,,the ,,century ,,science ,,series ,,edited ,,by ,,sir ,,henry ,e4 ,,roscoe1 ,d4,c4,l41 ,,ll4,d41 ,f4,r4,s4 ,,humphry ,,davy ,,poet ,,and ,,philosopher ,the ,century ,science ,series4 ,,edited ,,by ,,sir ,,henry ,e4 ,,roscoe1 ,d4,c4,l41 ,f4,r4,s4 ,john ,dalton and the ,rise of ,modern ,chemistry4 ,by ,sir ,,henry ,e4 ,,roscoe1 ,f4,r4,s4 ,major ,rennell1 ,f4,r4,s41 and the ,rise of ,english ,geography4 ,by ,sir ,,clements ,r4 ,,markham1 ,c4 ,b41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,president of the ,royal ,geographical ,society4 ,justus von ,liebig3 his ,life and ,work 7#ahjc-ahgc74 ,by ,w4 ,a4 ,,shenstone1 ,f4,i4,c41 ,lecturer on ,chemistry in ,clifton ,college4 ,the ,herschels and ,modern ,astronomy4 ,by ,,agnes ,m4 ,,clerke1 ,author of 8,a ,popular ,history of ,astronomy during the #aith ,century10 c4 ,charles ,lyell and ,modern ,geology4 ,by ,rev4 ,professor ,t4 ,g4 ,,bonney1 ,f4,r4,s4 ,james ,clerk ,maxwell and ,modern ,physics4 ,by ,r4 ,t4 ,,glazebrook1 ,f4,r4,s41 ,fellow of ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,humphry ,davy1 ,poet and ,philosopher4 ,by ,t4 ,e4 ,,thorpe1 ,,ll4,d41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,principal ,chemist of the ,government ,laboratories4 ,in ,preparation4 ,michael ,faraday3 his ,life and ,work4 ,by ,professor ,,silvanus ,p4 ,,thompson1 ,f4,r4,s4 ,pasteur3 his ,life and ,work4 ,by ,m4 ,,armand ,,ruffer1 ,m4,d41 ,director of the ,british ,institute of ,preventive ,medicine4 ,charles ,darwin and the ,origin of ,species4 ,by ,,edward ,b4 ,,poulton1 ,m4,a41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,hope ,professor of ,zoology in the ,university of ,oxford4 ,hermann von ,helmholtz4 ,by ,a4 ,w4 ,r,,cker1 ,f4,r4,s41 ,professor of ,physics in the ,royal ,college of ,science1 ,london4 ,,macmillan ,,co41 ,,limited1 ,new ,york4 ,illustration3 ,,humphry ,,davy4 ,,tat #de4 7,from a painting by ,jackson7 ,,the ,,century ,,science ,,series ,,humphry ,,davy ,,poet ,,and ,,philosopher ,,by ,t4 ,e4 ,,thorpe1 ,,ll4,d41 ,f4,r4,s4 ,new ,york ,,macmillan ,,co41 ,,limited #ahif ,,preface ,for the details of ,sir ,humphry ,davy's personal history1 as set forth in this little book1 ,i am mainly indebted to the well-known memoirs by ,dr4 ,paris and ,dr4 ,john ,davy4 ,as biographies1 these works are of very unequal value4 ,to begin with1 ,dr4 ,paris is not unfrequently inaccurate in his statements as to matters of fact1 and disingenuous in his inferences as to matters of conduct and opinion4 ,the very extravagance of his laudation suggests a doubt of his judgment or of his sincerity1 and this is strengthened by the too evident relish with which he dwells upon the foibles and frailties of his subject4 ,the insincerity is reflected in the literary style of the narrative1 which is inflated and over-wrought4 ,sir ,walter ,scott1 who knew ,davy well and who admired his genius and his many social gifts1 characterised the book as 8ungentlemanly0 in tone2 and there is no doubt that it gave pain to many of ,davy's friends who1 like ,scott1 believed that justice had not been done to his character4 ,dr4 ,davy's book1 on the other hand1 whilst perhaps too partial at times--as might be expected from one who writes of a brother to whom he was under great obligations1 and for whom1 it is evident1 he had the highest respect and affection--is written with candour1 and a sobriety of tone and a directness and simplicity of statement far more effective than the stilted euphuistic periods of ,dr4 ,paris1 even when he seeks to be most forcible4 ,when1 therefore1 ,i have had to deal with conflicting or inconsistent statements in the two works on matters of fact1 ,i have generally preferred to accept the version of ,dr4 ,davy1 on the ground that he had access to sources of information not available to ,dr4 ,paris4 ,davy played such a considerable part in the social and intellectual world of ,london during the first quarter of the century that1 as might be expected1 his name frequently occurs in the personal memoirs and biographical literature of his time2 and a number of journals and diaries1 such as those of ,horner1 ,ticknor1 ,henry ,crabb ,robinson1 ,lockhart1 ,maria ,edgeworth1 and others that might be mentioned1 make reference to him and his work1 and indicate what his contemporaries thought of his character and achievements4 ,some of these references will be found in the following pages4 ,it will surprise many ,londoners to know that they owe the ,zoological ,gardens1 in large measure1 to a ,professor of ,chemistry in ,albemarle ,street1 and that the magnificent establishment in the ,cromwell ,road1 ,south ,kensington1 is the outcome of the representations1 unsuccessful for a time1 which he made to his brother trustees of the ,british ,museum as to the place of natural history in the national collections4 ,davy had a leading share also in the foundation of the ,athenum ,club1 and was one of its first trustees4 ,i am further under very special obligations to ,dr4 ,humphry ,d4 ,rolleston1 the grand-nephew of ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 for much valuable material1 procured through the kind co-operation of ,miss ,davy1 the granddaughter of ,dr4 ,john ,davy4 ,this consisted of letters from ,priestley1 ,kirwan1 ,southey1 ,coleridge1 ,maria ,edgeworth1 ,mrs4 ,beddoes 7,anna ,edgeworth71 ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 ,gregory ,watt1 and others2 and1 what is of especial interest to his biographer1 a large number of ,davy's own letters to his wife4 ,in addition were papers relating to the invention of the ,safety ,lamp4 ,some of the letters have already been published by ,dr4 ,john ,davy1 but others now appear in print for the first time4 ,i am also indebted to ,dr4 ,rolleston for the loan of the portrait representing ,davy in ,court dress and in the presidential chair of the ,royal ,society1 which1 reproduced in photogravure1 forms the frontispiece to this book4 ,the original is a small highly-finished work by ,jackson1 and was painted about #ahbc4 ,the picture originally belonged to ,lady ,davy1 who refers to it in the letter to ,davies ,gilbert 7quoted by ,weld in his 8,history of the ,royal ,society071 in which she offers ,lawrence's well-known portrait to the ,society1 and which1 by the way1 the ,society nearly lost through the subsequent action of the painter4 ,for the references to the early history of the ,royal ,institution ,i am mainly indebted to ,dr4 ,bence ,jones's book4 ,i have1 moreover1 to thank the ,managers of the ,institution for their kindness in giving me permission to see the minutes of the early meetings1 and also for allowing me to consult the manuscripts and laboratory journals in their possession4 ,these include the original records of ,davy's work1 and also the notes taken by ,faraday of his lectures4 ,the ,managers have also allowed me to reproduce ,miss ,harriet ,moore's sketch--first brought to my notice by ,professor ,dewar--of the chemical laboratory of the ,institution as it appeared in the time of ,davy and ,faraday1 and ,i have to thank them for the loan of ,gillray's characteristic drawing of the ,lecture ,theatre1 from which the illustration on p4 #gj has been prepared4 ,i have necessarily had to refer to the relations of ,davy to ,faraday1 and ,i trust ,i have said enough on that subject4 ,indeed1 in my opinion1 more than enough has been said already4 ,it is not necessary to belittle ,davy in order to exalt ,faraday2 and writers who1 like ,dr4 ,paris1 unmindful of ,george ,herbert's injunction1 are prone to adopt an antithetical style in biographical narrative have1 ,i am convinced1 done ,davy's memory much harm4 ,i regret that the space at my command has not allowed me to go into greater detail into the question of ,george ,stephenson's relations to the invention of the safety lamp4 ,i have had ample material placed at my disposal for a discussion of the question1 and ,i am specially indebted to ,mr4 ,john ,pattinson and the ,council of the ,literary and ,philosophical ,society of ,newcastle-upon-,tyne for their kindness in lending me a rare1 if not unique1 collection of pamphlets and reprints of newspaper articles which made their appearance when the idea of offering ,davy some proof of the value which the coal owners entertained of his invention was first promulgated4 ,george ,stephenson's claims are not to be dismissed summarily as pretensions4 ,indeed1 his behaviour throughout the whole of the controversy increases one's respect for him as a man of integrity and rectitude1 conscious of what he thought due to himself1 and showing only a proper assurance in his own vindication4 ,i venture to think1 however1 that the conclusion to which ,i have arrived1 and which1 from the exigencies of space1 is1 ,i fear1 somewhat baldly stated1 as to the apportionment of the merit of this memorable invention1 is just and can be well established4 ,stephenson might possibly have hit upon a safety lamp if he had been allowed to work out his own ideas independently and by the purely empirical methods he adopted1 and it is conceivable that his lamp might have assumed its present form without the intervention of ,davy2 but it is difficult to imagine that an unlettered man1 absolutely without knowledge of physical science1 could have discovered the philosophical principle upon which the security of the lamp depends4 ,t4 ,e4 ,t4 ,may1 #ahif4 ,,contents ,,chapter ,,page ,i4--,,penzance3 #aggh-agih #i ,,ii4--,,the ,,pneumatic ,,institution1 ,,bristol3 #agih-ahja #bf ,,iii4--,,the ,,pneumatic ,,institution1 ,,bristol3 #agih-ahja 7continued7 #ed ,,iv4--,,the ,,royal ,,institution #ff ,v4--,,the ,,chemical ,,laboratory ,,of ,,the ,,royal ,,institution #ij ,,vi4--,,the ,,isolation ,,of ,,the ,,metals ,,of ,,the ,,alkalis #aaj ,,vii4--,,chlorine #acd ,,viii4--,,marriage--,,knighthood--8,,el ements ,,of ,,chemical ,,philosophy0--,,nitrogen ,,trichloride--,,fluorine #aee ,,ix4--,,davy ,,and ,,faraday--,,iodine #agc ,x4--,,the ,,safety ,,lamp #aib ,,xi4--,,davy ,,and ,,the ,,royal ,,society--,,his ,,last ,,days #bac ,,humphry ,,davy1 ,,poet ,,and ,,philosopher4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,penzance3 #aggh-agih4 ,humphry ,davy1 the eldest son of 8,carver0 ,robert ,davy and his wife ,grace ,millett1 was born on the #agth ,december1 #aggh4;,a ,his biographers are not wholly agreed as to the exact place of his birth4 ,in the 8,lives of ,philosophers of the ,time of ,george ,,iii40 ,lord ,brougham states that the great chemist was born at ,varfell1 a homestead or 8town-place0 in the parish of ,ludgvan1 in the ,mount's ,bay1 where1 as the registers and tombstones of ,ludgvan ,church attest1 the family had been settled for more than two hundred years4 ,a ,in some biographical notices--e4g4 in the ,gentleman's ,magazine1 xcix4 pt4 ii4 #i--the year is given as #aggi4 ,mr4 ,tregellas1 in his 8,cornish ,worthies0 7vol4 i41 p4 #bdg71 also leaves the place uncertain1 hesitating1 apparently1 to decide between ,varfell and ,penzance4 ,according to ,dr4 ,john ,davy1 his brother ,humphry was born in ,market ,jew ,street1 ,penzance1 in a house now pulled down1 but which was not far from the statue of him that stands in front of the ,market ,house of this town4 ,dr4 ,davy further states that ,humphry's parents removed to ,varfell some years after his birth1 when he himself was taken charge of by a ,mr4 ,tonkin4 ,the ,davys originally belonged to ,norfolk4 ,the first member of the family that settled in ,cornwall was believed to have acted as steward to the ,duke of ,bolton1 who in the time of ,elizabeth had a considerable property in the ,mount's ,bay4 ,they were1 as a class1 respectable yeomen in fairly comfortable circumstances1 who for generations back had received a lettered education4 ,they took to themselves wives from the ,eusticks1 ,adamses1 ,milletts1 and other old ,cornish families1 and1 if we may credit the testimony of the tombstones1 had many virtues1 were not overgiven to smuggling or wrecking1 and1 for the most part1 died in their own beds4 ,the grandfather of ,humphry1 ,edmund ,davy1 was a builder of repute in the west of ,cornwall1 who married well and left his eldest son ,robert1 the father of the chemist1 in possession of the small copyhold property of ,varfell1 to which reference has already been made4 ,robert1 although a person of some capacity1 seems to have been shiftless1 thriftless1 and lax in habits4 ,in his youth he had been taught wood-carving1 and specimens of his skill are still to be seen in and about ,penzance4 ,but he practised his art in an irregular fashion1 his energies being mainly spent in field sports1 in unsuccessful experiments in farming1 and in hazardous1 and for the most part fruitless1 ventures in mining4 ,at his death1 which occurred when he was forty-eight1 his affairs were found to be sadly embarrassed2 his widow and five children were left in very straitened circumstances1 and ,varfell had to be given up4 ,fortunately for the children1 the mother possessed the qualities which the father lacked4 ,casting about for the means of bringing up and educating her family1 she opened a milliner's shop in the town1 in partnership with a ,french lady who had fled to ,england during the ,revolution4 ,by prudence1 good management1 and the forbearance of creditors1 she not only succeeded in rearing and educating her children1 but gradually liquidated the whole of her husband's debts4 ,some years later1 by an unexpected stroke of fortune1 she was able to relinquish her business4 ,she lived to a good old age1 cheerful and serene1 happy in the respect and affection of her children and in the esteem and regard of her townspeople4 ,such a woman could not fail to exercise a strong and lasting influence for good on her children4 ,that it powerfully affected the character of her son ,humphry1 he would have been the first to admit4 ,nothing in him was more remarkable or more beautiful than his strong and abiding love for his mother4 ,no matter how immersed he was in his own affairs1 he could always find time amidst the whirl and excitement of his ,london life1 amidst the worry and anxiety of official cares--or1 when abroad1 among the peaks of the ,noric ,alps or the ruins of ,italian cities--to think of his far-away ,cornish home and of her round whom it was centred4 ,to the last he opened out his heart to her as he did to none other2 she shared in all his aspirations1 and lived with him through his triumphs2 and by her death1 just a year before his own1 she was happily spared the knowledge of his physical decay and approaching end4 99 99 99 99 99 ,davy was about sixteen years of age when his father died4 ,at that time he was a bright1 curly-haired1 hazel-eyed lad1 somewhat narrow-chested and undergrown1 awkward in manner and gait1 but keenly fond of out-door sport1 and more distinguished for a love of mischief than of learning4 ,dr4 ,cardew1 of the ,truro ,grammar ,school1 where1 by the kindness of the ,tonkins1 he spent the year preceding his father's death1 wrote of him that he did not at that time discover any extraordinary abilities1 or1 so far as could be observed1 any propensity to those scientific pursuits which raised him to such eminence4 8,his best exercises were translations from the classics into ,english verse40 ,he had previously spent nine years in the ,penzance ,grammar ,school under the tyranny of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,coryton1 a man of irregular habits and as deficient in good method as in scholarship4 ,as ,davy used to come up for the customary castigation1 the worthy follower of ,orbilius was wont to repeat-- 8,now1 ,master ,davy1 ,now1 sir6 ,i have 'ee ,no one shall save 'ee-- ,good ,master ,davy60 ,he had1 too1 an unpleasant habit of pulling the boys' ears1 on the supposition1 apparently1 that their receptivity for oral instruction was thereby stimulated4 ,it is recorded that on one occasion ,davy appeared before him with a large plaster on each ear1 explaining1 with a very grave face1 that he had 8put the plasters on to prevent mortification40 ,whence it may be inferred that1 in spite of all the caning and the ear-pulling1 there was still much of the unregenerate ,adam left in 8good ,master ,davy40 ,mr4 ,coryton's method of inculcating knowledge and the love of learning1 happily1 had no permanent ill-effect on the boy4 ,years afterwards1 when reflecting on his school-life1 he wrote1 in a letter to his mother-- 8,after all1 the way in which we are taught ,latin and ,greek does not much influence the important structure of our minds4 ,i consider it fortunate that ,i was left much to myself when a child1 and put upon no particular plan of study1 and that ,i enjoyed much idleness at ,mr4 ,coryton's school4 ,i perhaps owe to these circumstances the little talents that ,i have and their peculiar application40 ,if ,davy's abilities were not perceived by his masters1 they seemed to have been fully recognised by his school-fellows--to judge from the frequency with which they sought his aid in their ,latin compositions1 and from the fact that half the love-sick youths of ,penzance employed him to write their valentines and letters4 ,his lively imagination1 strong dramatic power1 and retentive memory combined to make him a good story-teller1 and many an evening was spent by his comrades beneath the balcony of the ,star ,inn1 in ,market ,jew ,street1 listening to his tales of wonder or horror1 gathered from the 8,arabian ,nights0 or from his grandmother ,davy1 a woman of fervid mind stored with traditions and ancient legends1 from whom he seems to have derived much of his poetic instinct4 ,those who would search in environment for the conditions which determine mental aptitudes1 will find it very difficult to ascertain what there was in ,davy's boyish life in ,penzance to mould him into a natural philosopher4 ,at school he seems to have acquired nothing beyond a smattering of elementary mathematics and a certain facility in turning ,latin into ,english verse4 ,most of what he obtained in the way of general knowledge he picked up for himself1 from such books as he found in the library of his benefactor1 ,mr4 ,john ,tonkin4 ,dr4 ,john ,davy has left us a sketch of the state of society in the ,mount's ,bay during the latter part of the eighteenth century1 which serves to show how unfavourable was the soil for the stimulation and development of intellectual power4 ,cornwall at that time had but little commerce2 and beyond the tidings carried by pedlars or ship-masters1 or contained in the ,sherborne ,mercury--the only newspaper which then circulated in the west of ,england--it knew little or nothing of what was going on in the outer world4 ,its roads were mostly mere bridle-paths1 and a carriage was as little known in ,penzance as a camel4 ,there was only one carpet in the town1 the floors of the rooms being1 as a rule1 sprinkled with sea-sand3-- 8,all classes were very superstitious2 even the belief in witches maintained its ground1 and there was an almost unbounded credulity respecting the supernatural and monstrous4444 ,amongst the middle and higher classes there was little taste for literature and still less for science1 and their pursuits were rarely of a dignified or intellectual kind4 ,hunting1 shooting1 wrestling1 cock-fighting1 generally ending in drunkenness1 were what they most delighted in4 ,smuggling was carried on to a great extent1 and drunkenness and a low scale of morals were naturally associated with it40 ,davy1 an ardent1 impulsive youth of strong social instincts1 fond of excitement1 and not over studious1 seems1 now that he was released from the restraint of school-life1 to have come under the influence of such surroundings4 ,for nearly a year he was restless and unsettled1 spending much of his time like his father in rambling about the country and in fishing and shooting1 and passing from desultory study to occasional dissipation4 ,the death of his father1 however1 made a profound impression on his mind1 and suddenly changed the whole course of his conduct4 ,as the eldest son1 and approaching manhood1 he seems at once to have realised what was due to his mother and to himself4 ,the circumstances of the family supplied the stimulus to exertion1 and he dried his mother's tears with the assurance that he would do all in his power for his brothers and sisters4 ,a few weeks after the decease of his father he was apprenticed to ,mr4 ,bingham ,borlase1 an apothecary and surgeon practising in ,penzance1 and at once marked out for himself a course of study and self-tuition almost unparalleled in the annals of biography1 and to which he adhered with a strength of mind and tenacity of purpose altogether unlooked for in one of his years and of his gay and careless disposition4 ,that it was sufficiently ambitious will be evident from the following transcript from the opening pages of his earliest note-book--a small quarto1 with parchment covers1 dated #agie3-- #a4 ,theology1 or ,religion1 taught by ,nature2 ,ethics or ,moral virtues by ,revelation4 #b4 ,geography4 #c4 ,my ,profession4 #a4 ,botany4 #b4 ,pharmacy4 #c4 ,nosology4 #d4 ,anatomy4 #e4 ,surgery4 #f4 ,chemistry4 #d4 ,logic4 #e4 ,languages4 #a4 ,english4 #b4 ,french4 #c4 ,latin4 #d4 ,greek4 #e4 ,italian4 #f4 ,spanish4 #g4 ,hebrew4 #f4 ,physics4 #a4 ,the doctrines and properties of natural bodies4 #b4 ,of the operations of nature4 #c4 ,of the doctrines of fluids4 #d4 ,of the properties of organised matter4 #e4 ,of the organisation of matter4 #f4 ,simple astronomy4 #g4 ,mechanics4 #h4 ,rhetoric and ,oratory4 #i4 ,history and ,chronology4 #aj4 ,mathematics4 ,the note-book opens with 8,hints ,towards the ,investigation of ,truth in ,religious and ,political ,opinions1 composed as they occurred1 to be placed in a more regular manner hereafter40 ,then follow essays 8,on the ,immortality and ,immateriality of the ,soul02 8,body1 ,organised ,matter02 on 8,governments02 on 8,the ,credulity of ,mortals02 8,an ,essay to ,prove that the ,thinking ,powers depend on the ,organisation of the ,body02 8,a ,defence of ,materialism02 8,an ,essay