unwearied assiduity1
 and the great weight which his talents1
 his reputation1 his fortune1 and his   
situation naturally gave him4  ,at      
length1 ,m4 ,berthollet1 at a meeting of
 the ,academy of ,sciences in #aghe1    
solemnly renounced his old opinions1 and
 declared himself a convert4 ,fourcroy  
followed his example2 and two years     
afterwards ,morveau1 during a visit to  
,paris1 was prevailed upon to embrace   
the new doctrine4  ,the theory of       

,lavoisier1 soon after it had been      
framed1 received an important           
confirmation from the two grand         
discoveries of ,mr4 ,cavendish1         
respecting the composition of water and 
nitric acid1 and the elaborate and      
beautiful investigations of ,berthollet 
into the nature of ammonia2 by which1   
phenomena1 before anomalous1 were shown 
to depend upon combinations of ariform  
matter4  ,the notion of phlogiston1     
however1 was still defended with        
remarkable tenacity by many             
distinguished philosophers4 ,mr4        
,kirwan1 who considered hydrogen as the 
universal principle of combustibility1  
undertook to prove that this element    
entered into the composition of every   
body of the kind3 a single exception1 of
 course1 must necessarily prove fatal to
 the theory4 ,mr4 ,kirwan1 fortunately  
for the ,french chemists1 founded his   
reasonings on the inaccurate experiments
 of other chemists2 and thus did he     
promote the popularity of the           

anti-phlogistic system by the weakness  
of the arguments by which he assailed   
it4  ,lavoisier and his associates saw  
at once the important uses which might  
be made of this essay3 by refuting an   
hypothesis which had been embraced by   
the most respectable chemists in        
,europe1 their cause would receive an   
clat which would make it irresistible4  
,the essay was accordingly translated   
into ,french1 and each of the sections  
into which it was divided was           
accompanied by a refutation4  ,four of  
the sections were refuted by ,lavoisier1
 three by ,berthollet1 three by         
,fourcroy1 two by ,morveau1 and one by  
,monge4  ,mr4 ,cavendish1 in a paper    
communicated to the ,royal ,society in  
the year #aghd1 drew a comparison       
between the phlogistic and              
anti-phlogistic theories1 and showed    
that each of them was capable of        
explaining the phenomena in a           
satisfactory manner2 he however1 at the 
same time1 gave the reasons which       

induced him to prefer the earlier view4 
,in the execution of this task1 unlike  
,mr4 ,kirwan1 he never advanced a single
 opinion which he had not put to the    
test of experiment2 and he never        
suffered himself to go any farther than 
his experiments would warrant4 ,this    
paper1 therefore1 the ,french chemists  
were unable to refute1 and they were    
accordingly wise enough to pass it over 
without notice4 ,had it been possible to
 have preserved the phlogistic          
hypothesis1 ,mr4 ,cavendish would have  
saved it--                      ,si     
,pergama dextr     ,defendi possent1    
etiam hc defensa fuissent4  ,sooner or  
later1 says ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 that   
doctrine which is an expression of      
facts1 must prevail over that which is  
an expression of opinion4 ,the most     
important part of the theory of         
,lavoisier was merely an arrangement of 
the facts relating to the combinations  
of oxygen3 the principle of reasoning   
which the ,french school professed to   

adopt was1 that every body which was not
 yet decompounded1 should be considered 
as simple2 and though mistakes were made
 with respect to the results of         
experiments on the nature of bodies1 yet
 this logical and truly philosophical   
principle was not violated2 and the     
systematic manner in which it was       
enforced was of the greatest use in     
promoting the progress of science4      
,till #aghf1 there had been no attempt  
to reform the nomenclature of chemistry2
 the names applied by discoverers to the
 substances which they made known were  
still employed4 ,some of these names1   
which originated amongst the alchymists1
 were of the most barbarous kind2 few of
 them were sufficiently definite or     
precise1 and most of them were founded  
upon loose analogies1 or upon false     
theoretical views4  ,it was felt by many
 philosophers1 particularly by the      
illustrious ,bergman1 that an           
improvement in chemical nomenclature was
 necessary2 and in #aghg1 ,,mm4         

,lavoisier1 ,morveau1 ,berthollet1 and  
,fourcroy1 presented to the world a plan
 for an almost entire change in the     
denomination of chemical substances1    
founded upon the idea of calling simple 
bodies by some names characteristic of  
their most striking qualities1 and of   
naming compound bodies from the elements
 which composed them4 ,there was1       
besides1 a secret feeling in the breasts
 of the associated chemists1 which1 no  
doubt1 had its influence in suggesting  
and promoting such a scheme4 ,the views 
of ,lavoisier had so changed the face of
 chemistry1 as almost to have rendered  
it a new science3 by adopting a new     
nomenclature1 they identified1 as it    
were1 all the discoveries of the day    
with the new theory1 and thus           
appropriated to ,france the original and
 entire merit of the system4  ,it is    
impossible to pass over this subject    
without a comment4 ,lavoisier was       
unquestionably indebted to ,dr4 ,black  
for the support1 if not for the         