on the ,ultimate ,end of ,being02 8,on ,happiness02 8,on ,moral ,obligation40 ,these early essays display the workings of an original mind1 intent1 it may be1 on problems beyond its immature powers1 but striving in all sincerity to work out its own thoughts and to arrive at its own conclusions4 ,of course1 the daring youth of sixteen who enters upon an inquiry into the most difficult problems of theology and metaphysics1 with1 what he is pleased to call1 unprejudiced reason as his sole guide1 quickly passes into a cold fit of materialism4 ,his mind was too impressionable1 however1 to have reached the stage of settled convictions2 and in the same note-book we subsequently find the heads of a train of argument in favour of a rational religious belief founded on immaterialism4 ,metaphysical inquiries seem1 indeed1 to have occupied the greater part of his time at this period2 and his note-books show that he made himself acquainted with the writings of ,locke1 ,hartley1 ,bishop ,berkeley1 ,hume1 ,helvetius1 ,condorcet1 and ,reid1 and that he had some knowledge of the doctrines of ,kant and the ,transcendentalists4 ,that he thought for himself1 and was not unduly swayed by authority1 is evident from the general tenour of his notes1 and from the critical remarks and comments by which they are accompanied4 ,some of these are worth quoting3-- 8,science or knowledge is the association of a number of ideas1 with some idea or term capable of recalling them to the mind in a certain order40 8,by examining the phenomena of ,nature1 a certain similarity of effects is discovered4 ,the business of science is to discover these effects1 and to refer them to some common cause2 that is to generalise ideas40 ,as his impulsive1 ingenuous disposition led him1 even to the last1 to speak freely of what was uppermost in his mind at the moment1 we may be sure that his elders1 the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,tonkin1 his good friend ,john ,tonkin1 and his grandmother ,davy1 with whom he was a great favourite1 as he was with most old people1 must have been considerably exercised at times with the metaphysical disquisitions to which they were treated2 and we can well imagine that their patience was occasionally as greatly tried as that of the worthy member of the ,society of ,friends who wound up an argument with the remark1 8,i tell thee what1 ,humphry1 thou art the most quibbling hand at a dispute ,i ever met with in my life40 ,whether it was in revenge for this sally that the young disputant composed the 8,letter on the ,pretended ,inspiration of the ,quakers0 which is to be found in one of his early note-books1 does not appear4 ,we easily trace in these early essays the evidences of that facility and charm of expression which a few years later astonished and delighted his audiences at the ,royal ,institution1 and which remained the characteristic features of his literary style4 ,these qualities were in no small degree strengthened by his frequent exercises in poetry4 ,for ,davy had early tasted of the ,pierian spring1 and1 like ,pope1 may be said to have lisped in numbers4 ,at five he was an improvisatore1 reciting his rhymes at some ,christmas gambols1 attired in a fanciful dress prepared by a playful girl who was related to him4 ,that he had the divine gift was acknowledged by no less an authority than ,coleridge1 who said that 8if ,davy had not been the first ,chemist1 he would have been the first ,poet of his age40 ,southey also1 who knew him well1 said after his death1 8,davy was a most extraordinary man2 he would have excelled in any department of art or science to which he had directed the powers of his mind4 ,he had all the elements of a poet2 he only wanted the art4 ,i have read some beautiful verses of his4 ,when ,i went to ,portugal1 ,i left ,davy to revise and publish my poem of #8,thalaba4'0 ,throughout his life he was wont1 when deeply moved1 to express his feelings in verse2 and at times even his prose was so suffused with the glow of poetry that to some it seemed altiloquent and inflated4 ,some of his first efforts appeared in the 8,annual ,anthology10 a work printed in ,bristol in #agii1 and edited by ,southey and ,tobin1 and interesting to the book-hunter as one of the first of the literary 8,annuals0 which subsequently became so fashionable4 ,davy had an intense love of ,nature1 and nothing stirred the poetic fire within him more than the sight of some sublime natural object such as a storm-beaten cliff1 a mighty mountain1 a resistless torrent1 or some spectacle which recalled the power and majesty of the sea4 ,not that he was insensible to the simpler charms of pastoral beauty1 or incapable of sympathy with ,nature in her softest1 tenderest moods4 ,but these things never seemed to move him as did some scene of grandeur1 or some manifestation of stupendous natural energy4 ,the following lines1 written on ,fair ,head during the summer of #ahjf1 may serve as an example of how scenery when associated in his mind with the sentiments of dignity or strength affected him3-- 8,majestic ,cliff6 ,thou birth of unknown time1 ,long had the billows beat thee1 long the waves ,rush'd o'er thy hollow'd rocks1 ere life adorn'd ,thy broken surface1 ere the yellow moss ,had tinted thee1 or the wild dews of heaven ,clothed thee with verdure1 or the eagles made ,thy caves their ary4 ,so in after time ,long shalt thou rest unalter'd mid the wreck ,of all the mightiness of human works2 ,for not the lightning1 nor the whirlwind's force1 ,nor all the waves of ocean1 shall prevail ,against thy giant strength1 and thou shalt stand ,till the ,almighty voice which bade thee rise ,shall bid thee fall40 ,in spite of a love-passage which seems to have provoked a succession of sonnets1 his devotions to ,calliope were by no means so unremitting as to prevent him from following the plan of study he had marked out for himself4 ,his note-books show that in the early part of #agif he attacked the mathematics1 and with such ardour that in little more than a year he had worked through a course of what he called 8,mathematical ,rudiments10 in which he included 8fractions1 vulgar and decimal2 extraction of roots2 algebra 7as far as quadratic equations72 ,euclid's elements of geometry2 trigonometry2 logarithms2 sines and tangents2 tables2 application of algebra to geometry1 etc40 ,in #agig he began the study of natural philosophy1 and towards the end of this year1 when he was close on nineteen1 he turned his attention to chemistry1 merely1 however1 at the outset as a branch of his professional education1 and with no other idea than to acquaint himself with its general principles4 ,his good fortune led him to select ,lavoisier's 8,elements0--probably ,kerr's translation1 published in #agif--;as his text-book4 ,no choice could have been happier4 ,the book is well suited to a mind like ,davy's1 and he could not fail to be impressed by the boldness and comprehensiveness of its theory1 its admirable logic1 and the clearness and precision of its statements4 ,from reading and speculation he soon passed to experiment4 ,but at this time he had never seen a chemical operation performed1 and had little or no acquaintance with even as much as the forms of chemical apparatus4 ,phials1 wine-glasses1 tea-cups1 and tobacco-pipes1 with an occasional earthen crucible1 were all the paraphernalia he could command2 the common mineral acids1 the alkalis1 and a few drugs from the surgery constituted his stock of chemicals4 ,of the nature of these early trials we know little4 ,it is1 however1 almost certain that the experiments with sea-weed1 described in his two essays 8,on ,heat1 ,light and the ,combinations of ,light0 and 8,on the ,generation of ,phosoxygen and the ,causes of the ,colours of ,organic ,beings0 7see p4 #cj71 were made at this time1 and it is highly probable that the experiments on land-plants1 which are directly related to those on the ,fuci and are described in connection with them1 were made at the same period4 ,that he pursued his experiments with characteristic ardour is borne out by the testimony of members of his family1 particularly by that of his sister1 who sometimes acted as his assistant1 and whose dress too frequently suffered from the corrosive action of his chemicals4 ,the good ,mr4 ,tonkin and his worthy brother1 the ,reverend ,doctor1 were also from time to time abruptly and unexpectedly made aware of his zeal4 8,this boy ,humphry is incorrigible6 ,he will blow us all into the air60 were occasional exclamations heard to follow the alarming noises which now and then proceeded from the laboratory4 ,the well-known anecdote of the syringe which had formed part of a case of instruments of a shipwrecked ,french surgeon1 and which ,davy had ingeniously converted into an air-pump1 although related by ,dr4 ,paris 8with a minuteness and vivacity worthy of ,defoe10 is1 in all probability1 apocryphal4 ,nor has ,lord ,brougham's story1 that his devotion to chemical experiments and 8his dislike to the shop0 resulted in a disagreement with his master1 and that 8he went to another in the same place10 where 8he continued in the same course10 any surer foundation in fact4 ,two or three circumstances conduced to develop ,davy's taste for scientific pursuits1 and to extend his opportunities for observation and experiment4 ,one was his acquaintance with ,mr4 ,gregory ,watt2 another was his introduction to ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert 7then ,mr4 ,davies ,giddy71 a ,cornish gentleman of wealth and position1 who lived to succeed him in the presidential chair of the ,royal ,society4 ,gregory ,watt1 the son of ,james ,watt1 the engineer1 by his second marriage1 was a young man of singular promise who1 had he lived1 would--if we may judge from his paper in the ,philosophical ,transactions--have almost certainly acquired a distinguished position in science4 ,of a weakly1 consumptive habit1 he was ordered to spend the winter of #agig in ,penzance1 where he lodged with ,mrs4 ,davy1 boarding with the family4 ,young ,watt was about two years older than ,davy1 and had just left the ,university of ,glasgow1 8his mind enriched beyond his age with science and literature1 with a spirit above the little vanities and distinctions of the world1 devoted to the acquisition of knowledge40 ,he remained in ,penzance until the following spring1 and by his example1 and by the generous friendship which he extended towards him1 he developed and strengthened ,davy's resolve to devote himself to science4 ,davy's introduction to ,mr4 ,gilbert1 8a man older than himself1 with considerable knowledge of science generally1 and with the advantages of a ,university education10 was also a most timely and propitious circumstance4 ,according to ,dr4 ,paris-- 8,mr4 ,gilbert's attention was attracted to the future philosopher1 as he was carelessly swinging over the hatch1 or half-gate1 of ,mr4 ,borlase's house1 by the humorous contortions into which he threw his features4 ,davy it may be remarked1 when a boy1 possessed a countenance which even in its natural state was very far from comely2 while his round shoulders1 inharmonious voice and insignificant manner1 were calculated to produce anything rather than a favourable impression3 in riper years1 he was what might be called #8good-looking1' although as a wit of the day observed1 his aspect was certainly of the #8bucolic' character4 ,the change which his person underwent1 after his promotion to the ,royal ,institution1 was so rapid that in the days of ,herodotus1 it would have been attributed to nothing less than the miraculous interposition of the ,priestesses of ,helen4 ,a person1 who happened to be walking with ,mr4 ,gilbert upon the occasion alluded to1 observed that the extraordinary looking boy in question was young ,davy1 the carver's son1 who1 he added1 was said to be fond of making chemical experiments40 ,mr4 ,gilbert was thus led to interest himself in the boy1 whom he invited to his house at ,tredrea1 offering him the use of his library1 and such other assistance in his studies as he could render4 ,on one occasion he was taken over to the ,hayle ,copper-,house1 and had the opportunity of seeing a well-appointed laboratory3 8,the tumultuous delight which ,davy expressed on seeing1 for the first time1 a quantity of chemical apparatus1 hitherto only known to him through the medium of engravings1 is described by ,mr4 ,gilbert as surpassing all description4 ,the air-pump more especially fixed his attention1 and he worked its piston1 exhausted the receiver1 and opened its valves1 with the simplicity and joy of a child engaged in the examination of a new and favourite toy40 ,it has already been stated that in the outset ,davy attacked science as he did metaphysics1 approaching it from the purely theoretical side4 ,as might be surmised1 his love of speculation quickly found exercise for itself1 and within four months of his introduction to the study of science he had conceived and elaborated a new hypothesis on the nature of heat and light1 which he communicated to ,dr4 ,beddoes4 ,dr4 ,thomas ,beddoes was by training a medical man1 who in various ways had striven to make a name for himself in science4 ,he is known to the chemical bibliographer as the translator of the ,chemical ,essays of ,scheele1 and at one time occupied the ,chair of ,chemistry at ,oxford4 ,the geological world at the end of the eighteenth century regarded him as a zealous and uncompromising ,plutonist4 ,his character was thus described by ,davy1 who in the last year of his life jotted down1 in the form of brief notes1 his reminiscences of some of the more remarkable men of his acquaintance3-- 8,beddoes was reserved in manner and almost dry2 but his countenance was very agreeable4 ,he was cold in conversation1 and apparently much occupied with his own peculiar views and theories4 ,nothing could be a stronger contrast to his apparent coldness in discussion than his wild and active imagination1 which was as poetical as ,darwin's4444 ,on his deathbed he wrote me a most affecting letter1 regretting his scientific aberrations40 ,one of ,dr4 ,beddoes's 8scientific aberrations0 was the inception and establishment of the ,pneumatic ,institution1 which he founded with a view of studying the medicinal effects of the different gases1 in the sanguine hope that powerful remedies might be found amongst them4 ,the ,institution1 which was supported wholly by subscription1 was to be provided with all the means likely to promote its objects--a hospital for patients1 a laboratory for experimental research1 and a theatre for lecturing4 ,in seeking for a person to take charge of the laboratory1 ,dr4 ,beddoes bethought him of ,davy1 who had been recommended to him by ,mr4 ,gilbert4 ,in a letter dated ,july #dth1 #agih1 ,dr4 ,beddoes thus writes to ,mr4 ,gilbert3-- 8,i am glad that ,mr4 ,davy has impressed you as he has me4 ,i have long wished to write to you about him1 for ,i think ,i can open a more fruitful field of investigation than any body else4 ,is it not also his most direct road to fortune8 ,should he not bring out a favourable result he may still exhibit talents for investigation1 and entitle himself to public confidence more effectually than by any other mode4 ,he must be maintained1 but the fund will not furnish a salary from which a man can lay up anything4 ,he must also devote his time for two or three years to the investigation4 ,i wish you would converse with him upon the subject4444 ,i am sorry ,i cannot at this moment specify a yearly sum1 nor can ,i say with certainty whether all the subscribers will accede to my plan2 most of them will1 ,i doubt not4 ,i have written to the principal ones1 and will lose no time in sounding them all40 ,a fortnight later1 ,dr4 ,beddoes again wrote to ,mr4 ,gilbert3-- 8,i have received a letter from ,mr4 ,davy since ,i wrote to you4 ,he has oftener than once mentioned a genteel maintenance1 as a preliminary to his being employed to superintend the ,pneumatic ,hospital4 ,i fear the funds will not allow an ample salary2 he must however be maintained4 ,i can attach no idea to the epithet genteel1 but perhaps all difficulties would vanish in conversation2 at least ,i think your conversing with ,mr4 ,davy will be a more likely way of smoothing difficulties than our correspondence4 ,it appears to me1 that this appointment will bear to be considered as a part of ,mr4 ,davy's medical education1 and that it will be a great saving of expense to him4 ,it may also be the foundation of a lucrative reputation2 and certainly nothing on my part shall be wanting to secure to him the credit he may deserve4 ,he does not undertake to discover cures for this or that disease2 he may acquire just applause by bringing out clear1 though negative results4 ,during my journeys into the country ,i have picked up a variety of important and curious facts from different practitioners4 ,this has suggested to me the idea of collecting and publishing such facts as this part of the country will from time to time afford4 ,if ,i could procure chemical experiments that bore any relation to organised nature1 ,i would insert them4 ,if ,mr4 ,davy does not dislike this method of publishing his experiments ,i would gladly place them at the head of my first volume1 but ,i wish not that he should make any sacrifice of judgment or inclination40 ,thanks to ,mr4 ,gilbert1 the negotiation was brought to a successful issue4 ,mrs4 ,davy yielded to her son's wishes1 and ,mr4 ,borlase surrendered his indenture1 on the back of which he wrote that he released him from 8all engagements whatever on account of his excellent behaviour02 adding1 8because being a youth of great promise1 ,i would not obstruct his present pursuits1 which are likely to promote his fortune and his fame40 ,the only one of his friends who disapproved of the scheme was his old benefactor1 ,mr4 ,john ,tonkin1 who had hoped to have established ,davy in his native town as a surgeon4 ,mr4 ,tonkin was so irritated at the failure of his plans that he altered his will1 and revoked the legacy of his house1 which he had bequeathed to him4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,pneumatic ,,institution1 ,,bristol1 #agih-ahja4 ,on ,october #bnd1 #agih1 ,davy set out for ,clifton with such books and apparatus as he possessed1 and the ,,mss4 of his essays on ,heat and ,light safely stowed away among his baggage4 ,he was in the highest spirits1 and full of confidence in the future4 ,on his way through ,okehampton he met the ,london coach decked with laurels and ribbons1 and bringing the news of ,nelson's victory of the ,nile1 which he interpreted as a happy omen4 ,a few days after his arrival1 he thus wrote to his mother3-- 8,october #aath1 #agih4 ,clifton4 8,,my ,,dear ,,mother1--,i have now a little leisure time1 and ,i am about to employ it in the pleasing occupation of communicating to you an account of all the new and wonderful events that have happened to me since my departure4 8,i suppose you received my letter1 written in a great hurry last ,sunday1 informing you of my safe arrival and kind reception4 ,i must now give you a more particular account of ,clifton1 the place of my residence1 and of my new friends ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,beddoes and their family4 8,clifton is situated on the top of a hill1 commanding a view of ,bristol and its neighbourhood1 conveniently elevated above the dirt and noise of the city4 ,here are houses1 rocks1 woods1 town and country in one small spot2 and beneath us1 the sweetly-flowing ,avon1 so celebrated by the poets4 ,indeed there can hardly be a more beautiful spot2 it almost rivals ,penzance and the beauties of ,mount's ,bay4 8,our house is capacious and handsome2 my rooms are very large1 nice and convenient2 and1 above all1 ,i have an excellent laboratory4 ,now for the inhabitants1 and1 first1 ,dr4 ,beddoes1 who1 between you and me1 is one of the most original men ,i ever saw--uncommonly short and fat1 with little elegance of manners1 and nothing characteristic externally of genius or science2 extremely silent1 and in a few words1 a very bad companion4 ,his behaviour to me1 however1 has been particularly handsome4 ,he has paid me the highest compliments on my discoveries1 and has1 in fact1 become a convert to my theory1 which ,i little expected4 ,he has given up to me the whole of the business of the ,pneumatic ,hospital1 and has sent to the editor of the ,monthly ,magazine a letter1 to be published in ,november1 in which ,i have the honour to be mentioned in the highest terms4 ,mrs4 ,beddoes is the reverse of ,dr4 ,beddoes--extremely cheerful1 gay and witty2 she is one of the most pleasing women ,i have ever met with4 ,with a cultivated understanding and an excellent heart1 she combines an uncommon simplicity of manners4 ,we are already very great friends4 ,she has taken me to see all the fine scenery about ,clifton2 for the ,doctor1 from his occupations and his bulk1 is unable to walk much4 ,in the house are two sons and a daughter of ,mr4 ,lambton1 very fine children1 from five to thirteen years of age4 8,i have visited ,mr4 ,hare1 one of the principal subscribers to the ,pneumatic ,hospital1 who treated me with great politeness4 ,i am now very much engaged in considering of the erection of the ,pneumatic ,hospital1 and the mode of conducting it4 ,i shall go down to ,birmingham to see ,mr4 ,watt and ,mr4 ,keir in about a fortnight1 where ,i shall probably remain a week or ten days2 but before then you will again hear from me4 ,we are just going to print at ,cottle's2 in ,bristol1 so that my time will be much taken up the ensuing fortnight in preparations for the press4 ,the theatre for lecturing is not yet open2 but1 if ,i can get a large room in ,bristol1 and subscribers1 ,i intend to give a course of chemical lectures1 as ,dr4 ,beddoes seems much to wish it4 8,my journey up was uncommonly pleasant2 ,i had the good fortune to travel all the way with acquaintances4 ,i came into ,exeter in a most joyful time1 the celebration of ,nelson's victory4 ,the town was beautifully illuminated1 and the inhabitants loyal and happy4444 8,it will give you pleasure when ,i inform you that all my expectations are answered and that my situation is just what ,i could wish4 ,but1 for all this1 ,i very often think of ,penzance and my friends1 with a wish to be there2 however that time will come4 ,we are some time before we become accustomed to new modes of living and new acquaintances4 8,believe me1 your affectionate son1 8,,humphry ,,davy40 ,mrs4 ,beddoes1 of whom ,davy speaks in such appreciative terms1 was one of the many sisters of ,maria ,edgeworth4 ,she seems to have possessed much of the intelligence1 wit1 vivacity1 and sunny humour of the accomplished authoress of 8,castle ,rackrent02 and1 by her charm of manner and her many social gifts1 to have made her husband's house the centre of the literary and intellectual life of ,clifton4 ,thanks to her influence1 ,davy had the good fortune to be brought into contact1 at the very outset of his career1 with ,southey1 ,coleridge1 the ,tobins1 ,miss ,edgeworth1 and other notable literary men and women of his time1 with many of whom he established firm and enduring friendships4 ,he had always a sincere admiration for his fair patroness1 and a grateful memory of her many acts of kindness to him at this period of his life4 ,that she in turn had an esteem amounting to affection for the gifted youth is evident from the language of tender feeling and warm regard in which her letters to him are expressed4 ,the sonnets accompanying these letters are couched in terms which admit of no doubt of the strength of her sentiments of sympathy and admiration1 and some of the best efforts of his muse were addressed to her in return4 ,his work and prospects at the ,pneumatic ,institution are sufficiently indicated in the following letter to his friend and patron1 ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert1 written five weeks after his arrival at ,clifton3-- 8,clifton1 ,november #ab1 #agih4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,i have purposely delayed writing until ,i could communicate to you some intelligence of importance concerning the ,pneumatic ,institution4 ,the speedy execution of the plan will1 ,i think1 interest you both as a subscriber and a friend to science and mankind4 ,the present subscription is1 we suppose nearly adequate to the purpose of investigating the medicinal powers of factitious airs2 it still continues to increase1 and we may hope for the ability of pursuing the investigation to its full extent4 ,we are negotiating for a house in ,dowrie ,square1 the proximity of which to ,bristol1 and its general situation and advantages1 render it very suitable to the purpose4 ,the funds will1 ,i suppose1 enable us to provide for eight or ten patients in the hospital1 and for as many out of it as we can procure4 8,we shall try the gases in every possible way4 ,they may be condensed by pressure and rarefied by heat4 ,quere1--,would not a powerful injecting syringe furnished with two valves1 one opening into an air-holder and the other into the breathing chamber1 answer the purpose of compression better than any other apparatus8 ,can you not1 from your extensive stores of philosophy1 furnish us with some hints on this subject8 ,may not the non-respirable gases furnish a class of different stimuli8 of which the oxymuriatic acid gas chlorine would stand the highest1 if we may judge from its effects on the lungs2 then1 probably1 gaseous oxyd of azote nitrous oxide8 and hydrocarbonate the gases obtained by passing steam over red-hot charcoal4 8,i suppose you have not heard of the discovery of the native sulphate of strontian in ,england4 ,i shall perhaps surprise you by stating that we have it in large quantities here4 ,it had long been mistaken for sulphate of barytes1 till our friend ,clayfield1 on endeavouring to procure the muriate of barytes from it by decomposition1 detected the strontian4 ,we opened a fine vein of it about a fortnight ago at the ,old ,passage near the mouth of the ,severn4,b444 8,we are printing in ,bristol the first volume of the #8,west ,country ,collection1' which will1 ,i suppose1 be out in the beginning of ,january4 8,mrs4 ,beddoes 444 is as good1 amiable1 and elegant as when you saw her4 8,believe me1 dear ,sir1 with affection and respect1 truly yours1 8,,humphry ,,davy40 ,b ,cf4 ,an account of several veins of ,sulphate of ,strontites1 found in the neighbourhood of ,bristol1 with an ,analysis of the different varieties4 ,by ,w4 ,clayfield4 8,nicholson's ,journ410 ,,iii41 #ahjj1 pp4 #cf-da4 ,the work alluded to in this letter made its appearance in the early part of #agii1 under the title of 8,contributions to ,physical and ,medical ,knowledge1 principally from the ,west of ,england2 collected by ,thomas ,beddoes1 ,m4,d40 ,the first half of the volume1 in accordance with the editor's promise1 is occupied by two essays from ,davy3 the first 8,on ,heat1 ,light1 and the ,combinations of ,light1 with a new ,theory of ,respiration02 the second 8,on the ,generation of ,phosoxygen 7,oxygen ,gas71 and on the ,causes of the ,colours of ,organic ,beings40 ,to the student these essays have no other interest than is due to the fact that they are ,davy's first contribution to the literature of science4 ,no beginning could be more inauspicious4 ,it is the first step that costs1 and ,davy's first step had well nigh cost him all that he lived for4 ,as additions to knowledge they are worthless2 indeed1 a stern critic might with justice characterise them in much stronger language4 ,nowadays such writings would hopelessly damn the reputation of any young aspirant for scientific fame1 for it is indeed difficult to believe1 as we read paragraph after paragraph1 that their author had any real conception of science1 or that he was capable of understanding the need or appreciating the value of scientific evidence4 ,the essays are partly experimental1 partly speculative1 and the author apparently would have us believe that the speculations are entirely subservient to and dependent on the experiments4 ,precisely the opposite is the case4 ,davy's work had its origin in ,lavoisier's 8,trait ,elmentaire10 almost the only text-book of chemistry he possessed4 ,lavoisier taught1 in conformity with the doctrine of his time1 that heat was a material substance1 and that oxygen was essentially a compound body1 composed of a simple substance associated with the matter of heat1 or caloric4 ,the young novitiate puts on his metaphysical shield and buckler2 and with the same jaunty self-confidence that he assailed ,locke and criticised ,berkeley1 enters the lists against this doctrine1 determined1 as he told ,gregory ,watt1 8to demolish the ,french theory in half an hour40 ,after a few high-sounding but somewhat disconnected introductory sentences1 and a complimentary allusion to 8the theories of a celebrated medical philosopher1 ,dr4 ,beddoes10 he proceeds to put ,lavoisier's question1 8,la lumire1 est-elle une modification du calorique1 ou bien le calorique est-il une modification de la lumire80 to the test of experiment4 ,this he does by repeating ,hawksbee's old experiment of snapping a gunlock 8armed with an excellent flint0 in an exhausted receiver4 ,the experiment fails in his hands2 such phenomena as he observes he misinterprets1 and he at once concludes that light and heat have nothing essentially in common4 8,nor can light be as some philosophers suppose1 a vibration of the imaginary fluid ether4 ,for even granting the existence of this fluid it must be present in the exhausted receiver as well as in atmospheric air2 and if light is a vibration of this fluid1 generated by collision between flint and steel in atmospheric air1 it should likewise be produced in the exhausted receiver1 where a greater quantity of ether is present1 which is not the case40 ,since1 then1 it is neither an effect of caloric nor of an ethereal fluid1 and 8as the impulse of a material body on the organ of vision is essential to the generation of a sensation1 light is consequently matter of a peculiar kind1 capable when moving through space with the greatest velocity1 of becoming the source of a numerous class of our sensations40 ,by experiments1 faultless in principle but wholly imperfect in execution1 he next seeks to show that caloric1 or the matter of heat1 has no existence4 ,his reasoning is clear1 and his conceptions have the merit of ingenuity1 but any real acquaintance with the conditions under which the experiments were made would have convinced him that the results were untrustworthy and equivocal2 and yet1 in spite of the dubious character of his observations1 he arrived at a theory of the essential nature of heat which is in accord with our present convictions1 and which he states in the following terms3-- 8,heat1 or that power which prevents the actual contact of the corpuscles of bodies1 and which is the cause of our peculiar sensations of heat and cold1 may be defined a peculiar motion1 probably a vibration1 of the corpuscles of bodies1 tending to separate them40 ,this conception of the nature of heat did not1 of course1 originate with him1 and it was a question with his contemporaries how far he was influenced by ,rumford's work and teaching4 ,on this point ,dr4 ,beddoes's testimony is direct and emphatic4 ,he says3-- 8,the author ,davy derived no assistance whatever from the ,count's ingenious labours4 ,my first knowledge of him arose from a letter written in ,april #agih1 containing an account of his researches on heat and light2 and his first knowledge of ,count ,rumford's paper was conveyed by my answer4 ,the two ,essays contain proofs enough of an original mind to make it credible that the simple and decisive experiments on heat were independently conceived4 ,nor is it necessary1 in excuse or in praise of his system1 to add1 that1 at the time it was formed1 the author was under twenty years of age1 pupil to a surgeon-apothecary1 in the most remote town of ,cornwall1 with little access to philosophical books1 and none at all to philosophical men40 ,having thus1 with ,beddoes1 expunged caloric from his chemical system1 ,davy proceeds to elevate the matter of light into its place4 ,according to ,lavoisier oxygen gas was a compound of a simple substance and caloric2 ,davy seeks to show that it is a compound of a simple substance and light4 ,he objects to the use of the word 8gas10 since1 according to ,french doctrine1 it is to be taken as implying not merely a state of aggregation but a combination of caloric with another substance1 and suggests therefore that what was called oxygen gas should henceforth be known as phosoxygen4 ,his 8proofs0 that oxygen is really a compound of a simple substance with 8matter in a peculiar state of existence0 are perhaps the most futile that could be imagined4 ,charcoal1 phosphorus1 sulphur1 hydrogen1 and zinc were caused to burn in oxygen2 light was evolved1 oxides were formed1 and a deficiency of weight was in each case observed4 ,he regrets1 however1 that he 8possessed no balance sufficiently accurate to determine exactly the deficiency of weight from the light liberated in different combustive processes40 8,from these experiments1 it appears that in the chemical process of the formation of many oxyds and acids1 light is liberated1 the phosoxygen and combustible base consumed1 and a new body formed4444 ,since light is liberated in these processes1 it is evident that it must be liberated either from the phosoxygen or from the combustible body4444 ,if the light liberated in combustion be supposed 7according to ,macquer's and ,hutton's theories7 to arise from the combustible body1 then phosoxygen must be considered as a simple substance2 and it follows on this supposition1 that whenever phosoxygen combines with combustible bodies1 either directly or by attraction from any of its combinations1 light must be liberated1 which is not the case1 as carbon1 iron and many other substances1 may be oxydated by the decomposition of water without the liberation of light40 ,davy is here on the horns of a dilemma1 but he ignores the difficulty1 and1 with characteristic 8flexibility of adaptation10 proceeds to offer synthetical proofs 8that the presence of light is absolutely essential to the production of phosoxygen40 ,the character of the 8proofs0 is sufficiently indicated by the following extracts3-- 8,when pure oxyd of lead is heated as much as possible1 included from light1 it remains unaltered2 but when exposed to the light of a burning-glass1 or even of a candle1 phosoxygen is generated and the metal revivified40 8,oxygenated muriatic acid chlorine is a compound of muriatic acid1 oxygen and light1 as will be hereafter proved4 ,the combined light is not sufficient to attract the oxygen from the base muriatic acid to form phosoxygen2 but its attraction for oxygen renders the oxygenated muriatic acid decomposable4 ,if this acid be heated in a close vessel and light excluded no phosoxygen is formed2 but if it be exposed to the solar light1 phosoxygen is formed2 the acid loses its oxygen and light and becomes muriatic acid40 8,a plant of ,arenaria ,tenuifolia planted in a pot filled with very dry earth1 was inserted in carbonic acid1 under mercury4 ,the apparatus was exposed to the solar light1 for four days successively1 in the month of ,july4 ,by this time the mercury had ascended considerably4 ,the gas in the vessel was now measured4 ,there was a deficiency of one-sixth of the whole quantity4 ,after the carbonic acid was taken up by potash1 the remaining quantity1 equal to one-seventh of the whole1 was phosoxygen almost pure4 ,from this experiment1 it is evident that carbonic acid is decomposed by two attractions2 that of the vegetable for carbon and of light for oxygen3 the carbon combines with the plant1 and the light and oxygen combined are liberated in the form of phosoxygen40 ,the accounts which ,davy gives of his experiments1 as well as of the phenomena which he professes to have observed1 may awaken an uneasy doubt as to his absolute integrity2 for1 it is hardly necessary to point out1 he could not possibly have obtained the results which he describes4 ,the presence or absence of light in no wise affects the decomposition by heat of minium2 chlorine1 as he himself subsequently established1 contains no oxygen2 and a plant is incapable of decomposing pure undiluted carbonic acid1 even in the brightest sunshine4 ,but the work of a youth of nineteen1 imaginative1 sanguine1 and impetuous1 with no training as an experimentalist1 and with only a limited access to scientific memoirs1 cannot be judged by too severe a canon4 ,the faculty of self-deception1 even in the largest and most receptive minds1 often in those of matured power and ripened experience1 is boundless4 ,davy himself affords an exemplification of the truth of his own words1 written years afterwards3 8,the human mind is always governed not by what it knows1 but by what it believes2 not by what it is capable of attaining1 but by what it desires40 ,it is not necessary to show how the presumptuous youth drove his hobby with all the reckless daring of a ,phton4 ,phlogiston and oxygen had in turn been the central conceptions of theories of chemistry2 phosoxygen was to supplant them4 ,it was to explain everything--the blue colour of the sky1 the electric fluid1 the ,aurora ,borealis1 the phenomena of fiery meteors1 the green of the leaf1 the red of the rose1 and the sable hue of the ,ethiopian2 perception1 thought1 and happiness2 and why women are fairer than men4 ,but ,jupiter1 in the shape of a ,reviewer1 soon hurled the adventurous boy from the giddy heights to which he had soared4 ,the 8,west ,country ,collection0 received scant sympathy from the critics1 and the phosoxygen theory was either mercilessly ridiculed1 or treated with contempt4 ,there is no doubt that ,davy keenly felt the position in which he now stood4 ,his pride was humbled1 and the humiliation was as gall and wormwood4 ,the vision of fame which his ardour had conjured up on the top of the ,bristol coach--was it all a baseless fabric1 and its train of honours and emoluments an insubstantial pageant8 ,all he could plead was that his critics had not understood that these experiments were made when he had studied chemistry only four months1 when he had never seen a single experiment executed1 and when all his information was derived from ,nicholson's 8,chemistry0 and ,lavoisier's 8,elements40 ,but his good sense quickly came to his rescue4 ,after the first feelings of anger and mortification had passed1 he recognised the justice of his punishment1 much as he might resent the mode in which it was inflicted4 ,how keen was the smart will appear from the following reflection1 written in the ,august of the year in which the essays were published3-- 8,when ,i consider the variety of theories that may be formed on the slender foundation of one or two facts1 ,i am convinced that it is the business of the true philosopher to avoid them altogether4 ,it is more laborious to accumulate facts than to reason concerning them2 but one good experiment is of more value than the ingenuity of a brain like ,newton's40 ,about the same time he wrote3-- 8,i was perhaps wrong in publishing1 with such haste1 a new theory of chemistry4 ,my mind was ardent and enthusiastic4 ,i believed that ,i had discovered the truth4 ,since that time my knowledge of facts is increased--since that time ,i have become more sceptical40 ,in the ,october of the same year he wrote3-- 8,convinced as ,i am that chemical science is in its infancy1 that an infinite variety of new facts must be accumulated before our powers of reasoning will be sufficiently extensive1 ,i renounce my own particular theory as being a complete arrangement of facts3 it appears to me now only as the most probable arrangement40 ,by the end of the year the repentance was complete1 and recantation followed4 ,in a letter which appeared in ,nicholson's ,journal in ,february1 #ahjj1 he corrects some of the errors into which he had fallen1 and says1 8,i beg to be considered as a sceptic with regard to my own particular theory of the combinations of light1 and theories of light in general40 ,to the end of his days ,davy never forgot the lesson which his earliest effort had taught him2 and there is no question that the memory of it acted as a salutary check on the exuberance of his fancy and the flight of his imagination4 ,the wound to his self-love was1 however1 never wholly healed4 ,nothing annoyed him more than any reference to ,beddoes's book1 and he declared to ,dr4 ,hope that he would joyfully relinquish any little glory or reputation he might have acquired by his later researches were it possible to withdraw his share in that work and to remove the impression he feared it was likely to produce4 ,and yet1 in spite of the unqualified censure with which they were received1 and of the severe condemnation of them by their own author1 we are disposed to agree with ,dr4 ,davy that posterity will not suffer these essays to be wholly blotted out from the records of science4 ,that the experimental part was for the most part radically bad1 that the generalisation was hasty and presumptuous1 and the reasoning imperfect1 cannot be gainsaid4 ,but1 withal1 the essays display some of ,davy's best and happiest characteristics4 ,there is dignity of treatment and a sense of the nobility of the theme on which he is engaged2 the literary quality is admirable2 there is clearness of perception and perspicuity of statement2 the facts as he knew them--or as he thought he knew them--are marshalled with ingenuity and with a logical precision worthy of his model and teacher ,lavoisier2 his style is sonorous and copious1 even to redundancy--some of the periods indeed glow with all the fervour and richness of his ,royal ,institution lectures4 ,however wild and visionary his speculations may seem1 minds like those of ,coleridge and ,southey were not insensible to the intrinsic beauty of some of his ideas4 ,his theory of respiration might not be true1 but it had at least the merit of poetic charm in its consequence that the power and perspicacity of a thinker had some relation to the amount of light secreted by his brain4 ,even good old ,dr4 ,priestley1 whose ,pegasus could never be stirred beyond the gentlest of ambles1 tells us in the ,appendix to his 8,doctrine of ,phlogiston ,established0 that ,mr4 ,h4 ,davy's essays had impressed him with a high opinion of the philosophical acumen of their author4 8,his ideas were to me new and very striking2 but10 he adds1 with a caution that was not habitual1 8they are of too great consequence to be decided upon hastily40 ,among the letters entrusted to me is one from ,priestley1 which must have been particularly gratifying to the young man4 ,it is as follows3-- 8,northumberland1 ,oct4 #ca1 #ahja4 8,,sir1--,i have read with admiration your excellent publications1 and have received much instruction from them4 ,it gives me peculiar satisfaction that1 as ,i am far advanced in life1 and cannot expect to do much more1 ,i shall leave so able a fellow-labourer of my own country in the great fields of experimental philosophy4 ,as old an experimenter as ,i am1 ,i was near forty before ,i made any experiments on the subject of ,air1 and then without1 in a manner1 any previous knowledge of chemistry4 ,this ,i picked up as ,i could1 and as ,i found occasion for it1 from books4 ,i was also without apparatus1 and laboured under many other disadvantages4 ,but my unexpected success induced the friends of science to assist me1 and then ,i wanted for nothing4 ,i rejoice that you are so young a man2 and perceiving the ardour with which you begin your career1 ,i have no doubt of your success4 8,my son1 for whom you express a friendship1 and which he warmly returns1 encourages me to think that it may not be disagreeable to you to give me information occasionally of what is passing in the philosophical world1 now that ,i am at so great a distance from it1 and interested1 as you may suppose1 in what passes in it4 ,indeed1 ,i shall take it as