suggestion1 of the most brilliant part  
of his theory of combustion2 and yet he 
attempted even to conceal the name of   
the discoverer of latent heat4  ,how far
 ,lavoisier was really culpable1 and    
whether he did not intend to do full    
justice to all the claims of his        
predecessors1 cannot now be known2 as he
 was cut off in the midst of his career1
 while so many of his scientific        
projects remained unexecuted4 ,from the 
posthumous works of ,lavoisier1 there is
 some reason for believing that1 if he  
had lived1 he would have done justice to
 all parties2 but there is no doubt that
 ,dr4 ,black1 in the mean time1 thought 
himself aggrieved by the publication of 
several of ,lavoisier's papers in the   
,mmoires de l',acadmie1 and that he     
formed the intention of doing himself   
justice1 by publishing an account of his
 own discoveries3 this intention1       
however1 was unfortunately thwarted and 
prevented by bad health4 ,but to return 
to the subject of nomenclature4 ,sir ,h4

 ,davy continues--,the new nomenclature 
was speedily adopted in ,france2 under  
some modifications1 it was received in  
,germany2 and1 after much discussion and
 opposition1 it became the language of a
 new and rising generation of chemists  
in ,england4 ,it materially assisted the
 diffusion of the anti-phlogistic       
doctrine1 and even facilitated the      
general acquisition of the science2 and 
many of its details were contrived with 
much address1 and were worthy of its    
celebrated authors4  ,on the general    
adoption of this new theory of          
chemistry1 it must be admitted that its 
authors displayed an intemperate triumph
 wholly unworthy of them4 ,they held a  
festival1 at which ,madame ,lavoisier1  
in the habit of a priestess1 burnt the  
works of ,stahl on an altar erected for 
the occasion1 while solemn music played 
a requiem to his departed system6  ,sir 
,humphry ,davy1 in speaking of the      
merits of ,lavoisier1 observes that he  
must be regarded as one of the most     

sagacious of the chemical philosophers  
of the last century2 indeed1 except     
,cavendish1 there is no other enquirer  
who can be compared to him for precision
 of logic1 extent of view1 and sagacity 
of induction4 ,his discoveries are few1 
but he reasoned with extraordinary      
correctness upon the labours of others4 
,he introduced weight and measure1 and  
strict accuracy of manipulation into all
 chemical processes4 ,his mind was      
unbiassed by prejudice2 his combinations
 were of the most philosophical nature2 
and in his investigations upon          
ponderable substances1 he has entered   
the true path of experiment with        
cautious steps1 following just          
analogies1 and measuring hypotheses by  
their simple relations to facts4  ,it   
will be scarcely possible for a future  
generation of philosophers to imagine   
with what an undisciplined ardour the   
anti-phlogistic system1 thus enhanced by
 a new and fascinating nomenclature1 was
 supported throughout ,europe4 ,facts   

only were appreciated in proportion to  
the evidence they furnished of its      
truth2 and a discovery even required the
 sanction of its authority as the       
passport to notice and regard4 ,the     
least expression of doubt1 as to the    
validity of any point in its doctrines1 
exposed the sceptic to a host of        
assailants1 and fortunate was he if he  
escaped the fate of ,peter ,ramus1 or of
 those who ventured to question the     
infallibility of that great despot of   
another age1 ,aristotle4  ,in no country
 of ,europe did this feeling manifest   
itself to a greater extent than in      
,england4 ,there was perhaps a political
 prejudice co-operating upon the        
occasion3 it is very difficult1 under   
any circumstances1 to avoid connecting  
the man and his works4 ,the fate of     
,lavoisier#acc was truly affecting1 and 
by a species of retributive justice1 he 
received the sympathy of the world in   
the homage paid to his system2 while the
 atrocity of his assassination1 on which

 every ,englishman dwelt with horror1   
appeared to be thus heightened by every 
praise bestowed upon his merits4    #acc
 ,lavoisier perished on the scaffold at 
the age of   fifty-one1 during the      
sanguinary reign of ,robespierre4 ,the  
fury of the revolutionary leaders of    
,france was particularly   directed     
against the farmers-general of the      
revenue1 who were   all executed1 with  
the exception of a single individual1 a 
,m4   de ,verdun4 ,sixty of them were   
guillotined at the same time1   in      
consequence of a report of ,dupin1 a    
frantic member of the   ,convention4    
,the revolutionary tribunal adopted a   
general formula1   as the ground of     
their condemnation1 which is curious as 
applied   to ,lavoisier1 who was        
declared guilty of having adulterated   
snuff with water and ingredients        
destructive of the health of   the      
citizens4 ,the unfortunate philosopher  
requested time to   complete some       
experiments on respiration4 ,the reply  