a great favour4 ,but you must not expect anything in return4 ,i am here perfectly insulated1 and this country furnishes but few fellow-labourers1 and these are so scattered1 that we can have but little communication with each other1 and they are equally in want of information with myself4 ,unfortunately1 too1 correspondence with ,england is very slow and uncertain1 and with ,france we have not as yet any intercourse at all1 tho we hope to have it soon4444 8,i thank you for the favourable mention you so frequently make of my experiments1 and have only to remark that in ,mr4 ,nicholson's ,journal you say that the conducting power of charcoal was first observed by those who made experiments on the pile of ,volta2 whereas it was one of the earliest that ,i made1 and gave an account of in my ,history of ,electricity1 and in the ,philosophical ,transactions4 ,and in your treatise on the ,nitrous ,oxide p4 #ee you say1 and justly1 that ,i concluded this air to be lighter than that of the atmosphere4 ,this1 however1 was an error in the printing that ,i cannot account for4 ,it should have been alkaline air1 as you will see the experiment necessarily requires4 8,with the greatest esteem1 ,i am ,sir1 yours sincerely 8,j4 ,,priestley40 ,in ,davy's next contribution1 8,on the ,silex composing the ,epidermis1 or ,external ,bark1 and contained in other parts of certain ,vegetables10 published in ,nicholson's ,journal in the early part of #ahjj1 we find the evidence of a chastened and contrite spirit4 ,the theme is humble enough1 and the language as sober and sedate as that of ,mr4 ,cavendish4 ,the chance observation of a child that two bonnet-canes rubbed together in the dark produced a luminous appearance1 led him to investigate the cause1 which he found to reside in the crystallised silica present in the epidermis4 ,reeds and grasses1 and the straw of cereals1 were also found to be rich in silica1 from which he concludes that 8the flint entering into the composition of these hollow vegetables may be considered as analogous to the bones of animals2 it gives to them stability and form1 and by being situated in the epidermis more effectively preserves their vessels from external injury40 ,it is doubtful1 however1 whether the rigidity of the stems of cereals is wholly due to the silica they contain4 ,from a letter to ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert1 dated ,april #ajth1 #agii1 we learn that he had now begun to investigate the effects of gases in respiration4 ,in the early part of the year he had removed to a house in ,dowry ,square1 ,clifton1 where he had fitted up a laboratory4 ,after thanking his friend for his critical remarks on his recently published essays1 he says3 8,your excellent and truly philosophic observations will induce me to pay greater attention to all my positions4444 ,i made a discovery yesterday which proves how necessary it is to repeat experiments4 ,the gaseous oxide of azote is perfectly respirable when pure4 ,it is never deleterious but when it contains nitrous gas4 ,i have found a mode of obtaining it pure1 and ,i breathed to-day1 in the presence of ,dr4 ,beddoes and some others1 sixteen quarts of it for near seven minutes4 ,it appears to support life longer than even oxygen gas1 and absolutely intoxicated me4 ,pure oxygen gas produced no alteration in my pulse1 nor any other material effect2 whereas this gas raised my pulse upwards of twenty strokes1 made me dance about the laboratory as a madman1 and has kept my spirits in a glow ever since4 ,is not this a proof of the truth of my theory of respiration8 for this gas contains more light in proportion to its oxygen than any other1 and ,i hope will prove a most valuable medicine4 8,we have upwards of eighty out-patients in the ,pneumatic ,institution1 and are going on wonderfully well40 ,this observation of the respirability of nitrous oxide1 and of the effects of its inhalation1 was quickly confirmed4 ,southey1 ,coleridge1 ,tobin 7the dramatist71 ,joseph ,priestley1 the son of the chemist1 the two ,wedgwoods1 and a dozen other people of lesser note were induced to breathe the gas and to record their sensations4 ,the discovery was soon noised abroad2 ,dr4 ,beddoes dispatched a short note to ,nicholson's ,journal1 and the fame of the ,pneumatic ,institution went up by leaps and bounds4 ,maria ,edgeworth1 who was at the time on a visit to her sister1 thus writes3-- 8,a young man1 a ,mr4 ,davy1 at ,dr4 ,beddoes'1 who has applied himself much to chemistry1 has made some discoveries of importance1 and enthusiastically expects wonders will be performed by the use of certain gases1 which inebriate in the most delightful manner1 having the oblivious effects of ,lethe1 and at the same time giving the rapturous sensations of the ,nectar of the ,gods6 ,pleasure even to madness is the consequence of this draught4 ,but faith1 great faith1 is ,i believe necessary to produce any effect upon the drinkers1 and ,i have seen some of the adventurous philosophers who sought in vain for satisfaction in the bag of ,gaseous ,oxyd1 and found nothing but a sick stomach and a giddy head40 ,laughing-gas1 indeed threatened to become1 like ,priestley's dephlogisticated air1 8a fashionable article in luxury40 ,monsieur ,five1 in his 8,lettres sur l',angleterre1 #ahjb10 names it in the catalogue of follies to which the ,english were addicted1 and says the practice of breathing it amounted to a national vice6 ,davy had no sooner discovered that the gas might be respired1 than he proceeded to attack the whole subject of the chemistry of the oxides of nitrogen1 and of nitrous oxide in particular1 and after ten months of incessant labour he put together the results of his observations in an octavo volume1 entitled1 8,researches1 ,chemical and ,philosophical1 chiefly concerning ,nitrous ,oxide1 or ,dephlogisticated ,nitrous ,air1 and its ,respiration4 ,by ,humphry ,davy1 ,superintendent of the ,medical ,institution40 ,the book appeared in the summer of #ahjj1 and immediately re-established its author's character as an experimentalist4 ,thomson1 in his 8,history of ,chemistry10 says of it3 8,this work gave him at once a high reputation as a chemist1 and was really a wonderful performance1 when the circumstances under which it was produced are taken into consideration40 ,in spite1 however1 of the eulogies with which it was welcomed1 its sale was never very extensive1 and a second edition was not required4 ,in fact1 the work as a whole was hardly calculated to attract the general public1 whose only concern with laughing-gas was in its powers as an exhilarant4 ,indeed1 this aspect of the question is not wholly lost on ,davy himself1 who is careful to point out that 8if the pleasurable effects or medical properties of the nitrous oxide should ever make it an article of general request1 it may be procured with much less time1 labour1 and expense than most of the luxuries1 or even necessaries1 of life02 and in a footnote he adds4 8,a pound of nitrate of ammonia costs #es4 #aj;d4 7its present price is #i;d4674 ,this pound1 properly decomposed1 produces rather more than #cd moderate doses of the air1 so that the expense of a dose is about #b;d4 ,what fluid stimulus can be procured at so cheap a rate80 ,to the chemical student the book had1 and still has1 many features of interest4 ,it contains a number of important facts1 based on original and fairly accurate observation4 ,in the arrangement of these facts 8,i have been guided as much as possible10 says their author1 8by obvious and simple analogies only4 ,hence1 ,i have seldom entered into theoretical discussions1 particularly concerning light1 heat1 and other agents1 which are known only by isolated effects4 ,early experience has taught me the folly of hasty generalisation40 ,the work is divided into four main sections4 ,the first chiefly relates to the production of nitrous oxide1 and the analysis of nitrous gas and nitrous acid4 ,he minutely studies the mode of decomposition of ammonium nitrate 7first observed by ,berthollet71 and shows that it is an endothermic phenomenon1 varying in character with the temperature and manner of heating4 ,he is thus led to offer the following ,speculations on the ,decompositions of ,nitrate of ,ammonia3-- 8,all the phenomena of chemistry concur in proving that the affinity of one body1 ,a1 for another1 ,b1 is not destroyed by its combination with a third1 ,c1 but only modified2 either by condensation or expansion1 or by the attraction of ,c for ,b4 ,on this principle the attraction of compound bodies for each other must be resolved into the reciprocal attractions of their constituents1 and consequently the changes produced in them by variations of temperature explained from the alterations produced in the attractions of those constituents40 ,the singular property possessed by ammonium nitrate of decomposing in several distinct modes according to the rapidity of heating and the temperature to which the substance is raised1 first indicated by ,davy1 has been minutely studied by ,m4 ,berthelot1 who has shown that this comparatively simple salt may be decomposed in as many as six different ways4 ,it may be 7#a7 dissociated into gaseous nitric acid and ammonia2 7#b7 decomposed into nitrous oxide and water2 7#c7 resolved into nitrogen1 oxygen1 and water1 7#d7 or into nitric oxide1 nitrogen1 and water1 7#e7 or into nitrogen1 nitrogen peroxide1 and water2 or lastly 7#f71 under the influence of spongy platinum1 it may be resolved into gaseous nitric acid1 nitrogen1 and aqueous vapour4 ,these different modes of decomposition may be distinct or simultaneous2 or1 more exactly1 the predominance of any one of them depends on relative rapidity and on the temperature at which decomposition is produced4 ,this temperature is not fixed1 but is itself subordinate to the rapidity of heating 7cf4 ,berthelot's 8,explosives and ,their ,power10 translated by ,hake and ,macnab74 ,the assertion of ,de la ,metherie1 that the gas produced by the solution of platinum in nitromuriatic acid was identical with the dephlogisticated nitrous air of ,priestley 7nitrous oxide71 led ,davy to examine the gaseous products of this reaction more particularly4 ,he had no difficulty in disproving the statement of the ,french chemist2 but his observations1 although accurate1 led him to no definite conclusion4 8,it remains doubtful10 he says1 8whether the gas consists simply of highly oxigenated muriatic acid and nitrogen1 produced by the decomposition of nitric acid from the coalescing affinities of platina and muriatic acid for oxygen2 or whether it is composed of a peculiar gas1 analogous to oxigenated muriatic acid and nitrogen1 generated from some unknown affinities40 ,the real nature of the gas1 which has also been considered by ,lavoisier as a particular species1 not hitherto described1 was first established by ,gay ,lussac1 when ,davy had himself proved that 8oxigenated muriatic acid0 was a simple substance4 ,in the second section the combinations and composition of nitrous oxide are investigated1 and an account is given of its decomposition by combustible bodies1 and a series of experiments are described which are now among the stock illustrations of the chemical lecture-room4 ,as to its composition1 he says1 8taking the mean estimations from the most accurate experiments1 we may conclude that #ajj grains of the known ponderable matter of nitrous oxide consist of about #cfg oxygen and #fcc nitrogen0--no very great disparity from modern numbers1 viz4 #cfd oxygen and #fcf nitrogen4 ,he concludes this section with a short review of the characteristic properties of the combinations of oxygen and nitrogen1 among which he is led to class atmospheric air4 8,that the oxygen and nitrogen of atmospheric air exist in chemical union1 appears almost demonstrable from the following evidences4 8#ast4 ,the equable diffusion of oxygen and nitrogen through every part of the atmosphere1 which can hardly be supposed to depend on any other cause than an affinity between these principles4 8#b;dly4 ,the difference between the specific gravity of atmospheric air1 and a mixture of #bg parts oxygen and #gc nitrogen1 as found by calculation2 a difference apparently owing to expansion in consequence of combination40 ,these 8evidences0 had already been adduced by others1 as stated by ,davy2 the first was subsequently disproved by ,dalton1 the second was based on inaccurate analyses of air4 ,to these ,davy added two other 8proofs0 which originated with him3-- 8#c;dly4 ,the conversion of nitrous oxide into nitrous acid1 and a gas analogous to common air1 by ignition4 8#dthly4 ,the solubility of atmospheric air undecompounded40 ,of these it may be stated that the first is invalid1 and the second not true4 ,nitrous oxide may1 under certain circumstances1 give rise to a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen1 but not necessarily in the same proportion as in common air2 and the air boiled out from water has not the same composition as atmospheric air4 ,davy a few years afterwards obtained much clearer views as to the real nature of the atmosphere1 and was1 in fact1 one of the earliest to recognise that it is merely a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen4 ,the third section consists of an account of observations on the action of nitrous oxide upon animals1 and an investigation of the changes effected in it by respiration2 whilst the fourth and last gives a history of the respirability and of the extraordinary effects of nitrous oxide1 with details of experiments on its powers made by different individuals4 ,the last portion of the inquiry--in time of execution the first--is particularly interesting to the biographer of ,davy1 not only because the work in it was originated and carried out by him1 but also from the light it incidentally throws on his character and genius3-- 8,a short time10 he says1 8after ,i began the study of chemistry1 in ,march #agih1 my attention was directed to the dephlogisticated nitrous gas of ,priestley1 by ,dr4 ,mitchell's ,theory of ,contagion40 8,dr4 ,mitchell10 he tells us in a foot-note1 8attempted to prove from some phenomenon connected with contagious diseases1 that dephlogisticated nitrous gas which he called oxide of septon1 was the principle of contagion1 and capable of producing the most terrible effects when respired by animals in the minutest quantities1 or even when applied to the skin or muscular fibre40 8,the fallacy of this theory10 he continues1 8was soon demonstrated by a few coarse experiments made on small quantities of the gas procured from zinc and diluted nitrous nitric acid4 ,wounds were exposed to its action1 the bodies of animals were immersed in it without injury2 and ,i breathed it mingled in small quantities with common air1 without remarkable effects4 ,an inability to procure it in sufficient quantities prevented me at this time from pursuing the experiments to any greater extent4 ,i communicated an account of them to ,dr4 ,beddoes40 ,in the early part of ,april1 #agii1 he obtained nitrous oxide in a state of purity1 and1 as already stated1 made the attempt to respire it4 8,i was aware10 he says1 8of the danger of this experiment4 ,it certainly would never have been made if the hypothesis of ,dr4 ,mitchell had in the least influenced my mind4 ,i thought that the effects might be possibly depressing and painful1 but there were many reasons which induced me to believe that a single inspiration of a gas apparently possessing no immediate action on the irritable fibre1 could neither destroy nor immediately injure the powers of life40 ,the experiment was made3 the gas passed into the bronchia without stimulating the glottis1 and produced no uneasy feeling in the lungs4 ,there was a sense of fulness in the head accompanied with loss of distinct sensation and voluntary power--a feeling analogous to that produced in the first stage of intoxication1 but unattended by pleasurable sensation4 ,in company with ,dr4 ,beddoes the experiment was repeated1 with the following results3-- 8,having previously closed my nostrils and exhausted my lungs1 ,i breathed four quarts of nitrous oxide from and in to a silk bag4 ,the first feelings were similar to those produced in the last experiment2 but in less than half a minute1 the respiration being continued1 they diminished gradually1 and were succeeded by a sensation analogous to gentle pressure on all the muscles attended by a highly pleasurable thrilling1 particularly in the chest and the extremities4 ,the objects around me became dazzling1 and my hearing more acute4 ,towards the last inspirations1 the thrilling increased1 the sense of muscular power became greater1 and at last an irresistible propensity to action was indulged in2 ,i recollect but indistinctly what followed2 ,i know that my motions were various and violent4 ,these effects very soon ceased after respiration4 ,in ten minutes ,i had recovered my natural state of mind4 ,the thrilling in the extremities continued longer than the other sensations4 ,this experiment was made in the morning2 no langour or exhaustion was consequent1 my feelings throughout the day were as usual1 and ,i passed the night in undisturbed repose4 ,the next morning the recollections of the effects of the gas were very indistinct1 and had not remarks written immediately after the experiment recalled them to my mind ,i should have even doubted of their reality4 ,i was willing indeed to attribute some of the strong emotion to the enthusiasm1 which ,i supposed must have been necessarily connected with the perception of agreeable feelings1 when ,i was prepared to experience painful sensations4 ,two experiments1 however1 made in the course of this day1 with scepticism1 convinced me that the effects were solely owing to the specific operation of the gas40 ,having thus ascertained the powers of the gas1 he made many experiments to ascertain the length of time it might be breathed with safety1 its action on the pulse1 and its general effects on the health when often respired4 ,after a number of experiments made to determine its effect in allaying fatigue1 in inducing sleep1 or in alleviating the after-effects of vinous intoxication1 he resolved 8to breathe the gas for such a time and in such quantities as to produce excitement equal in duration and superior in intensity to that occasioned by high intoxication from opium or alcohol40 ,for this purpose he was enclosed in an air-tight or box-chamber1 into which from time to time1 by the help of ,dr4 ,kinglake1 successive quantities of twenty quarts of nitrous oxide were introduced4 ,as he breathed the gas1 he found that his temperature and pulse gradually increased4 ,he experienced a generally diffused warmth without the slightest moisture of the skin1 a sense of exhilaration similar to that produced by a small dose of wine1 and disposition to muscular motion and to merriment4 ,luminous points seemed frequently to pass before his eyes1 his hearing became more acute1 and he felt a pleasant lightness and power of exertion in the muscles2 and1 on account of the great desire of action1 rest was painful4 ,after having been in the box for an hour and a quarter he began to respire twenty quarts of unmingled nitrous oxide4 ,what followed is best described in his own words3-- 8,a thrilling1 extending from the chest to the extremities1 was almost immediately produced4 ,i felt a sense of tangible extension highly pleasurable in every limb2 my visible impressions were dazzling1 and apparently magnified1 ,i heard distinctly every sound in the room1 and was perfectly aware of my situation4 ,by degrees1 as the pleasurable sensations increased1 ,i lost all connection with external things2 trains of vivid visible images rapidly passed through my mind1 and were connected with words in such a manner1 as to produce perceptions perfectly novel4 ,i existed in a world of newly connected and newly modified ideas3 ,i theorised1 ,i imagined that ,i made discoveries4 ,when ,i was awakened from this semi delirious trance by ,dr4 ,kinglake1 who took the bag from my mouth1 indignation and pride were the first feelings produced by the sight of the persons about me4 ,my emotions were enthusiastic and sublime1 and for a minute ,i walked round the room perfectly regardless of what was said to me4 ,as ,i recovered my former state of mind ,i felt an inclination to communicate the discoveries ,i had made during the experiment4 ,i endeavoured to recall the ideas3 they were feeble and indistinct2 one collection of terms however presented itself2 and with a most intense belief and prophetic manner1 ,i exclaimed to ,dr4 ,kinglake1 #8,nothing exists but thoughts6 ,the universe is composed of impressions1 ideas1 pleasures and pains6'0 ,as might be anticipated1 the friend of ,coleridge and ,southey1 himself a youth of sensibility and poetic feeling1 was curious to learn whether this wonderful gas would increase his stock of the divine afflatus4 ,he walked amidst the scenery of the ,avon1 8rendered exquisitely beautiful by bright moonshine10 and1 with a mind filled with pleasurable feelings1 he breathed the gas1 and we have as a consequence the following effusion3-- 8,not in the ideal dreams of wild desire ,have ,i beheld a rapture-wakening form3 ,my bosom burns with no unhallow'd fire1 ,yet is my cheek with rosy blushes warm2 ,yet are my eyes with sparkling lustre fill'd2 ,yet is my mouth replete with murmuring sound2 ,yet are my limbs with inward transports fill'd1 ,and clad with new-born mightiness around40 ,whether1 as the result of this effort1 ,davy ever again essayed to tempt the muse when under the influence of nitrous oxide is doubtful4 ,nowadays the gas is too frequently associated with unhappy memories of the dentist's chair to call up pleasurable associations in a poet's mind4 ,davy concludes his memoir with some cautious speculations as to the mode of action of nitrous oxide4 ,that it acts on the blood he was well aware1 but it has been left for subsequent research to determine in what manner4 ,he points out that 8as nitrous oxide in its extensive