of ,coffinhal1   the ,president1 was1   
that the ,republic did not want savans  
or   chemists1 and that the course of   
justice could not be suspended4  ,it is 
not the least surprising circumstance in
 the history of this system1 that with  
such a blind and idolatrous admiration  
of its principles1 so few facts should  
have been distorted4 ,it is true that1  
from the belief that combustion could   
never take place without the presence of
 oxygen1 the elementary principle of    
,scheele became1 according to these     
views1 a compound of oxygen and an acid2
 and the name of dephlogisticated marine
 acid was exchanged for that of         
oxy-muriatic acid1 a circumstance which 
spread a cloud of error over the        
science1 and perhaps retarded its       
progress in a greater degree than is    
generally imagined4 ,in like manner1 the
 chemist neglected to avail himself of  
the hint which1 under other impressions1
 would have proved an important clue to 
discovery1 viz4 the acid properties of  

sulphuretted hydrogen4  ,we have now    
arrived at that stage in our history1   
when it may with propriety and advantage
 be asked--,,what ,,has ,,davy ,,done   
,,in ,,correcting ,,error1 ,,or ,,in    
,,advancing ,,truth8  ,the answer to    
this question will be nothing more than 
a summary of those discoveries which    
have been successively investigated     
during the progress of the present work4
  ,the new doctrines of chemistry were  
highly instrumental in encouraging more 
extended investigations into all the    
different productions of nature and art2
 and we may observe1 that one of the    
first efforts of ,sir ,humphry ,davy was
 to improve our knowledge of the nature 
and habitudes of the tanning and        
astringent principles of vegetables1--an
 enquiry which had been commenced by    
,seguin and ,proust4 ,in pursuing even  
the most beaten path1 he was sure to    
discover objects of novelty4 ,look at   
his early experiments on the cane1 and  
on the straw of wheat1 barley1 and hay1 

and we shall see how magically he raised
 from their ashes a new flower of       
knowledge4 ,he soon1 however1 quitted   
the track of other experimentalists2    
although we learn from the whole tenor  
of his researches1 that he could obey as
 well as he could command1 and he could 
act in the ranks1 although he more      
frequently appeared as a general in the 
field of science4  ,sir ,humphry ,davy  
has observed1 that at the time when the 
anti-phlogistic theory was established1 
electricity had little or no relation to
 chemistry4 ,the grand results of       
,franklin respecting the cause of       
lightning1 had led many philosophers to 
conjecture1 that certain chemical       
changes in the atmosphere might be      
connected with electrical phenomena2 and
 electrical discharges had been employed
 by ,cavendish1 ,priestley1 and         
,van-,marum1 for decomposing and        
igniting bodies2 but it was not till the
 era of the wonderful discovery of      
,volta1 in #ahjj1 of a new electrical   

apparatus1 that any great progress was  
made in chemical investigation by means 
of electrical combinations4  ,nothing   
tends so much to the advancement of     
knowledge as the application of a new   
instrument4 ,the native intellectual    
powers of men in different times are not
 so much the causes of the different    
success of their labours1 as the        
peculiar nature of the means and        
artificial resources in their           
possession4 ,independent of vessels of  
glass1 there could have been no accurate
 manipulations in common chemistry3 the 
air-pump was necessary for the          
investigation of the properties of      
gaseous matter2 and without the ,voltaic
 apparatus1 there was no possibility of 
examining the relations of electrical   
polarities to chemical attractions4     
,there is a candour in this statement   
which we cannot but admire4 ,nor does   
the admission diminish the glory of him 
who1 by the application of such new     
instruments of research1 was enabled to 

penetrate into the hidden mysteries of  
,nature4 ,what avails the telescope1    
without the eye of the observer8  ,to   
,davy1 the ,voltaic apparatus was the   
golden branch1 by which he subdued the  
spirits that had opposed the advance of 
former philosophers2 but what would its 
possession have availed him1 had not his
 genius1 like the ancient ,sibyl1       
pointed out its use and application8    
,it will be seen that he was thus       
enabled1 not only to discover laws which
 are in constant operation1 modifying   
the forms of matter1 and influencing all
 the operations of chemistry1 but1 by   
applying them1 to determine the elements
 of the fixed alkalies to be oxygen and 
a metallic base3 a fact obviously       
opposed to the idea of oxygen being the 
general principle of acidity2 for here  
it was the principle of alkalinity1 if  
it may be so expressed4 ,this was       
shaking the corner-stone of the edifice1
 and his subsequent researches into the 
nature of oxy-muriatic acid may be said 

to have overthrown it2 for if either of 
the elements of this body can be        
considered as the acidifier1 it is      
hydrogen4 ,the consequences which flowed
 from this truth were of the highest    
importance1 not only in correcting      
errors1 which the progress of discovery1
 instead of rectifying1 was actually    
multiplying1 but in leading to the      
developement of new bodies4 ,iodine     
might have been recognised as an        
elementary body2 but its relations to   
oxygen and hydrogen would probably have 
remained unknown1 had not a knowledge of
 the true character of chlorine assisted
 the enquiry4  ,the same observation    
will apply to the recently discovered   
body1 ,bromine4 ,in like manner has the 
chemist been led1 by the chloridic      
theory1 to a more accurate acquaintance 
with the composition of the fluoric1    
hydriodic1 and hydrocyanic acids2 while 
he has also learnt that hydrogen alone  
can convert certain undecompounded bases
 into well characterised acids1 without 

the aid of oxygen4 ,the same discovery  
has completely changed all our opinions 
with regard to a very important series  
of saline combinations1 and developed   
the existence of new compounds of a most
 interesting description4  ,thus1 then1 
has the acidifying hypothesis of        
,lavoisier been overturned1 and a new   
theory constructed out of its ruins1    
which acknowledges no distinct element  
as the one imparting to matter the      
characters of an acid4  ,equally        
complete has been the downfall of the   
theory of combustion4 ,the discovery of 
the true nature of chlorine was1 in     
itself1 sufficient to show that bodies  
might combine1 with the phenomena of    
heat and light1 without the presence of 
oxygen2 but ,davy has brought a mass of 
evidence from other sources in proof of 
the same truth4 ,he has shown that1     
whenever the chemical forces which      
determine either composition or         
decomposition are energetically         
exercised1 the phenomena of combustion1 

or incandescence1 with a change of      
properties1 are displayed4 ,he has      
therefore annulled the distinction      
between supporters of combustion and    
combustibles1 since he has shown that1  
in fact1 one substance frequently acts  
in both capacities1 being a supporter   
apparently at one time1 and a           
combustible at another4 ,but in both    
cases the heat and light depend on the  
same cause1 and merely indicate the     
energy and rapidity with which          
reciprocal attractions are exerted4     
,thus sulphuretted hydrogen is a        
combustible with oxygen and chlorine2 a 
supporter with potassium4 ,sulphur1 with
 chlorine and oxygen1 has been called a 
combustible basis2 with metals1 it acts 
the part of a supporter4 ,in like       
manner1 potassium unites so powerfully  
with arsenic and tellurium1 as to       
produce the phenomena of combustion4    
,nor can we ascribe the appearances to  
the liberation of latent heat1 in       
consequence of condensation of volume4  

,the protoxide of chlorine1 a body      
destitute of any combustible            
constituent1 at the instant of          
decomposition evolves light and heat    
with explosive violence2 and its volume 
becomes one-fifth greater4 ,chloride and
 iodide of azote1 compounds alike       
destitute of any inflammable matter1    
according to the ordinary belief1 are   
resolved into their respective elements 
with tremendous force of inflammation2  
and the first expands into more than six
 hundred times its bulk4 ,now1 instead  
of heat and light1 a prodigious degree  
of cold ought to accompany such an      
expansion1 according to the hypothesis  
of latent heat4 ,other instances might  
be cited1 and other arguments adduced on
 the same subject1 but time and space   
fail me4#acd    #acd ,the reader who    
wishes for further details1 will consult
   with advantage the article           
,combustion in ,dr4 ,ure's ,dictionary  
of   ,chemistry2 a work to which ,i     
acknowledge myself much indebted on     

this and other occasions4  ,such1 then1 
are the facts developed by the          
experimental researches of ,sir ,humphry
 ,davy2 from which it follows1 that--   
#a4 ,combustion is not necessarily      
dependent on the agency of oxygen4  #b4 
,that it cannot be regarded as dependent
 upon any peculiar principle or form of 
matter1 but must be considered as a     
general result of intense chemical      
action4  #c4 ,that the evolution of     
light and heat cannot be ascribed simply
 to a gas parting with its latent store 
of those ethereal fluids4  #d4 ,that1   
since all bodies which act powerfully   
upon each other are in the opposite     
electrical relations of positive and    
negative1 the evolution of heat and     
light may depend upon the annihilation  
of these opposite states1 which will    
happen whenever they combine4  ,thus has
 ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 by refuting the        
opinions of the ,french philosophers1   
respecting the relations of oxygen to   
the phenomena of combustion1 and the    

nature of its products1 removed the     
pillars on which the fabric of the      
anti-phlogistic rested1 and reduced the 
generalization of ,lavoisier to isolated
 collections of facts2 the sound logic1 
however1--the pure candour1 the         
numerical precision of inference which  
characterise the labours of the ,french 
philosopher1 will cause his name to be  
held in everlasting admiration4 ,the    
downfall of his doctrine is the natural 
result of the progress of truth2 the    
same fate may attend our present        
systems1 but the facts discovered       
through their means are unchangeable and
 eternal2 and it is upon them alone that
 the fame of the chemist must ultimately
 rest4  ,in sciences collateral to      
chemistry1 the researches of ,davy have 
cast a reflected lustre4 ,in geology1   
his discovery of the composition of the 
earths1 has opened a new path of        
investigation2 while his examination of 
the water and gaseous matter so         
frequently enclosed in the cavities of  