operation appears capable of destroying physical pain1 it may probably be used with advantage during surgical operations in which no great effusion of blood takes place40 ,as is well known1 nitrous oxide is now one of the commonest ansthetic agents4 ,as regards the general question how far the gases are likely to subserve the interests of medicine1 he is very guarded4 8,pneumatic chemistry10 he says1 8in its application to medicine is an art in infancy1 weak1 almost useless1 but apparently possessed of capabilities of improvement4 ,to be rendered strong and mature1 she must be nourished by facts1 strengthened by exercise1 and cautiously directed in the application of her powers by rational scepticism40 ,davy's success with nitrous oxide led him to attempt to respire other gases--such as hydrogen1 nitric oxide1 carbonic acid--with in one or two cases almost fatal consequences4 ,on one occasion he tried to breathe water-gas1 made by passing steam over charcoal1 and was with difficulty brought to life again4 ,these deleterious experiments1 carried on with all the ardour and impetuosity of his nature1 and at the expense of much nervous energy1 reacted prejudicially on his health1 and he was obliged to seek relaxation and quiet in the pure atmosphere of his native place4 ,with the approach of winter he was back again in ,bristol1 with health restored and vigour renewed4 ,the following letter to ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert is interesting as fixing the time at which he entered on the path of inquiry which was to lead him to his greatest triumphs3-- 8,pneumatic ,institution1 ,oct4 #bj1 #ahjj4 8,in pursuing experiments on galvanism1 during the last two months1 ,i have met with unexpected and unhoped-for success4 ,some of the new facts on this subject promise to afford instruments capable of destroying the mysterious veil which ,nature has thrown over the operations and properties of ethereal fluids4 8,galvanism ,i have found1 by numerous experiments1 to be a process purely chemical1 and to depend wholly on the oxidation of metallic surfaces1 having different degrees of electric conducting power4 8,zinc is incapable of decomposing pure water2 and if the zinc plates be kept moist with pure water1 the galvanic pile does not act2 but zinc is capable of oxidating itself when placed in contact with water1 holding in solution either oxygen1 atmospheric air1 or nitrous or muriatic acid1 c42 and under such circumstances the galvanic phenomena are produced1 and their intensity is in proportion to the rapidity with which the zinc is oxidated4 8,the galvanic pile only acts for a few minutes1 when introduced into hydrogen1 nitrogen1 or hydrocarbonate the gas obtained by the action of steam on charcoal2 that is1 only as long as the water between its plates holds some oxygen in solution2 immerse it for a few moments in water containing air1 and it acts again4 8,it acts very vividly in oxygen gas1 and less so in the atmosphere4 ,when its plates are moistened by marine acid1 its action is very powerful1 but infinitely more so when nitrous nitric acid is employed4 ,five plates with nitrous nitric acid gave sparks equal to those of the common pile4 ,from twenty plates the shock was insupportable4 8,i had almost forgotten to mention1 that charcoal is a good galvanic exciter1 and decomposes water1 like the metals1 in the pile2 but ,i must stop1 without being able to expatiate on the connection which is now obvious between galvanism and some of the phenomena of organic motion4444 8,i remain with sincere respect and affection1 yours 8,,humphry ,,davy40 ,to his mother he writes3-- 8,hotwells1 ,november #ai1 #ahjj4 8,,my ,,dear ,,mother1--,had ,i believed that my silence of six weeks would have given you a moment's uneasiness1 ,i should have written long ago4 ,but ,i have been engaged in my favourite pursuit of experimenting1 and in endeavouring to amuse two of my friends who have spent some days at the ,institute4 ,one of them is your quondam lodger1 ,gregory ,watt1 who desired to be kindly remembered to you and the family4444 8,accept my affectionate thanks for your presents4 ,i have received them all1 and ,i have made a good use of them all4 ,several times has a supper on the excellent marinaded pilchards made me recollect former times1 when ,i sat opposite to you1 my dear mother1 in the little parlour1 round the little table eating of the same delicious food1 and talking of future unknown things4 ,little did ,i then think of my present situation1 or of the mode in which ,i am1 and am to be1 connected with the world4 ,little did ,i then think that ,i should ever be so long absent from the place of my birth as to feel longings so powerful as those ,i now feel for visiting it again4444 8,i shall see with heartfelt pleasure the time approaching when ,i shall again behold my first home--when ,i shall endeavour to repay some of the debts of gratitude ,i owe to you1 to the ,doctor ,tonkin1 and to my aunts4 ,my next visit shall not be so short a one as the last4 ,i will stay with you at least two or three months4 ,you have let half your house4 ,have you a bed-room reserved for me1 and a little room for a laboratory8 ,which part have you let8 ,when ,i come to ,penzance we will settle all about ,john2 till then ,i should like for him to learn ,french and ,latin with ,mr4 ,dugart4 ,the expense of this or any other part of his education ,i will be glad to defray4 ,do not by any means put him with ,mr4 ,coryton4444 ,i will write to ,kitty in the course of next month4 ,i am glad to hear ,grace is better4444 8,all in the way of progress goes on nobly4 ,my health was never better than it has been since ,i left ,cornwall last4 ,i shall be very glad to hear from you soon4 ,you have a hundred objects to write about interesting to me4 ,i can only write of myself4444 ,love to ,kitty1 ,grace1 ,betsy and ,john4 8,farewell1 my dear mother4 ,i am your affectionate son 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,the following letter is to his old friend and benefactor1 ,mr4 ,john ,tonkin3-- 8,dowry ,square1 ,clifton1 ,jan4 #ab1 #ahja4 8,,respected ,,sir1 444 ,natural philosophy has lately been enriched with many curious discoveries1 amongst which galvanism1 a phenomenon that promises to unfold to us some of the laws of our nature is one of the most important4 ,in medicine1 the inoculation for the cow-pox is becoming general1 not in ,england alone1 but over the whole of ,europe2 and taking circumstances as they now stand1 it promises gradually to annihilate small-pox4 ,my discoveries relating to the nitrous oxide1 the pleasure-producing air1 are beginning to make some noise2 the experiments have been repeated1 with the greatest success1 by the professors of the ,university of ,edinburgh1 who have taken up the subject with great ardour2 and ,i have received letters of thanks and of praises for my labours from some of the most respectable of the ,english philosophers4 ,i am sorry to be so much of an egotist2 yet ,i cannot speak of the ,pneumatic ,institution and its success without speaking of myself4 ,our patients are becoming daily more numerous1 and our ,institution1 in spite of the political odium attached to its founder1 is respected1 even in the trading city of ,bristol4444 ,i am at this moment very healthy and very happy2 ,i have had great success in my experiments and ,i gain a competence by my pursuits1 at the same time that ,i am 7in hopes at least7 doing something towards promoting the public good4 ,if ,i feel any anxiety1 it is that of being removed so far from you1 my mother1 and my relations and friends4 ,if ,i was nearer1 ,i would endeavour to be useful to you3 ,i would endeavour to pay some of the debts of gratitude1 ,i owe to you1 my first protector and earliest friend4 ,as it is1 ,i must look forward to a futurity that will enable me to do this2 but1 believe me1 wherever ,i am1 and whatever may be my situation1 ,i shall never lose the remembrance of obligations conferred on me1 or the sense of gratitude which ought to accompany them4 8,i remain1 respected ,sir1 with unfeigned duty and affection1 yours 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,pneumatic ,,institution1 ,,bristol1 #agih-ahja 7continued74 ,perhaps at no time of his life was ,davy more keenly sensible of the joy of living than at this period--8in the flower and freshness of his youth10 as ,southey says4 ,that he was eager1 active1 buoyant1 happy1 is obvious from his letters4 ,he had the sweet consciousness of success1 and all the sweeter that it had so quickly followed the bitterness of disappointment4 ,he had been able to measure himself against some of the ablest minds of the time--of men who were making the intellectual history of the early part of this century--and the comparison1 we may be sure1 was not altogether unpleasing to him4 ,the love of fame--8the honourable meed of the applause of enlightened men10 as he called it--was his ruling passion and the motive principle of his life4 ,as his experience and the range of his knowledge widened1 he felt a growing conviction that with health and strength he need set no bounds to the limits of his ambition4 ,of the impression he made on others1 and of the influence and power he exerted on minds far more matured than his own1 we have abundant evidence in the letters of his contemporaries4 ,miss ,edgeworth's good-humoured patronage quickly passed into amazement and ended in awe4 ,writing to ,william ,taylor of ,norwich1 ,southey calls ,davy 8a miraculous young man1 whose talents ,i can only wonder at40 ,amos ,cottle1 poet and publisher1 to whom he was introduced shortly after his arrival at ,bristol1 says of him in the 8,reminiscences of ,coleridge and ,southey03-- 8,i was much struck with the intellectual character of his face4 ,his eye was piercing1 and when not engaged in converse1 was remarkably introverted1 amounting to absence1 as though his mind had been pursuing some severe train of thought scarcely to be interrupted by external objects2 and1 from the first interview also1 his ingenuousness impressed me as much as his mental superiority40 ,cottle on one occasion said to ,coleridge1 8,during your stay in ,london you doubtless saw a great many of what are called the cleverest men--how do you estimate ,davy in comparison with these80 ,mr4 ,coleridge's reply was strong but expressive3 8,why1 ,davy can eat them all6 ,there is an energy1 an elasticity1 in his mind which enables him to seize on and analyse all questions1 pushing them to their legitimate consequences4 ,every subject in ,davy's mind has the principle of vitality4 ,living thoughts spring up like turf under his feet40 ,it can hardly be doubted that ,davy's connection with that remarkable literary coterie which made its headquarters in the neighbourhood of ,bristol in the last year of the eighteenth century1 strongly stimulated his intellectual activity4 ,in one of his poems written at this period he speaks of having 8felt the warmth1 ,the gentle influence of congenial souls1 ,whose kindred hopes have cheer'd me0 ,that these 8congenial souls0 in turn felt his influence no less strongly will be apparent from the following letters--the first from ,southey1 who then resided at ,westbury1 the others from ,coleridge1 who had just removed to the ,lake country3-- 8,thursday1 ,may #dth1 #agii4 8,your #8,mount's ,bay1' my dear ,davy1 disappointed me in its length4 ,i expected more1 and wished more1 because what there is is good2 there is a certain swell1 an elevation in the flow of the blank verse1 which1 ,i do not know how1 produces an effect like the fulness of an organ-swell upon the feeling4 ,i have felt it from the rhythm of ,milton1 and sometimes of ,akenside1 a pleasure wholly independent from that derived from the soul of the poetry1 arising from the beauty of the body only4 ,i believe a man who did not understand a word of it would feel pleasure and emotion at hearing such lines read with the tone of a poet4444 8,i must not press the subject of poetry upon you1 only do not lose the feeling and the habit of seeing all things with a poet's eye2 at ,bristol you have a good society1 but not a man who knows anything of poetry4 ,dr4 ,beddoes' taste is very pessimism4 ,cottle only likes what his friends and himself write4 ,every person fancies himself competent to pronounce upon the merits of a poem1 and yet no trade requires so long an apprenticeship1 or involves the necessity of such multifarious knowledge4444 8,at ,lymouth ,i saw ,tobin's friend ,williams who opened upon me with an account of the gaseous oxide4 ,i had the advantage of him1 having felt what he it seems had only seen4 ,lymouth where he is fixed is certainly the most beautiful place ,i have seen in ,england1 so beautiful that all the after-scenes come flat and uninteresting4 ,the ,valley of ,stones is about half a mile distant1 a strange and magnificent place1 which ought to have filled the whole neighbourhood with traditions of giants1 devils1 and magicians1 but ,i could find none1 not even a lie preserved4 ,i know too little of natural history to hypothesize upon the cause of this valley2 it appeared to me that nothing but water could have so defleshed and laid bare the bones of the earth--that any inundation which could have overtopped these heights must have deluged the kingdom2 but the opposite hills are clothed with vegetable soil and verdure1 therefore the cause must have been partial--a waterspout might have occasioned it perhaps--and there my conjectures rested1 or rather took a new direction to the pre-,adamite kings1 the fiends who married ,diocletian's fifty daughters--their giant progeny1 old ,merlin and the builders of the ,giant's ,causeway4 8,for the next ,anthology ,i project a poem on our ,clifton rocks2 the scenery is fresh in my sight1 and these kind of poems derive a more interesting cast as recollections than as immediate pictures4 ,farewell4 ,yours truly1 8,,robert ,,southey40 99 99 99 99 99 8,keswick1 ,friday ,evening1 ,july #be1 #ahjj4 8,,my ,,dear ,,davy1--,work hard1 and if success do not dance up like the bubbles in the salt 7with the spirit lamp under it,c7 may the ,devil and his dam take success6 ,my dear fellow6 from the window before me there is a great camp of mountains4 ,giants seem to have pitched their tents there4 ,each mountain is a giant's tent1 and how the light streams from them6 ,davy6 ,i ache for you to be with us4 8,w4 ,wordsworth is such a lazy fellow1 that ,i bemire myself by making promises for him3 the moment ,i received your letter1 ,i wrote to him4 ,he will1 ,i hope1 write immediately to ,biggs and ,cottle4 ,at all events1 these poems must not as yet be delivered up to them1 because that beautiful poem1 #8,the ,brothers1' which ,i read to you in ,paul ,street1 ,i neglected to deliver to you1 and that must begin the volume4 ,i trust1 however1 that ,i have invoked the sleeping bard with a spell so potent1 that he will awake and deliver up that ,sword of ,argantyr1 which is to rive the enchanter ,gaudyverse from his crown to his feet4 8,what did you think of that case ,i translated for you from the ,german8 ,that ,i was a well-meaning sutor who had ultra-crepidated with more zeal than wisdom66 ,i give myself credit for that word #8ultra-crepidated1' it started up in my brain like a creation4444 8,we drank tea the night before ,i left ,grasmere1 on the island in that lovely lake2 our kettle swung over the fire1 hanging from the branch of a fir-tree1 and ,i lay and saw the woods1 and mountains1 and lake all trembling1 and as it were idealized through the subtle smoke1 which rose up from the clear red embers of the fir-apples which we had collected2 afterwards we made a glorious bonfire on the margin1 by some elder bushes1 whose twigs heaved and sobbed in the uprushing column of smoke1 and the image of the bonfire1 and of us that danced round it1 ruddy1 laughing faces in the twilight2 the image of this in a lake1 smooth as that sea1 to whose waves the ,son of ,god had said1 ,peace6 ,may ,god1 and all his sons1 love you as ,i do4 8,s4 ,t4 ,,coleridge4 8,sara desires her kind remembrances4 ,hartley is a spirit that dances on an aspen leaf3 the air that yonder sallow-faced and yawning tourist is breathing1 is to my babe a perpetual nitrous oxide44440 ,c ,doubtless an allusion to the decomposition of ammonium nitrate1 which ,coleridge had frequently seen ,davy effect4 99 99 99 99 99 8,thursday night1 ,oct4 #i1 #ahjj4 8,,my ,,dear ,,davy1--,i was right glad1 glad with a stagger of the heart1 to see your writing again4 ,many a moment have ,i had all my ,france and ,england curiosity suspended and lost1 looking in the advertisement front column of the ,morning ,post ,gazetteer1 for ,mr4 ,davy's ,galvanic habitudes of charcoal4 ,upon my soul1 ,i believe there is not a letter in those words round which a world of imagery does not circumvolve2 your room1 the garden1 the cold bath1 the moonlit rocks 444 and dreams of wonderful things attached to your name4444 ,i pray you do write to me immediately1 and tell me what you mean by the possibility of your assuming a new occupation2 have you been successful to the extent of your expectations in your late chemical inquiries8444 8,as to myself1 ,i am doing little worthy the relation4 ,i write for ,stuart in the ,morning ,post1 and ,i am compelled by the god ,pecunia1 which was one name of the supreme ,jupiter1 to give a volume of letters from ,germany1 which will be a decent lounge book1 and not an atom more4 ,the ,christabel was running up to #a1cjj lines1 and was so much admired by ,wordsworth1 that he thought it indelicate to print two volumes with his name1 in which so much of another man's was included4444 ,we mean to publish the ,christabel1 therefore1 with a long blank-verse of ,wordsworth's1 entitled ,the ,pedlar afterwards changed to #8,the ,excursion'4 ,i assure you ,i think very differently of ,christabel4 ,i would rather have written ,ruth and ,nature's ,lady1 than a million such poems4 ,but why do ,i calumniate my own spirit by saying ,i would rather8 ,god knows it is as delightful to me that they are written4444 8,wordsworth is fearful you have been much teazed by the printers on his account1 but you can sympathise with him4444 8,when you write1 and do write soon1 tell me how ,i can get your ,essay on the ,nitrous ,oxide4444 ,are your galvanic discoveries important8 ,what do they lead to8 ,all this is ultra-crepidation1 but would to heaven ,i had as much knowledge as ,i have sympathy6444 8,god bless you6 ,your most affectionate 8,s4 ,t4 ,,coleridge40 99 99 99 99 99 8,greta ,hall1 ,tuesday night1 ,dec4 #b1 #ahjj4 8,,my ,,dear ,,davy1--,by an accident ,i did not receive your letter till this evening4 ,i would that you had added to the account of your indisposition the probable causes of it4 ,it has left me anxious whether or no you have not exposed yourself to unwholesome influences in your chemical pursuits4 ,there are few beings both of hope and performance1 but few who combine the #8are' and the #8will be4' ,for ,god's sake1 therefore1 my dear fellow1 do not rip open the bird that lays the golden eggs4444 8,at times1 indeed1 ,i would fain be somewhat of a more tangible utility than ,i am2 but so ,i suppose it is with all of us--one while cheerful1 stirring1 feeling in resistance nothing but a joy and a stimulus2 another while drowsy1 self-distrusting1 prone to rest1 loathing our own self-promises1 withering our own hopes--our hopes1 the vitality and cohesion of our being8 8,i purpose to have ,christabel published by itself--this ,i publish with confidence--but my travels in ,germany come from me now with mortal pangs4 8,wordsworth has nearly finished the concluding poem4 ,it is of a mild1 unimposing character1 but full of beauties to those short-necked men who have their hearts sufficiently near their heads--the relative distance of which 7according to citizen ,tourder1 the ,french translator of ,spallanzani7 determines the sagacity or stupidity of all bipeds and quadrupeds4444 8,god love you6 8,s4 ,t4 ,,coleridge40 8,no man ever had genius who did not aim to execute more than he was able40 ,so wrote ,davy in one of his early note-books2 and of no man was this more true than of ,davy himself4 ,busy as he was with experimental research at this time1 his mind was by no means wholly occupied with it4 ,change of mental occupation was1 indeed1 a necessity to him4 ,at no period of his life could he exercise that power of sustained and concentrated thought which so strikingly characterised ,newton or ,dalton or ,faraday4 ,the following scheme of intellectual work which he marked out for himself shortly after his arrival in ,bristol1 is characteristic of the restless1 changeful activity of his mind3-- 8,resolution3 ,to work two hours with pen before breakfast on the #8,lover of ,nature'2 and #8,the ,feelings of ,eldon' from six till eight2 from nine till two in experiments2 from four to six1 reading2 seven till ten1 metaphysical reading 7i4e4 #8,system of the ,universe'740 ,the 8,lover of ,nature0 and 8,the ,feelings of ,eldon0 were two among the half-dozen romances he projected at one time or other1 and of which fragments were found amongst his papers1 and by means of which he intended to inculcate his own metaphysical and philosophical ideas and his views on education and the development of character4 ,dr4 ,john ,davy tells us that his note-books at this period were not less characteristic2 8they contain1 mixed together1 without the least regard to order1 schemes and minutes of experiments1 passing thoughts of various kinds1 lines of poetry 7but these are in small proportion71 fragments of stories and romances1 metaphysical fragments1 and sketches of philosophical essays40 ,many of these jottings and reflections are evidently based on his own experience1 and hence serve to illustrate his temperament and the workings of his mind4 ,in an essay on 8,genius10 written at this time1 he says3-- 8,great powers have never been exerted independent of strong feelings4 ,the rapid arrangements of ideas1 from their various analogies to the equally