quartz1 has given no small degree of    
support to the hypothesis of the        
,plutonists2 above all1 his results     
connected with the decomposition and    
transfer of different elements by       
,voltaic influence1 has already         
explained many phenomena relating to    
metallic veins2 and the late researches 
of ,mr4 ,fox must lead us to the        
conclusion1 that electric powers are    
still in operation in the recesses of   
the earth2 and that mineral veins are   
not only the cabinets of ,nature1 but   
still her active laboratories4  ,these  
cursory observations upon the           
discoveries of ,sir ,h4 ,davy relate    
merely to the changes they have effected
 in the general theory of chemistry4 ,i 
might recapitulate the numerous         
researches by which he has extended our 
knowledge upon particular subjects2 but 
,i have so fully entered into the       
consideration of them in the body of my 
work1 that ,i consider such a tax upon  
the patience of my reader would be both 

unfair and unnecessary4  ,i shall       
therefore conclude my long and arduous  
labour1 by enumerating the different    
memoirs communicated by this            
distinguished philosopher to the ,royal 
,society2 and also the several works    
which he published at different periods 
of his brilliant but too fleeting       
career4     #a4 ,an ,account of some    
,galvanic ,combinations1 formed by      
single    metallic plates and fluids1   
analogous to the ,galvanic ,apparatus   
of ,m4 ,volta4     ,read ,june #ah1     
#ahja4     #b4 ,an ,account of some     
,experiments and ,observations on the   
constituent parts of certain ,astringent
 ,vegetables1 and on    their operation 
in ,tanning4     ,february #bd1 #ahjc4  
#c4 ,an ,account of some ,analytical    
,experiments on a ,mineral              
,production from ,devonshire1 consisting
 principally of ,alumina    and ,water4 
,february #bh1 #ahje4     #d4 ,on a     
,method of analysing ,stones containing 
a fixed ,alkali1    by means of ,boracic

 acid4     ,may #af1 #ahje4     99 ,for 
the above papers1 the ,society awarded  
him the ,copley    ,medal4     #e4 ,,the
 ,,bakerian ,,lecture4--,on some        
,chemical agencies of    ,electricity4  
,november #bj1 #ahjf4     9999 ,for this
 memoir1 he received the prize of the   
,french    ,institute4      #f4 ,,the   
,,bakerian ,,lecture4--,on some new     
,phenomena of ,chemical    ,changes     
produced by ,electricity1 particularly  
the ,decomposition    of the ,fixed     
,alkalies1 and the exhibition of the new
 substances    which constitute their   
bases2 and on the general nature of     
,alkaline bodies4 #c8     ,read         
,november #ai1 #ahjg4     #g4           
,electro-chemical ,researches on the    
,decomposition of the    ,earths2 with  
,observations on the ,metals obtained   
from the    ,alkaline ,earths2 and on   
the ,amalgam procured from ,ammonia4    
,june #cj1 #ahjh4     #h4 ,,the         
,,bakerian ,,lecture4--,an ,account of  
some new ,analytical    ,researches on  

the nature of certain bodies1           
particularly the    ,alkalies1          
,phosphorus1 ,sulphur1 ,carbonaceous    
matter1 and the    ,acids hitherto      
uncompounded2 with some general         
,observations on    ,chemical ,theory4  
,december #ae1 #ahjh4     #i4 ,new      
,analytical ,researches on the nature of
 certain bodies2    being an ,appendix  
to the ,bakerian ,lecture for #ahjh4    
,february #ahji4     #aj4 ,,the         
,,bakerian ,,lecture ,,for #ahji4 ,on   
some new ,electro-chemical              
,researches on various objects1         
particularly the metallic bodies    from
 the ,alkalies and ,earths2 and on some 
combinations of    ,hydrogen4           
,november #af1 #ahji4     #aa4          
,researches on the ,oxy-muriatic ,acid1 
its nature and    combinations2 and on  
the elements of ,muriatic ,acid2 with   
some    ,experiments on ,sulphur and    
,phosphorus1 made in the ,laboratory    
of the ,royal ,institution4     ,read   
,july #ab1 #ahaj4     #ab4 ,,the        

,,bakerian ,,lecture ,,for #ahaj4 ,on   
some of the ,combinations    of         
,oxy-muriatic ,gas and ,oxygen1 and on  
the chemical relations    of those      
principles to inflammable bodies4       
,november #ae1 #ahaj4     #ac4 ,on a    
,combination of ,oxy-muriatic ,gas and  
,oxygen ,gas4     ,february #ba1 #ahaa4 
#ad4 ,on some ,combinations of          
,phosphorus and ,sulphur1 and on some   
other subjects of ,chemical ,enquiry4   
,june #ah1 #ahab4     #ae4 ,on a new    
,detonating ,compound2 in a letter to   
,sir ,joseph    ,banks1 ,bart4 ,f4,r4,s4
     ,november #e1 #ahab4     #af4 ,some
 further ,observations on a new         
,detonating substance4     ,july #a1    
#ahac4     #ag4 ,some ,experiments and  
,observations on the ,substances        
produced in different chemical processes
 on ,fluor ,spar4     ,july #h1 #ahac4  
#ah4 ,an ,account of some ,new          
,experiments on the ,fluoric            
,compounds2 with some ,observations on  
other objects of ,chemical    ,enquiry4 

,february #ac1 #ahad4     #ai4 ,some    
,experiments and ,observations on a new 
,substance1 which    becomes a          
,violet-coloured ,gas by heat4          
,january #bj1 #ahad4      #bj4 ,further 
,experiments and ,observations on       
,iodine4     ,read ,june #af1 #ahad4    
#ba4 ,some ,experiments on the          
,combustion of the ,diamond1 and        
other ,carbonaceous ,substances4        
,june #bc1 #ahad4     #bb4 ,some        
,experiments and ,observations on the   
,colours used in    ,painting by the    
,ancients4     ,february #bc1 #ahae4    
#bc4 ,some ,experiments on a solid      
,compound of ,iodine and ,oxygen1    and
 on its ,chemical ,agencies4     ,april 
#bj1 #ahae4     #bd4 ,on the ,action of 
,acid upon the ,salts usually called    
,hyper-,oxymuriates1 and on the ,gases  
produced from them4     ,may #d1 #ahae4 
#be4 ,on the ,fire-damp of ,coal ,mines1
 and on methods of    lighting the      
,mine1 so as to prevent ,explosion4     
,november #ai1 #ahae4     #bf4 ,an      

,account of an ,invention for giving    
,light in ,explosive    ,mixtures of    
,fire-damp in ,coal ,mines1 by consuming
 the    ,fire-damp4     ,january #aa1   
#ahaf4     #bg4 ,further ,experiments on
 the ,combustion of ,explosive ,mixtures
    confined by ,wire ,gauze1 with some 
,observations on ,flame4     ,january   
#be1 #ahaf4     #bh4 ,some ,researches  
on ,flame4     ,january #af1 #ahag4     
#bi4 ,some ,new ,experiments and        
,observations on the ,combustion of     
,gaseous ,mixtures2 with an account of a
 method of preserving    a continued    
,light in ,mixtures of inflammable      
,gases and ,air1    without ,flame4     
,read ,january #bc1 #ahag4     999999   
,for the preceding five papers1 the     
,rumford ,medals were    awarded to him4
     #cj4 ,on the fallacy of            
,experiments in which ,water is said to 
have been formed by the decomposition of
 ,chlorine4     ,february #ab1 #ahah4   
#ca4 ,new ,experiments on some of the   
combinations of ,phosphorus4     ,april 

#i1 #ahah4     #cb4 ,some ,observations 
on the formation of ,mists in particular
    situations4     ,february #be1      
#ahai4     #cc4 ,on the ,magnetic       
,phenomena produced by ,electricity4    
,november #af1 #ahbj4     #cd4 ,some    
,observations and ,experiments on the   
,papyri found in    the ruins of        
,herculaneum4     ,march #ae1 #ahba4    
#ce4 ,further ,researches on the        
,magnetic ,phenomena produced by        
,electricity2 with some new ,experiments
 on the properties of    ,electrified   
bodies1 in their relations to conducting
 powers and    temperature4     ,july   
#e1 #ahba4     #cf4 ,on the ,electrical 
,phenomena exhibited in vacuo4          
,december #bj1 #ahba4      #cg4 ,on the 
state of ,water and ,ariform matter in  
cavities    found in certain ,crystals4 
,read ,june #ac1 #ahbb4     #ch4 ,on a  
new ,phenomenon of ,electro-,magnetism4 
,march #f1 #ahbc4     #ci4 ,on the      
application of ,liquids formed by the   
condensation of    ,gases1 as mechanical

 ,agents4     ,april #ag1 #ahbc4        
#dj4 ,on the changes of volume produced 
in ,gases1 in different    states of    
density1 by ,heat4     ,may #a1 #ahbc4  
#da4 ,on the ,corrosion of ,copper      
,sheathing by sea-water2 and on         
methods of preventing this effect1 and  
on their application to    ships of war 
and other ships4     ,jan4 #bd1 #ahbd4  
#db4 ,additional ,experiments and       
,observations on the application    of  
,electrical ,combinations to the        
preservation of the ,copper             
,sheathing of ships1 and to other       
purposes4     ,june #ag1 #ahbd4     #dc4
 ,further ,researches on the            
preservation of ,metals by              
,electro-chemical means4     ,june #i1  
#ahbe4     #dd4 ,,the ,,bakerian        
,,lecture for #ahbf4--,on the ,relation 
of    ,electrical and ,chemical changes4
     ,june #c1 #ahbf4     99999999 ,for 
this memoir1 the ,royal ,society        
conferred upon him the    ,royal ,medal4
     #de4 ,on the ,phenomena of         