rapid comparisons of these analogies1 with facts uniformly occurring during the progress of discovery1 have existed only in those minds where the agency of strong and various motives is perceived--of motives modifying each other1 mingling with each other1 and producing that fever of emotion1 which is the joy of existence and the consciousness of life40 ,the following extracts relate to science and philosophy3-- 8,philosophy is simple and intelligible4 ,we owe confused systems to men of vague and obscure ideas40 8,we ought to reason from effects alone4 ,false philosophy has uniformly depended upon making use of words which signify no definite ideas40 8,experimental science hardly ever affords us more than approximations to truth2 and whenever many agents are concerned we are in great danger of being mistaken40 8,scepticism in regard to theory is what we ought most rigorously to adhere to40 8,the feeling generally connected with new facts enables us to reason more rapidly upon them1 and is peculiarly active in calling up analogies40 8,probabilities are the most we can hope for in our generalisation1 and whenever we can trace the connection of a series of facts1 without being obliged to imagine certain relations1 we may esteem ourselves fortunate in our approximations40 8,one use of physical science is1 that it gives definite ideas40 ,to the same period belongs the sketch or plan of a poem1 in blank verse1 in six books1 on the deliverance of the ,israelites from ,egypt1 which either ,southey or ,coleridge had proposed to him as a joint-work1 fragments of which are to be found amongst the note-books4 ,towards the end of #ahjj ,davy's visions of future greatness began to take more definite shape4 ,this is hinted at in the letter from ,coleridge of ,october #ith1 #ahjj1 already given1 and also in one to his mother1 dated ,september #bgth1 #ahjj1 in which he says1 8,my future prospects are of a very brilliant nature1 and they have become more brilliant since ,i last wrote to you2 but wherever there is uncertainty ,i shall refrain from anticipating40 ,in a few months the uncertainty was practically at an end4 ,he had been drawn into the great vortex called ,london1 8full10 as he says in a letter to ,hope1 8of the expectation of scientific discovery from the action of mind upon mind in this great hot-bed1 of human power40 ,he thus informs his mother3-- 8#cast ,january1 #ahja4 8,,my ,,dear ,,mother1--,during the last three weeks ,i have been very much occupied by business of a very serious nature4 ,this has prevented me from writing to you1 to my aunt1 and to ,kitty4 ,i now catch a few moments only of leisure to inform you that ,i am exceedingly well1 and that ,i have had proposals of a very flattering nature to induce me to leave the ,pneumatic ,institution for a permanent establishment in ,london4 8,you have perhaps heard of the ,royal ,philosophical ,institution1 established by ,count ,rumford1 and others of the aristocracy4 ,it is a very splendid establishment1 and wants only a combination of talents to render it eminently useful4 8,count ,rumford has made proposals to me to settle myself there1 with the present appointment of assistant lecturer on chemistry1 and experimenter to the ,institute2 but this only to prepare the way for my being in a short time sole professor of chemistry1 c42 an appointment as honourable as any scientific appointment in the kingdom1 with an income of at least #ejjl a year4 8,i write to-day to get the specific terms of the present appointment1 when ,i shall determine whether ,i shall accept of it or not4 ,dr4 ,beddoes has honourably absolved me from all engagements at the ,pneumatic ,institution1 provided ,i choose to quit it4 ,however1 ,i have views here which ,i am loath to leave1 unless for very great advantages4 8,you will all1 ,i dare say1 be glad to see me getting amongst the ,royalists1 but ,i will accept of no appointment except upon the sacred terms of independence4444 8,i am your most affectionate son 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,in the middle of ,february he was in ,london negotiating with ,rumford4 ,he wrote to his mother1 8,his proposals have not been unfair1 and ,i have nearly settled the business40 ,how the business was actually settled appears from the following extract from the ,minute ,book of the ,royal ,institution of a resolution adopted at a ,meeting of the ,managers on ,february #afth1 #ahja3-- 8,resolved--,that ,mr4 ,humphry ,davy be engaged in the service of the ,royal ,institution1 in the capacities of ,assistant ,lecturer in ,chemistry1 ,director of the ,laboratory1 and ,assistant ,editor of the ,journals of the ,institution1 and that he be allowed to occupy a room in the house1 and be furnished with coals and candles2 and that he be paid a salary of one hundred guineas per annum40 ,he returned to ,bristol to hand over his charge of the ,pneumatic ,institution1 and to take leave of his many friends in that city4 ,the following letter to ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert is interesting and characteristic3-- 8,hotwells1 ,march #hth1 #ahja4 8,i cannot think of quitting the ,pneumatic ,institution1 without giving you intimation of it in a letter2 indeed1 ,i believe ,i should have done this some time ago1 had not the hurry of business1 and the fever of emotion produced by the prospect of novel changes in futurity1 destroyed to a certain extent my powers of consistent action4 8,you1 my dear ,sir1 have behaved to me with great kindness1 and the little ability ,i possess you have very much contributed to develope2 ,i should therefore accuse myself of ingratitude were ,i to neglect to ask your approbation of the measures ,i have adopted with regard to the change of my situation1 and the enlargement of my views in life4 8,in consequence of an invitation from ,count ,rumford1 given to me with some proposals relative to the ,royal ,institution1 ,i visited ,london in the middle of ,february1 where1 after several conferences with that gentleman1 ,i was invited by the ,managers of the ,royal ,institution to become the ,director of their laboratory1 and their ,assistant ,professor of ,chemistry2 at the same time ,i was assured that1 within the space of two or three seasons1 ,i should be made sole ,professor of ,chemistry1 still continuing ,director of the laboratory4 8,the immediate emolument offered was sufficient for my wants2 and the sole and uncontrolled use of the apparatus of the ,institution1 for private experiments1 was to be granted me4 ,the behaviour of ,count ,rumford1 ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 ,mr4 ,cavendish1 and the other principal managers1 was liberal and polite2 and they promised me any apparatus that ,i might need for new experiments4 8,the time required to be devoted to the services of the ,institution was but short1 being limited chiefly to the winter and spring4 ,the emoluments to be attached to the office of sole ,professor of ,chemistry are great2 and1 above all1 the situation is permanent1 and held very honourable4 8,these motives1 joined to the approbation of ,dr4 ,beddoes1 who with great liberality has absolved me from my engagements at the ,pneumatic ,institution1 and the strong wishes of most of my friends in ,london and ,bristol1 determined my conduct4 8,thus ,i am quickly to be transferred to ,london1 whilst my sphere of action is considerably enlarged1 and as much power as ,i could reasonably expect1 or even wish for at my time of life1 secured to me without the obligation of labouring at a profession4 8,the ,royal ,institution will1 ,i hope1 be of some utility to ,society4 ,it has undoubtedly the capability of becoming a great instrument of moral and intellectual improvement4 ,its funds are very great4 ,it has attached to it the feelings of a great number of people of fashion and property1 and consequently may be the means of employing1 to useful purposes1 money which would otherwise be squandered in luxury1 and in the production of unnecessary labour4 ,count ,rumford professes that it will be kept distinct from party politics2 ,i sincerely wish that such may be the case1 though ,i fear it4 ,as for myself1 ,i shall become attached to it full of hope1 with the resolution of employing all my feeble powers towards promoting its true interests4 8,so much of my paper has been given to pure egotism1 that ,i have but little room left to say anything concerning the state of science4444 8,here1 at the ,pneumatic ,institution1 the nitrous oxide has evidently been of use4 ,dr4 ,beddoes is proceeding in the execution of his great popular physiological work1 which1 if it equals the plan he holds out1 ought to supersede every work of the kind4 8,i have been pursuing ,galvanism with labour1 and some success4 ,i have been able to produce galvanic power from simple plates1 by effecting on them different oxidating and de-oxidating processes2 but on this point ,i cannot enlarge in the small remaining space of paper4444 8,it will give me sincere pleasure to hear from you1 when you are at leisure4 ,after the #aath ,i shall be in town--my direction1 ,royal ,institution1 ,albemarle ,street4 ,i am1 my dear friend1 with respect and affection1 8,yours1 8,,humphry ,,davy40 ,with ,davy's departure we1 too1 may take our leave of the ,pneumatic ,institution4 ,like most of ,dr4 ,beddoes's performances1 it--to use ,davy's words--failed to equal the plan its projector held out4 ,it struggled on for awhile1 living on such success as ,davy had brought it1 and ultimately died of inanition4 ,its founder ended his days a disappointed man1 and on his deathbed wrote to his former assistant1 in connection with whom his memory mainly lives1 8like one who has scattered abroad the ,avena fatua of knowledge1 from which neither branch1 nor blossom1 nor fruit1 has resulted1 ,i require the consolations of a friend40 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,royal ,,institution4 ,the ,royal ,institution1 as originally conceived1 was an establishment for the benefit of the poor4 ,it was founded at the close of the last century by ,benjamin ,thomson1 a ,royalist ,american in the service of the ,elector ,palatine of ,bavaria1 by whom he was created a ,count of the ,holy ,roman ,empire4 ,count ,rumford1 as he is commonly called1 was a practical philanthropist and a man of science1 best known to this age by his association with the present-day doctrine of the nature of heat2 and to his contemporaries1 by his constant efforts to apply science to domestic economy4 ,in #agif ,rumford put forth a 8proposal for forming in ,london by private subscription an establishment for feeding the poor1 and giving them useful employment1 and also for furnishing food at a cheap rate to others who may stand in need of such assistance1 connected with an institution for introducing and bringing forward into general use new inventions and improvements1 particularly such as relate to the management of heat and the saving of fuel1 and to various other mechanical contrivances by which domestic comfort and economy may be promoted40 ,rumford1 as he says in one of his letters to ,thomas ,bernard--another practical philanthropist1 and one of his earliest associates in the undertaking here referred to--was 8deeply impressed with the necessity of rendering it fashionable to care for the poor and indigent40 ,the immediate result was the foundation of the ,society for ,bettering the ,condition of the ,poor2 but as regards the associated ,institution1 it was eventually considered that it would be 8too conspicuous1 and too interesting and important1 to be made an appendix to any other existing establishment1 and consequently it must stand alone1 and on its own proper basis40 ,in #agii1 ,rumford conferred with the ,committee of the ,society for ,bettering the ,condition of the ,poor as to the steps to be taken to found1 8by private subscription1 a public institution for diffusing the knowledge and facilitating the general and speedy introduction of new and useful mechanical inventions and improvements2 and also for teaching1 by regular courses of philosophical lectures and experiments1 the applications of the new discoveries in science to the improvement of arts and manufactures1 and in facilitating the means of procuring the comforts and conveniences of life40 ,the ,institution was duly launched in ,march1 #agii1 with ,sir ,joseph ,banks as ,chairman of ,managers1 ,count ,rumford as ,secretary1 and ,mr4 ,thomas ,bernard1 the promoter of the ,institution for the ,protection and ,instruction of ,climbing ,boys1 and of the ,society for the ,relief of ,poor ,neighbours in ,distress1 as ,treasurer4 ,the second volume of the 8,reports of the ,society for ,bettering the ,condition of the ,poor0 contains a long account of the ,institution1 8so far as it may be expected to affect the poor10 from the pen of ,mr4 ,bernard1 concerning which ,dr4 ,bence ,jones1 a former ,secretary of the ,institution1 drily remarks1 8,it is difficult to believe that the ,royal ,institution of the present day was ever intended to resemble the picture given of it in this ,report40 ,rumford1 from the outset1 threw himself with great zeal and ardour into the work of organising and starting the ,institution1 and it was mainly by his energy and administrative ability that so speedy a beginning was made4 ,mr4 ,mellish's house in ,albemarle ,street was bought1 and its apartments were quickly transformed into lecture rooms1 model rooms1 library1 offices1 etc4 ,in ,may 8a good cook was engaged for the improvement of culinary advancement--one object1 and not the least important--for the ,royal ,institution40 ,rumford was requested by the ,managers to live in the house1 to superintend the servants1 to preserve order and decorum1 and to control the expenses of housekeeping4 ,towards the end of #agii ,dr4 ,garnett was secured as ,lecturer and ,scientific ,secretary4 ,thomas ,garnett1 a physician1 who at one time practised at ,harrogate1 and who is known to chemists for his researches into the composition of the ,harrogate mineral waters1 was at the time ,professor of ,chemistry and ,experimental ,philosophy at ,anderson's ,institution in ,glasgow4 ,he had a considerable reputation as a lecturer1 on the strength of which he was invited by ,rumford to come to ,london4 ,garnett's lectures began in ,march1 #ahjj1 in what is now the upper ,library of the ,institution1 and which had been fitted up to accommodate the greatest possible number of auditors 8with a greater deference to their curiosity than to their convenience40 ,although not altogether unsuccessful at the ,institution1 ,garnett--in spite of 8the ,northern accent which he still retained in a slight degree1 and which rendered his voice somewhat inharmonious to a ,london audience0--was hardly the type of man required for such a place1 and differences soon arose between him and ,rumford4 ,to add to his difficulties he had1 just prior to his removal from ,glasgow1 lost his wife1 and the event seems to have wholly unnerved him4 ,he grew listless and melancholy2 and eventually1 in #ahja1 he was called upon to resign4 ,after leaving the ,institution1 he struggled on for a time1 giving courses of scientific lectures in his own house1 and at ,tom's ,coffee-,house in the ,city1 and seeking for practice as a physician4 ,sick in mind and weak in body1 he soon broke down1 and died in #ahjb1 at the age of thirty-six1 leaving his children penniless4 ,the ,managers so far bettered the condition of the poor as to subscribe1 on behalf of the ,institution1 #ej towards the publication of his posthumous work on the 8,laws of ,animal ,life10 and to allow the book to be dedicated to them4 ,the accompanying illustration 7p4 #gj71 from a drawing by ,gillray1 entitled 8,pneumatic ,experiments at the ,royal ,institution10 shows the theatre during a lecture by ,garnett1 with ,davy acting as assistant4 ,sir ,john ,hippesley is represented as breathing the 8pleasure-giving air40 ,the standing figure near the door is ,rumford1 and among the audience are ,isaac ,disraeli1 ,lord ,stanhope1 ,earl ,pomfret1 and ,sir ,h4 ,englefield4 ,accounts differ as to the precise means by which ,davy was brought to the notice of ,count ,rumford1 nor is it very important to know whether it was through the intervention of ,davies ,gilbert1 or ,dr4 ,hope1 or ,mr4 ,underwood1 or1 as was most probably the case1 of all three4 ,in a letter to ,hope now before me ,davy writes3-- 8,i believe it is in a great measure owing to your kind mention of me to ,count ,rumford1 that ,i occupy my present situation in the ,royal ,institution4 ,i ought to be very thankful to you2 for most of my wishes through life are accomplished1 as ,i am enabled to pursue my favourite study1 and at the same time to be of some little utility to ,society40 ,illustration3 ,,pneumatic ,,experiment ,,at ,,the ,,royal ,,institution4 7,after ,gillray47 ,this much1 at least1 is certain3 there was an absolute agreement among those who had the best means of judging that no better appointment was possible4 ,and yet1 if we are to credit ,dr4 ,paris1 the first impression produced on ,rumford by ,davy's personal appearance was highly unfavourable1 and the ,count would not allow him to lecture in the theatre until he had given a specimen of his abilities in the smaller lecture-room1 which old habitus of the ,royal ,institution well remember4 ,dr4 ,paris adds that his first lecture entirely removed every prejudice1 and at its conclusion ,rumford exclaimed1 8,let him command any arrangements which the ,institution can afford40 ,and he was accordingly on the next day promoted to the theatre4 ,six weeks after his arrival1 he gave his first public lecture4 ,how he acquitted himself1 may be gleaned from the following account1 given under the heading of the 8,royal ,institution of ,great ,britain0 in the ,philosophical ,magazine1 vol4 x41 p4 #bha 7#ahja73-- 8,it must give pleasure to our readers to learn that this new and useful institution1 the object of which is the application of science to the common purposes of life1 may be now considered as settled on a firm basis4444 8,we have also to notice a course of lectures1 just commenced at the institution1 on a new branch of philosophy--we mean the ,galvanic ,phenomena4 ,on this interesting branch ,mr4 ,davy 7late of ,bristol7 gave the first lecture on the #beth of ,april4 ,he began with the history of ,galvanism1 detailed the successive discoveries1 and described the different methods of accumulating galvanic influence4444 ,he showed the effects of galvanism on the legs of frogs1 and exhibited some interesting experiments on the galvanic effects on the solutions of metals in acids4444 8,sir ,joseph ,banks1 ,count ,rumford1 and other distinguished philosophers were present4 ,the audience were highly gratified1 and testified their satisfaction by general applause4 ,mr4 ,davy1 who appears to be very young1 acquitted himself admirably well2 from the sparkling intelligence of his eye1 his animated manner1 and the tout ensemble1 we have no doubt of his attaining a distinguished eminence40 ,the ,managers were so far satisfied1 that at a meeting held on ,june #ast they passed the following resolutions3-- 8,resolved--,that ,mr4 ,humphry ,davy1 ,director of the ,chemical ,laboratory1 and ,assistant ,lecturer in ,chemistry1 has1 since he has been employed at the ,institution1 given satisfactory proofs of his talents as a ,lecturer40 8,resolved--,that he be appointed1 and in future denominated1 ,lecturer in ,chemistry at the ,royal ,institution1 instead of continuing to occupy the place of ,assistant ,lecturer1 which he has hitherto filled40 ,in the following ,july1 ,dr4 ,young 78,phenomenon ,young10 as he was called at ,cambridge71 the great exponent of the ,undulatory ,theory of ,light1 was engaged as ,professor of ,natural ,philosophy1 ,editor of the ,journals1 and ,general ,superintendent of the ,house4,d ,d ,young's connection with the ,royal ,institution was comparatively brief4 ,on ,july #dth1 #ahjc1 it was resolved 8,that ,dr4 ,young be paid the balance of two years' complete salary1 and that his engagement with the ,institution terminate from this time40 ,at a meeting held in the same month1 the ,managers 8,resolved--,that a ,course of ,lectures on the ,chemical ,principles of the ,art of ,tanning be given by ,mr4 ,davy4 ,to commence the second of ,november next2 and that respectable persons of the trade1 who shall be recommended by ,proprietors of the ,institution1 be admitted to these lectures gratis40 ,to order a young man of twenty-two1 who had probably never seen the inside of tannery1 to give an account of the art and mystery of leather-making1 would seem to savour somewhat of what ,coleridge would style 8ultra-crepidation10 and accordingly the ,managers further 8,resolved--,that ,mr4 ,davy have permission to absent himself--during the months of ,july1 ,august1 and ,september for the purpose of making himself more particularly acquainted with the practical part of the business of tanning1 in order to prepare himself for giving the above-mentioned course of lectures40 ,lectures on 8,the ,chemical ,principles of the ,process of ,tanning ,leather1 and of the objects that must particularly be had in view in attempts to improve that most useful art0 are mentioned in ,rumford's first prospectus1 and the foregoing resolutions were probably passed in consequence4 ,davy did a considerable amount of experimental work in connection with these lectures1 and the ,journal of the ,royal ,institution contains several short communications from him on the chemistry of the subject1 but the main facts he discovered are contained in a memoir read to the ,royal ,society on ,february #bdth1 #ahjc1 and published in the ,philosophical ,transactions of that year1 under the title of an 8,account of ,some ,experiments and ,observations on the constituent ,parts of certain astringent ,vegetables2 and on their ,operation in ,tanning40 ,although ,davy1 by his earnestness1 his knowledge1 his felicity of expression1 and by a certain dignity of treatment which seemed to invest even the homeliest subjects with unlooked-for importance1 could interest an audience on almost any subject he brought before them1 we may be sure that his soul soon sighed for a loftier theme than leather4 ,he found it on the occasion of his lecture of ,january #bast1 #ahjb1 when he delivered the introductory discourse of that session4 ,the date1 indeed1 is a red-letter day not only in ,davy's history but also in that of the ,royal ,institution4 ,from that time the position of the ,institution in the scientific and social world of ,london would seem to be assured4 ,its affairs up to this time had been gradually going from bad to worse4 ,the enthusiasm with which it was started a couple of years back had apparently spent itself1 and ,rumford1 by his hauteur and high-handed management1 had alienated many powerful friends4 ,the subscriptions1 which in #ahjj had reached #aa1jdg1 had fallen in #ahjb to #b1iii1 whilst the expenses were annually increasing4 ,the outlook was gloomy in the extreme1 and everything seemed to portend that the latest scheme for the amelioration of humanity was about to share the too common fate of such projects4 ,the young man of twenty-three1 however1 changed all this as if by the stroke of a magician's wand4 ,no ,prince ,fortunatus could have done more4 ,his theme was not too ambitious2 it would be considered even trite and commonplace to-day1 and the man would be very bold or very simple who would now attempt to deal with it in the theatre of the ,royal ,institution2 for this introductory lecture was nothing more than an exordium on the worth of science as an agent in the improvement of society4 ,it was1 and was felt to be1 however1 an apologia for the very existence of the ,institution4 ,rumford and his fellow managers would seem to have staked everything on a single throw4 ,davy's power as a lecturer had been noised abroad1 and we may be sure that ,coleridge and his other friends did not keep their tongues still4 ,coleridge1 indeed1 told the literary world that he assiduously attended ,davy's lectures1 to increase his stock of metaphors4 ,the youth who had discovered 8the pleasure-producing air0 was talked about in fashionable circles2 and ,mr4 ,bernard and the ,count used their persuasiveness1 and ,sir ,joseph ,banks his social power1 to secure for him the most cultured audience in ,london4 ,if we may credit ,dr4 ,paris1 other influences1 too1 were at work4 ,davy's association with ,beddoes had probably gained for him the goodwill of the ,tepidarians1 even if it did not actually give him the entre to the ,society2 and these ,red ,republicans1 whose 8pious orgies0 at ,old ,slaughter's ,coffee-,house in ,st4 ,martin's ,lane consisted mainly in libations of tea1 vied with the ,royalists in their efforts to pave his triumphal way4 ,his success was instant and complete4 ,in a series of lofty and impassioned periods he traced the services of science to humanity2 he dwelt upon its dignity and nobility as a pursuit1 upon its value as a moral and educational force4 ,the small1 spare youth1 with his earnestness1 his eloquence1 his unaffected manner1 the play of his mobile features1 his speaking eyes--8eyes which10 as one of his fair auditors was heard to remark1 8were made for something besides poring over crucibles0--held his hearers spellbound as he declaimed such sentences as these3-- 8,individuals influenced by interested motives or false views may check for a time the progress of knowledge2--moral causes may produce a momentary slumber of the public spirit2--the adoption of wild and dangerous theories1 by ambitious or deluded men1 may throw a temporary opprobrium on literature2 but the influence of true philosophy will never be despised2 the germs of improvement are sown in minds1 even where they are not perceived2 and sooner or later the springtime of their growth must arrive4 ,in reasoning concerning the future hopes of the human species1 we may look forward with confidence to a state of society1 in which the different orders and classes of men will contribute more effectually to the support of each other than they have hitherto done4 ,this state1 indeed1 seems to be approaching fast2 for1 in consequence of the multiplication of the means of instruction the man of science and the manufacturer are daily becoming more assimilated to each other4 ,the artist1 who formerly affected to despise scientific principles1 because he was incapable of perceiving the advantages of them1 is now so far enlightened as to favour the adoption of new processes in his art1 whenever they are evidently connected with the diminution of labour2 and the increase of projectors1 even to too great an extent1 demonstrates the enthusiasm of the public mind in its search after improvement4444 8,the unequal division of property and of labour1 the differences of rank and condition amongst mankind1 are the sources of power in civilised life--its moving causes1 and even its very soul4 ,in considering and hoping that the human species is capable of becoming more enlightened and more happy1 we can only expect that the different parts of the great whole of society should be intimately united together1 by means of knowledge and the useful arts2 that they should act as the children of one great parent1 with one determinate end1 so that no power may be rendered useless--no exertions thrown away4 8,in this view1 we do not look to distant ages1 or amuse ourselves with brilliant though delusive dreams1 concerning the infinite improveability of man1 the annihilation of labour1 disease1 and even death1 but we reason by analogy from simple facts1 we consider only a state of human progression arising out of its present condition1--we look for a time that we may reasonably expect--,,for ,a ,,bright ,,day1 ,,of ,,which ,,we ,,already ,,behold ,,the ,,dawn40 ,those who may read these sentences will either smile at their seeming archaism1 or wonder at the antiquity of their argument2 for the lesson which ,davy inculcated at the beginning of the century is still at its close dinned into our ears1 and practically all the stock reasons urged by latter-day writers and platform speakers on technical education and the abstract value of science are to be found in his lectures4 ,but the circumstances of #ahjb were widely different from those of #ahif4 ,the birth of the century was a singularly auspicious time for science2 and many cultured men who knew nothing of science1 yet felt in a dim sort of way that it was destined to be a mighty factor in civilisation4 ,davy's words struck a sympathetic chord2 they served to formulate and define ideas of which all who lived in the spirit of the times and shared in its movement must have been conscious4 ,speaking to willing and receptive ears1 and with every attribute of manner1 speech1 and interest in his favour1 he saw his chance3 and with a practical sagacity beyond his years1 he seized it4 ,davy's triumph is recorded in many contemporary notices1 and it lives as one of the traditions of the ,royal ,institution4 ,francis ,horner thus records his impressions in his journal1 under date ,march #cast1 #ahjb3-- 8,i have been once to the ,royal ,institution and heard ,davy lecture to a mixed and large assembly of both sexes1 to the number perhaps of three hundred or more4 ,it is a curious scene2 the reflections it excites are of an ambiguous nature1 for the prospect of possible good is mingled with the observation of much actual folly4 ,the audience is assembled by the influence of fashion merely2 and fashion and chemistry form a very incongruous union4444 8,davy's style of lecturing is much in favour of himself1 though not1 perhaps1 entirely suited to the place2 it has rather a little awkwardness1 but it is that air which bespeaks real modesty and good sense2 he is only awkward because he cannot condescend to assume that theatrical quackery of manner which might have a more imposing effect4 ,this was my impression from his lecture4 ,i have since 7,april #bnd7 met ,davy in company1 and was much pleased with him2 a great softness and propriety of manner1 which might be cultivated into elegance2 his physiognomy struck me as being superior to what the science of chemistry1 on its present plan1 can afford exercise for2 ,i fancied to discover in it the lineaments of poetical feeling40 78,memoirs of ,horner10 vol4 i41 p4 #ahb47 ,davy's friend ,purkis has left us the following still more glowing account3-- 8,the sensation created by his first second course of ,lectures at the ,institution1 and the enthusiastic admiration which they obtained1 is at this period scarcely to be imagined4 ,men of the first rank and talent1--the literary and the scientific1 the practical and the theoretical1 blue stockings1 and women of fashion1 the old and the young1 all crowded--eagerly crowded the lecture-room4 ,his youth1 his simplicity1 his natural eloquence1 his chemical knowledge1 his happy illustrations1 and well-conducted experiments1 excited universal attention and unbounded applause4 ,compliments1 invitations1 and presents were showered upon him in abundance from all quarters2 his society was courted by all1 and all appeared proud of his acquaintance4444 ,a talented lady1 since well-known in the literary world1 addressed him anonymously in a poem of considerable length1 replete with delicate panegyric and genuine feeling4444 ,it was accompanied with a handsome ornamental appendage for the watch1 which he was requested to wear when he delivered his next lecture1 as a token of having received the poem and pardoned the freedom of the writer40 ,the anonymous poem 8replete with delicate panegyric and genuine feeling0 is before me as ,i write4 ,it is signed 8,fidelissima10 and is one of several which the same talented lady addressed to him at different times1 and which were found among his papers at his death4 ,some of them1 as sonnets1 are of considerable merit1 and1 had space permitted1 are well worthy of reproduction4 ,the ,tepidarians--again on the authority of ,dr4 ,paris--were delighted4 ,sanguine in the success of their child--for so they considered ,davy--they purposely appointed their anniversary festival on the day of his anticipated triumph4 ,their dinner was marked by every demonstration of hilarity1 and the day was ended by a masquerade at ,ranelagh4 ,dr4 ,john ,davy1 it should be said1 rather sniffs at the ,tepidarians and their 8ultra-principles10 and doubts if his brother ever belonged to their society4 ,be this as it may1 it is certain that the 8,royalists0 and the fashionable world into which he was drawn soon influenced ,davy's social and political views4 ,dr4 ,davy1 whilst willing enough to appreciate at their proper value his brother's natural and intellectual advantages as contributing to his success1 points out that other circumstances connected with the ,institution and the period conspired to help him3-- 8,the ,royal ,institution was a new experiment4 ,novelty in itself is delightful1 especially to people of rank and fortune1 who at that time in consequence of the ,continent being closed1 and owing to the war1 must have been delighted to have had opened to them a new and unexpected source of interest1 fitted to amuse those who were suffering from ennui1 and to instruct those who were anxious for instruction4 ,the ,royal ,institution1 moreover1 was the creation of a large number of influential persons1 both in the higher ranks of society and of science4 ,this alone might have sufficed to render it fashionable1 and1 if fashionable1 popular4 ,the period1 morally and politically considered1 aided the effect2 a time of great political excitement had just terminated2 a time of gloom and despondency was then commencing4 ,whatever diverted the public mind and afforded new objects of contemplation1 pure and independent sources of amusement and gratification1 must have been very welcome to all reflecting persons1 even without taking into account the possible and probable good which might be conferred by the ,institution on society1 in accordance with the intentions with which it was first established40 ,davy thus expressed his own feeling of satisfaction to his mother3-- 8,london4 8,,my ,,dear ,,mother1--,i have been very busy in the preparation for my lectures2 and for this reason ,i have not written to you4 ,i delivered my second lecture to-day1 and was very much flattered to find the theatre overflowing at this1 as well as at the first4 ,i am almost surprised at the interest taken by so many people of rank1 in the progress of chemical philosophy2 and ,i hope ,i am doing a great deal of good1 in being the means of producing and directing the taste for it4 8,i have been perfectly well since ,i visited ,cornwall2 and ,i enter upon my campaign in high health and spirits4 ,after four months of hard but pleasant labour1 ,i shall again be free6 8,i hope you are all well4 ,i very often reflect upon the times that are past2 and my mind is always filled with gratitude to the ,supreme ,being1 who has made us all happy2 and that1 in placing us in distant parts1 and in different circles1 neither our feelings or affections have been disturbed4444 8,i shall be very glad to see you again4 ,i intend in ,june to pass through ,scotland and to visit the ,western ,isles2 but ,i hope ,i shall spend a part of the autumn with you4 8,pray write to me and give me a little news4 ,beg ,kitty and ,grace and ,betsy and ,john to recollect me4 8,i am1 my dear mother1 your very affectionate son 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,the interest and spirit of enthusiasm thus roused was sedulously cultivated by ,davy1 and turned to the purposes of the ,institution which he served4 ,rumford was no longer its moving and controlling spirit3 his duty to the ,elector of ,bavaria1 and his ill-starred devotion to ,madame ,lavoisier1 had gradually drawn him away from ,london1 and in #ahjc he ceased to take any active part in the fortunes of his offspring4 ,shortly afterwards ,sir ,joseph ,banks also withdrew4 ,in a letter written ,april1 #ahjd1 he tells ,rumford that his continued absence from ,england is a great detriment to the ,institution3-- 8,it is now entirely in the hands of the profane4 ,i have declared my dissatisfaction at the mode in which it is carried on1 and my resolution not to attend in future4 ,had my health and spirits not failed me1 ,i could have kept matters in their proper level1 but sick1 alone1 and unsupported1 ,i have given up what cannot now easily be recovered40 ,sir ,john ,hippesley1 who became treasurer1 strove to make the ,institution above all things fashionable4 ,he had a project for placing private boxes in the theatre1 and was concerned about its want of a proper coat-of-arms4 ,mr4 ,bernard still continued to hope that ,sydney ,smith's lectures on ,moral ,philosophy might somehow better the condition of the poor4 ,they would1 at least1 said ,horner1 8make the real blue-stockings a little more disagreeable than ever1 and sensible women a little more sensible40 ,but the real directing power was ,davy1 and he gradually stamped upon the place the character it now possesses4 ,how he felt his power and used it1 may be gleaned from the following extract from a lecture in #ahji1 in reference to a fund which had been raised to supply him with a great voltaic battery3-- 8,in a great country like this1 it was to be expected that a fund could not long be wanting for pursuing or perfecting any great scientific object4 ,but the promptitude with which the subscription filled was so great1 as to leave no opportunity to many zealous patrons of science for showing their liberality4 ,the munificence of a few individuals has afforded means more ample and magnificent than those furnished by the ,government of a rival nation2 and ,i believe we have preceded them in the application of the means4 ,in this kind of emulation1 our superiority1 ,i trust1 will never be lost2 and ,i trust that the activity belonging to our sciences will always flow from the voluntary efforts of individuals1 from whom the support will be an honour--to whom it will be honourable4444 8,without facilities for pursuing his object1 the greatest genius in experimental research may live and die useless and unknown4 ,talents of this kind cannot1 like talents for literature and the fine arts1 call forth attention and respect4 ,they can neither give popularity to the names of patrons1 nor ornament their houses4 ,they are limited in their effects1 which are directed towards the immutable interests of society4 ,they cannot be made subservient to fashion or caprice2 they must forever be attached to truth1 and belong to nature4 ,if we merely consider instruction in physical science1 this even requires an expensive apparatus to be efficient2 for without proper ocular demonstrations1 all lectures must be unavailing1--things rather than words should be made the objects of study4 ,a certain knowledge of the beings and substances surrounding us must be felt as a want by every cultivated mind4 ,it is a want which no activity of thought1 no books1 no course of reading or conversation1 can supply4 ,that a spirit for promoting experimental science is not wanting in the country1 is proved by the statement which ,i have just made1 by the foundation in which ,i have the honour of addressing you1 and by the number of institutions rising in different parts of the metropolis and in the provinces4 ,but it is clear that this laudable spirit may produce little effect from want of just direction4 ,to divide and to separate the sources of scientific interest1 is to destroy all their just effect4 ,to attempt1 with insufficient means1 to support philosophy1 is merely to humiliate her and render her an object of dirision4 ,those who establish foundations for teaching the sciences ought1 at least1 to understand their dignity4 ,to connect pecuniary speculation1 or commercial advantages1 with schemes for promoting the progress of knowledge1 is to take crops without employing manure2 is to create sterility1 and to destroy improvement4 ,a scientific institution ought no more to be made an object of profit than an hospitable1 or a charitable establishment4 ,intellectual wants are at least as worthy of support as corporeal wants1 and they ought to be provided for with the same feeling of nobleness and liberality4 ,the language expected by the members of a scientific body from the directors ought not to be1 #8,we have increased your property1 we have raised the value of your shares4' ,it ought rather to be1 #8,we have endeavoured to apply your funds to useful purposes1 to promote the diffusion of science1 to encourage discovery1 and to exalt the scientific glory of your country4' 8,what this institution has done1 it would ill become a person in my place to detail2 but that it has tended to the progress of knowledge and invention1 will not1 ,i believe1 be questioned4 ,compare the expenditure with the advantages4 ,it would not support the least of your public amusements2 and the income of an establishment1 which1 in its effects1 may be said to be national1 is derived from annual subscriptions scarcely greater than those which a learned professor of ,edinburgh obtains from a single class4444 8,the progression of physical science is much more connected with your prosperity than is usually imagined4 ,you owe to experimental philosophy some of the most important and peculiar of your advantages4 ,it is not by foreign conquests chiefly that you are become great1 but by a conquest of nature in your own country4 ,it is not so much by colonization that you have attained your preeminence or wealth1 but by the cultivation of the riches of your own soil4 ,why1 at this moment1 are you able to supply the world with a thousand articles of iron and steel necessary for the purposes of life8 ,it is by arts derived from chemistry and mechanics1 and founded purely upon experiments4 ,why is the steam engine now carrying on operations which formerly employed1 in painful and humiliating labour1 thousands of our robust peasantry1 who are now more nobly or more usefully serving their country either with the sword or with the plough8 ,it was in consequence of experiments upon the nature of heat and pure physical investigations4 8,in every part of the world manufactures made from the mere clay and pebbles of your soil may be found2 and to what is this owing8 ,to chemical arts and experiments4 ,you have excelled all other people in the products of industry4 ,but why8 ,because you have assisted industry by science4 ,do not regard as indifferent what is your true and greatest glory4 ,except in these respects1 and in the light of a pure system of faith1 in what are you superior to ,athens or to ,rome8 ,do you carry away from them the palm in literature and the fine arts8 ,do you not rather glory1 and justly too1 in being1 in these respects1 their imitators8 ,is it not demonstrated by the nature of your system of public education1 and by your popular amusements8 ,in what1 then1 are you their superiors8 ,in every thing connected with physical science2 with the experimental arts4 ,these are your characteristics4 ,do not neglect them4 ,you have a ,newton1 who is the glory1 not only of your own country1 but of the human race4 ,you have a ,bacon1 whose precepts may still be attended to with advantage4 ,shall ,englishmen slumber in that path which these great men have opened1 and be overtaken by their neighbours8 ,say1 rather1 that all assistance shall be given to their efforts2 that they shall be attended to1 encouraged1 and supported40 ,on a subsequent occasion1 when the subjugation of ,europe was threatened by the restless military spirit of ,france1 he thus dilated upon the influence of experimental philosophy in strengthening the desire for rational freedom3-- 8,the scientific glory of a country may be considered1 in some measure1 as an indication of its innate strength4 ,the exaltation of reason must necessarily be connected with the exaltation of the other noble faculties of the mind2 and there is one spirit of enterprise1 vigour1 and conquest1 in science1 arts1 and arms4 