,volcanoes4     ,march #bj1 #ahbh4      
#df4 ,account of some ,experiments on   
the ,torpedo4     ,november #bj1 #ahbh4 
,,his ,,published ,,works ,,are1        
,experimental ,essays on ,heat1 ,light1 
and on the ,combinations of ,light1 with
 a new ,theory of ,respiration1 c4      
,published in ,contributions to         
,physical and ,medical ,knowledge1 by   
,t4 ,beddoes1 ,m4,d4 #agii4  ,researches
 ,chemical and ,philosophical1 chiefly  
concerning ,nitrous ,oxide1 and its     
,respiration4 #ahjj4  ,a ,syllabus of a 
,course of ,lectures4  ,an ,introductory
 ,lecture4 #ahja4  ,elements of         
,chemical ,philosophy4 #ahab4  ,elements
 of ,agricultural ,chemistry4 #ahac4    
,on the ,safety ,lamp for ,coal ,miners2
 with some ,researches on ,flame4 #ahah4
 7,several ,editions47  ,salmonia2 or   
,days of ,fly-,fishing4  ,consolations  
in ,travel2 or the ,last ,days of a     
,philosopher4     ,,appendix4           
,,appendix4  ,,extracted ,,from ,,the   
,,registry ,,of ,,the ,,prerogative     

,,court ,,of ,,canterbury4   ,a4  ,,my  
,,will4  ,this #crd of ,january #ahbg   
feeling more than usual symptoms of     
mortality ,i make this my ,will4 ,first1
 ,i give my ,brother ,john ,davy ,m4,d4 
three hundred pounds a-year of money    
that ,i possess in the ,long ,annuities 
and likewise four thousand pounds to be 
raised by the sale of ,securities ,i    
possess in the ,english or ,french funds
 or annuities but ,i mean my said       
,brother to devote the interest of three
 thousand pound of these last moneys to 
such purposes as he may deem fitting for
 the benefit of my sisters particularly 
my married one and ,i wish a part of the
 interest of these three thousand pounds
 to be employed in educating and        
settling in life my godson ,humphrey    
,millett4 ,i leave him ,dr4 ,davy       
likewise all the property devolving to  
me from my parents which has never been 
divided to do what seems to him best for
 the benefit of my sisters and my sister
 ,millett's children and ,i leave my    

said brother my ,chemical ,books and    
,chemical ,,mss4 ,apparatus ,sporting   
tackle ,medals and the silver ,venetian 
dish made from the ,rumford ,medal in   
token of my affection4 ,i leave #ajj to 
each of these friends ,dr4 ,babington   
and ,dr4 ,franck and #ej to ,dr4 ,wilson
 ,philip and to ,mr4 ,brodie surgeon to 
lay out in tokens of remembrance4 ,i    
leave all my other property whether in  
goods money chattels funded securities  
annuities or plate to my wife 7,lady7   
,jane ,davy and ,i appoint her the sole 
,executrix of this my ,will4 ,if my     
brother or his family should not be in a
 condition at the time of her decease to
 use my service of plate given for the  
safety lamp ,i wish it to be sold and   
the same given to the ,royal ,society to
 provide an annual medal from the       
interest for the best discovery made any
 where in chemistry and ,i depend upon  
my dear wife to make such presents in   
seals or token to such of my friends as 
she may think proper agreeably to their 

and her feelings4      ,h4 ,,davy4   ,b4
      ,further explanatory ,clause4  ,i 
leave to my wife ,dame ,jane ,davy all  
my other property whether funded or in  
government securities or in leases of   
houses or goods c4 and ,i leave her my  
sole residuary legatee and sole         
,executrix4 ,i wish her to enjoy the use
 of my plate during her life and that   
she will leave it to my brother in case 
he survive her and if not to any child  
of his who may be capable of using it   
but if he be not in a situation to use  
or enjoy it then ,i wish it to be melted
 and given to the ,royal ,society to    
found a medal to be given annually for  
the most important discovery in         
,chemistry any where made in ,europe or 
,anglo-,america4 ,knowing the perfect   
understanding and love of justice of my 
wife ,i leave to her all other          
arrangements which may make my memory   
useful to the world and awaken the kind 
feelings of my friends and ,i wish her  
and my brother and all my friends every 

happiness this life can afford4         
,,humphry ,,davy4   ,c4      ,that is a 
,clause explanatory of my ,will4  ,i    
wish seals not rings with a fish        
engraved upon them to be given to some  
of my friends amongst whom ,i mention   
,mr ,knight ,dr ,babington ,mr ,pepys   
,mr ,hatchett4 ,and lest there should be
 any doubt respecting the #cjjj         
mentioned ,i mean my brother to be a    
trustee for this and should he die      
without children ,i mean it to belong to
 my sister ,millett's children #bjjj to 
,humphry ,millett my godson and the rest
 to be equally divided between the other
 children but should my brother marry   
and have children ,i then mean after the
 death of my sisters these #cjjj to be  
divided between her child or children   
and my sisters and #ajjj to go to       
,humphry ,millett my godson and #ejj to 
my sister's other children leaving the  
arrangement to my brother4      ,h4 ,d4 
,d4      ,further explanatory ,clause1  
,feb4 #bgth #ahbh4  ,i leave to my      

brother ,john ,davy ,m4,d4 the proceeds 
of my ,agricultural ,chemistry in the   
future editions and the profits of my   
work on fishing and ,i give him the     
copyright4 ,i leave my friend ,thomas   
,poole ,esq4 of ,stowey fifty pounds to 
purchase some token of remembrance4     
,h4 ,d4         99       99       99    
99       99      ,rome ,nov4 #ahth1     
#ahbh4  ,by this addition to my will ,i 
confirm all that ,i have willed in a    
paper left in a brass box at ,messrs4   
,drummond leaving ,lady ,davy my sole   
,executrix and residuary legatee4 ,i    
leave the copyright of ,salmonia to my  
brother ,john ,davy wishing him to apply
 a part of the profits of the sale of   
the editions of this work to the        
education of my nephew ,humphrey        
,millett in case he has no children of  
his own4 ,i leave the copy of my ,vision
 in my writing desk to ,lady ,davy to be
 published if my friends think it may   
give pleasure or information to the     
public but ,i wish the profits of this  

work to be applied to the use of my     
brothers and sisters4 ,i leave to       
,josephine ,detela daughter of ,mr4     
,detela of ,laybach in ,illyria         
innkeeper my kind and affectionate nurse
 one hundred pounds or rather a sum     
which shall equal a thousand florins to 
be paid out of the balance at my        
banker's within three months after my   
decease4 ,i beg ,lady ,davy to be so    
good as to fulfill my engagements with  
the persons who are travelling with me  
but without any favour as ,i have no    
reason to praise either their attention 
or civilities within the last two months
 but the kindness and attentions of     
,josephine ,detela during my illness at 
,laybach not only calls for the         
testimony ,i have given but likewise my 
gratitude for which ,i give her the #ajj
 or the #ajjj florins4      ,h4 ,,davy4 
99       99       99       99       99  
,feb4 #aith #ahbi4  ,i wish to be buried
 where ,i die natura curat suas         
reliquias4 ,i wish #ajj to be given to  

,george ,whidby and ,i beg ,lady ,davy  
to fulfill all my engagements and that  
if my friends should think my ,dialogues
 worthy of publication ,i beg that they 
may be published and that ,mr4 ,tobin   
may correct the press of them and ,i    
wish that #aej may be given to him for  
this labour4 ,there is a codicil to my  
will in my writing desk4 ,i beg ,lady   
,davy to have the goodness to attend to 
every thing mentioned in that4 ,in      
addition to what ,i have mentioned in   
that codicil ,i request that #ej or #ejj
 florins may be given to ,josephine     
,dettela within five months after my    
decease and ,i wish #ej to be presented 
to my friend ,dr ,morichini in          
remembrance and memory of his great     
kindness to me4      ,h4 ,d4  ,i wish   
one hundred to be given to my           
amanuensis4         99       99       99
       99       99  ,for the purpose of 
explaining a ,will that ,i made before  
,i left ,england and some papers that ,i
 have since added to it ,i write these  

few words ,rome1 ,march #ah1 #ahbi4  ,i 
give the copyright of ,salmonia my      
,dialogues and any other of my works    
which my friends may think it proper to 
republish to my brother ,john ,davy     
,m4,d4 to be published in the manner he 
may think most fit and proper4 ,i have  
already in my former testament left     
,lady ,davy my residuary legatee but ,i 
beg her in considering the disposition  
of my property to regard #fjjj as       
belonging to my brother ,dr4 ,davy in   
case there rests any doubt upon this    
subject in my first will and ,i wish her
 the said ,lady ,davy to enjoy during   
her life the use and property of the    
different services of plate given to me 
whether by the ,emperor of ,russia or   
the different coal committees but ,i    
trust to her sense of justice that she  
will leave them in the manner ,i have   
pointed out in my will to my brother4   
,with respect to any property at present
 in my banker's hands or any thing ,i   
now carry with me ,i leave them entirely

 to my brother ,dr4 ,davy4              
,,humphry ,,davy4      ,at ,rome ,march 
#ah1 #ahbi4   ,,the ,,end4              
,,london3     ,,printed ,,by ,,samuel   
,,bentley1     ,dorset ,street1 ,fleet  
,street4  ,transcriber's note3          
,minor spelling and punctuation         
inconsistencies1 and hyphenated         
words1  have been harmonized4 ,the      
formatting of the letters     has been  
regularized4