8,science for its progression requires patronage1--but it must be a patronage bestowed1 a patronage received1 with dignity4 ,it must be preserved independent4 ,it can bear no fetters1 not even fetters of gold1 and least of all those fetters in which ignorance or selfishness may attempt to shackle it4 8,and there is no country which ought so much to glory in its progress1 which is so much interested in its success1 as this happy island4 ,science has been a prime cause of creating for us the inexhaustible wealth of manufactures1 and it is by science that it must be preserved and extended4 ,we are interested as a commercial people1--we are interested as a free people4 ,the age of glory of a nation is likewise the age of its security4 ,the same dignified feeling1 which urges men to endeavour to gain a dominion over nature1 will preserve them from the humiliation of slavery4 ,natural1 and moral1 and religious knowledge1 are of one family2 and happy is that country1 and great its strength1 where they dwell together in union40 ,it was1 of course1 to be expected that amidst the general chorus of approval some discordant notes should be heard4 ,people who preferred the severe and formal manner of his colleague1 ,dr4 ,young1 who1 in spite of his profound knowledge1 could never keep an audience together1 said that ,davy's style was too florid and imaginative2 that his imagery was inappropriate1 and his conceits violent2 that he was affected and swayed by a mawkish sensibility4 ,dr4 ,paris would have us believe there was some show of justice in this accusation1 but he thinks that 8the style which cannot be tolerated in a philosophical essay may under peculiar circumstances be not only admissible but even expedient in a popular lecture40 ,the 8peculiar circumstance0 in ,davy's case was1 in ,dr4 ,paris's opinion1 the ,royal ,institution audience4 8,let us consider for a moment10 he says1 8the class of persons to whom ,davy addressed himself4 ,were they students prepared to toil with systematic precision1 in order to obtain knowledge as a matter of necessity8--,no--they were composed of the gay and the idle1 who could only be tempted to admit instruction by the prospect of receiving pleasure1--they were children1 who could only be induced to swallow the salutary draught by the honey around the rim of the cup40 ,that ,davy himself was not wholly unconscious of this fact may be gathered from a letter which he wrote to ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert at about this time4 ,he says3-- 8,my labours in the ,theatre of the ,royal ,institution have been more successful than ,i could have hoped from the nature of them4 ,in lectures1 the effect produced upon the mind is generally transitory2 for the most part1 they amuse rather than instruct1 and stimulate to enquiry rather than give information4 ,my audience has often amounted to four and five hundred1 and upwards2 and amongst them some promise to become permanently attached to chemistry4 ,this science is much the fashion of the day40 ,whatever may be urged against ,davy's style of lecturing1 his purely scientific memoirs are unquestionably models of their kind4 ,his language is so simple1 and his mode of expression so uniformly clear1 and so free from technicality1 that even an ordinary reader can follow them with delight4 ,in this respect he was consistently faithful to the direction he gives in his 8,last ,days03-- 8,in detailing the results of experiments1 and in giving them to the world1 the chemical philosopher should adopt the simplest style and manner2 he will avoid all ornaments1 as something injurious to his subject1 and should bear in mind the saying of the first ,king of ,great ,britain1 respecting a sermon which was excellent in doctrine1 but overcharged with poetical allusions and figurative language1--#8that the tropes and metaphors of the speaker were like the brilliant wild flowers in a field of corn1 very pretty1 but which did very much hurt the corn4'0 ,dr4 ,paris's remarks concerning ,davy's personal manner and his style of lecturing were warmly controverted at the time of their publication by several of ,davy's friends4 ,dr4 ,john ,davy's account is so clear and explicit1 and so obviously based upon personal observation1 for which he had ample opportunities1 that1 even after making every allowance for brotherly bias1 we prefer to regard it as giving a more just impression of ,davy's bearing in the lecture-theatre1 and of the care and pains he took to ensure success4 8,he was10 says ,dr4 ,davy1 8always in earnest2 and when he amused most1 amusement appeared most foreign to his object4 ,his great and first object was to instruct1 and1 in conjunction with this1 maintain the importance and dignity of science2 indeed the latter1 and the kindling a taste for scientific pursuits1 might rather be considered his main object1 and the conveying instruction a secondary one40 ,his lecture was almost invariably written expressly for the occasion1 and usually on the day before he delivered it4 8,on this day he generally dined in his own room1 and made a light meal on fish4 ,he was always master of his subject2 and composed with great rapidity1 and with a security of his powers never failing him4444 ,it was almost an invariable rule with him1 the evening before1 to rehearse his lecture in the presence of his assistants1 the preparations having been made and everything in readiness for the experiments2 and this he did1 not only with a view to the success of the experiments1 and the dexterity of his assistants1 but also in regard to his own discourse1 the effect of which1 he knew1 depended upon the manner in which it was delivered4 ,he used1 ,i remember1 at this recital1 to mark the words which required emphasis and study the effect of intonation2 often repeating a passage two or three different times1 to witness the difference of effect of variations in the voice4 ,his manner was perfectly natural1 animated and energetic1 but not in the least theatrical4 ,in speaking1 he never seemed to consider himself as an object of attention2 he spoke as if devoted to his subject1 and as if his audience were equally devoted to it and their interest concentrated in it4 ,the impressiveness of his oratory was one of its great charms 444 and his eloquence1--the declamation1 as it might be called by some1 in which he indulged on the beauty and order of ,nature 444 was so well received because it was not affected2 merely his own strong impressions and feelings embodied in words1 and delivered with an earnestness which marked their sincerity40 ,it must1 however1 be admitted that this extraordinary success was not without its evil influence on ,davy's moral qualities4 ,considering his age1 and his temperament1 his ambition and love of applause1 he would have been something more than human if he could have remained wholly unaffected by the conditions in which he was placed4 8,the bloom of his simplicity was dulled by the breath of adulation40 ,he assumed the garb and the airs of a man of fashion1 and courted the society of the rich and the aristocratic4 ,time which would have been more profitably spent in the study1 or in the society of his intellectual fellows1 was frittered away in the frivolities of ,london society1 or in the salons1 or at the soires of leaders of the 8smart0 people of the period4 ,the peculiar circumstances of the ,royal ,institution1 and the necessity for the continued adhesion to it of persons of rank and wealth1 may to some extent have led him away from the quieter and serener joys of the philosophic life4 8,in the morning10 says ,paris1 8he was the sage interpreter of ,nature's laws2 in the evening1 he sparkled in the galaxy of fashion2 and not the least extraordinary point in the character of this great man1 was the facility with which he could cast aside the cares of study1 and enter into the trifling amusements of society4--#8,ne otium quidem otiosum1' was the exclamation of ,cicero2 and it will generally apply to the leisure of men actively engaged in the pursuits of science2 but ,davy1 in closing the door of his laboratory1 opened the temple of pleasure4444 ,in ordinary cases1 the genius of evening dissipation is an arrant ,penelope2 but ,davy1 on returning to his morning labours1 never found that the thread had been unspun during the interruption40 ,the following letter from ,coleridge will serve to show how this change was foreseen and deplored by his truest friends3-- 8,nether ,stowey1 ,feby4 #ag1 #ahjc4 8,,my ,,dear ,,purkis1 444 ,i have been here nearly a fortnight2 and in better health than usual4 ,tranquillity1 warm rooms and a dear old friend1 are specifics for my complaints4 ,poole is indeed a very1 very good man4 ,i like even his incorrigibility in small faults and deficiencies2 it looks like a wise determination of ,nature to let well alone2 and is a consequence1 a necessary one perhaps1 of his immutability in his important good qualities4444 8,i rejoice in ,davy's progress4 ,there are three suns recorded in ,scripture3--,joshua's1 that stood still2 ,hezekiah's1 that went backward2 and ,david's that went forth1 and hastened on his course1 like a bridegroom from his chamber4 ,may our friend's prove the latter6 ,it is a melancholy thing to see a man1 like the ,sun in the close of the ,lapland summer1 meridional in his horizon2 or like wheat in a rainy season1 that shoots up well in the stalk1 but does not kern4 ,as ,i have hoped1 and do hope1 more proudly of ,davy than of any other man2 and as he has been endeared to me more than any other man1 by the being a ,thing of ,hope to me 7more1 far more than my self to my own self in my most genial moments17--so of course my disappointment would be proportionally severe4 ,it were falsehood1 if ,i said that ,i think his present situation most calculated1 of all others1 to foster either his genius1 or the clearness and incorruptness of his opinions and moral feelings4 ,i see two ,serpents at the cradle of his genius3 ,dissipation with a perpetual increase of acquaintances1 and the constant presence of ,inferiors and ,devotees1 with that too great facility of attaining admiration which degrades ,ambition into ,vanity--but the ,hercules will strangle both the reptile monsters4 ,i have thought it possible to exert talents with perseverance1 and to attain true greatness wholly pure1 even from the impulses2 but on this subject ,davy and ,i always differed4444 ,yours sincerely 8,s4 ,t4 ,,coleridge40 ,it would seem that ,coleridge's doubts and fears were shared also by his host1 and were communicated by him to the object of them4 ,this1 at least1 may be inferred from the following extract from a letter from ,davy to ,poole3-- 8,london1 ,may #a1 #ahjc4 8,,my ,,dear ,,poole1 444 ,be not alarmed1 my dear friend1 as to the effect of worldly society on my mind4 ,the age of danger has passed away4 ,there are in the intellectual being of all men1 permanent elements1 certain habits and passions that cannot change4 ,i am a lover of ,nature1 with an ungratified imagination4 ,i shall continue to search for untasted charms--for hidden beauties4 8,my real1 my waking existence is amongst the objects of scientific research3 common amusements and enjoyments are necessary to me only as dreams1 to interrupt the flow of thoughts too nearly analogous to enlighten and to vivify4 8,coleridge has left ,london for ,keswick2 during his stay in town1 ,i saw him seldomer than usual2 when ,i did see him1 it was generally in the midst of large companies1 where he is the image of power and activity4 ,his eloquence is unimpaired2 perhaps it is softer and stronger4 ,his will is probably less than ever commensurate with his ability4 ,brilliant images of greatness float upon his mind3 like the images of the morning clouds upon the waters1 their forms are changed by the motion of the waves1 they are agitated by every breeze1 and modified by every sunbeam4 ,he talked in the course of one hour1 of beginning three works1 and he recited the poem of ,christabel unfinished1 and as ,i had before heard it4 ,what talent does he not waste in forming visions1 sublime1 but unconnected with the real world6 ,i have looked to his efforts1 as to the efforts of a creating being2 but as yet1 he has not even laid the foundation for the new world of intellectual form4444 8,your affectionate friend 8,,humphry ,,davy40 ,space will not permit of any more detailed account of ,davy's career as a lecturer at the ,royal ,institution4 ,during the twelve years he occupied its ,chair of ,chemistry he held undisputed sway as the greatest living expositor of chemical doctrine1 and session after session saw the theatre crowded with eager and expectant audiences4 ,this continued and increasing success was due not merely to his art and skill as a speaker1 but to the remarkable and astonishing character of what he had to tell--of work which made the laboratory of the ,royal ,institution even more famous than its lecture-rooms4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,chemical ,,laboratory ,,of ,,the ,,royal ,,institution4 ,the chemical laboratory of the ,royal ,institution1 as the scene of ,davy's greatest discoveries--discoveries which mark epochs in the development of natural knowledge--will for ever be hallowed ground to the philosopher4 ,the votaries of ,hermes have raised far more stately temples3 to-day they follow their pursuit in edifices which in architectural elegance and in equipment are palaces compared with the subterranean structure which lies behind the ,corinthian faade in ,albemarle ,street4 ,but to the chemist this spot is what the ,ka'ba at ,mecca is to the follower of ,mohammed1 or what ,iona was to ,dr4 ,johnson3 and1 if we may venture to adapt the language of the ,english moralist1 that student has little to be envied whose enthusiasm would not grow warmer or whose devotion would not gain force within the place made sacred by the genius and labours of ,davy and ,faraday4 ,and yet1 were these great men to revisit the scene of their triumphs1 they would hardly recognise it1 so completely altered is it by adaptations and rearrangements rendered necessary by their discoveries4 ,how it appeared in their own time may be seen from the illustration on page #ia1 taken from a water-colour drawing by ,miss ,harriet ,moore1 in the possession of the ,managers of the ,royal ,institution4 ,illustration3 ,,chemical ,,laboratory ,,of ,,the ,,royal ,,institution ,,in ,,davy',s ,,time4 ,the first year of the century is memorable for the invention of the voltaic pile1 and for the discovery1 by ,nicholson and ,carlisle1 on ,april #cjth1 #ahjj1 of the electrolytic decomposition of water4 ,as ,davy said1 8the voltaic battery was an alarm-bell to experimenters in every part of ,europe2 and it served no less for demonstrating new properties in electricity1 and for establishing the laws of this science1 than as an instrument of discovery in other branches of knowledge2 exhibiting relations between subjects before apparently without connection1 and serving as a bond of unity between chemical and physical philosophy40 ,the capital discovery of ,volta was made known in ,england at the earliest possible moment through the mediation of ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 and the study of voltaic electricity1 its effects and applications1 was immediately afterwards entered upon by many ,englishmen of science with great zeal and ardour4 ,davy at this time had just completed his work on ,nitrous ,oxide2 and1 powerfully impressed with the significance of ,nicholson and ,carlisle's observation1 he at once turned his attention to the subject1 and even before leaving ,bristol he had sent a number of short papers on what was then usually termed the galvanic electricity to ,nicholson's ,journal4 ,he showed that oxygen and hydrogen were evolved from separate portions of water1 though vegetable and even animal substances intervened2 and conceiving that all decomposition might be polar1 he 8electrised0 different compounds at the different extremities1 and found that sulphur and metallic substances appeared at the negative pole1 and oxygen and nitrogen at the positive pole1 though the bodies furnishing them were separate from each other4 ,the papers1 however1 are mainly remarkable for the fact that they served to establish the intimate connection between the electrical effects and the chemical changes going on in the pile1 and for the conclusion drawn concerning their mutual dependence4 ,within a few days after his removal to the ,royal ,institution he resumed his inquiries1 publishing his results in a series of notices in the short-lived ,journal of the ,royal ,institution4 ,in #ahja he sent his first communication to the ,royal ,society1 on 8,an ,account of some ,galvanic ,combinations1 formed by the ,arrangement of single metallic ,plates and ,fluids1 analogous to the new ,galvanic ,apparatus of ,mr4 ,volta40 ,but at this period1 and for some time afterwards1 ,davy was not altogether free to develop his own ideas1 as the work of the laboratory was controlled by a committee which met1 from time to time1 to deliberate and settle upon the researches which were to be undertaken by their ,professor4 ,as we have seen1 he was requested1 in the first place1 to turn his attention to tanning1 and to investigate the astringent principles employed in the manufacture of leather4 ,afterwards1 when the ,managers determined to form a mineralogical collection1 and to institute an assay office for the improvement of mineralogy and metallurgy1 he was ordered to make analyses of rocks and minerals4 ,and lastly1 in consequence of an arrangement between the ,managers and the ,board of ,agriculture1 effected by ,arthur ,young1 he was required to take up the subject of ,agricultural ,chemistry4 ,to a man of ,thomas ,young's temperament the fussy activity of committees1 directed by such people as ,bernard and ,hippesley1 would have been resented as an irksome1 if not intolerable1 interference2 but ,davy invariably acted as if he considered that their decisions promoted the true interests of the ,institution1 and entered with ardour into each new scheme4 ,there was no irksomeness to him in being called upon to change the current of his ideas1 for he delighted in the opportunity of exhibiting his versatility2 and1 confident in his powers1 he had the ambition to touch everything in turn1 and to adorn it4 ,that he should have succeeded so well under such conditions is perhaps the strongest evidence that could be adduced of the strength and elasticity of his eager1 active mind1 and of his astonishing power of rapid1 well-directed work4 ,we have already dealt with his researches in connection with tanning4 ,the efforts of the ,managers towards the improvement of mineralogy and metallurgy1 in spite of the generous assistance of ,mr4 ,greville1 ,sir ,j4 ,st4 ,aubin1 and ,sir ,a4 ,hume1 and the 8activity and intelligence of ,mr4 ,davy10 proved abortive4 ,one outcome of ,davy's association with the matter may be seen in his paper1 published by the ,royal ,society in #ahje1 on 8,an ,account of some analytical ,experiments on a mineral ,production from ,devonshire1 consisting principally of ,alumine and ,water40 ,the mineral referred to was discovered by ,dr4 ,wavel in an argillaceous slate near ,barnstaple1 and hence was termed wavellite4 ,davy failed to recognise its true nature1 which was first correctly ascertained by ,berzelius4 ,a few weeks later1 he sent to the ,royal ,society a second paper 8,on a ,method of ,analyzing ,stones containing fixed ,alkali1 by ,means of the ,boracic ,acid40 ,the method1 however1 is of comparatively limited application1 and is seldom1 if ever1 now used in analysis4 ,determinative chemistry was never one of ,davy's strong points1 and few of his analytical processes are now employed4 ,patient manipulation1 and minute and sustained attention to detail1 were altogether foreign to his disposition and habits1 although he had the highest appreciation of these qualities in men like ,cavendish and ,wollaston4 ,the lectures on agriculture however1 were a great success1 and brought increased fame and no small profit to the lecturer4 ,his association with the ,board of ,agriculture developed into a permanent appointment2 for ten successive years he continued to lecture on the subject before its members1 and in #ahac he put together the results of his labours in his well-known 8,elements of ,agricultural ,chemistry40 ,in simplicity and absence of ornament the style of these lectures is in marked contrast to that which he usually employed at the ,royal ,institution4 ,dealing with men to whom the matter was of paramount importance1 he had no need to stimulate their interest by the arts he employed in the theatre in ,albemarle ,street4 ,the very nature of the subject1 perhaps1 served to remind him that tropes and metaphors were here as much out of place as 8the brilliant wild flowers in the field of corn--very pretty1 but which did very much hurt the corn40 ,it would be impossible in the space at our disposal to attempt to give a minute analysis of ,davy's work in connection with agriculture4 ,its interest now is1 for the most part1 historical2 what is of permanent importance in the way of fact has long since been woven into the common web of knowledge4 ,its greatest value was not in the novelty or the abundance of its facts1 but rather as a closely-reasoned exposition of the relation of agriculture to science1 and of the necessity for applying the principles and methods of science to the art4 ,the philosophic breadth of his views1 supported1 on occasion1 by apt example and striking analogy1 might be illustrated by many extracts4 ,this1 for example1 is how he speaks of the value of the scientific method1 and of chemistry1 to husbandry3-- 8,nothing is more wanting in agriculture than experiments1 in which all the circumstances are minutely and scientifically detailed4 ,this art will advance with rapidity in proportion as it becomes exact in its methods4 ,as in physical researches all the causes should be considered2 a difference in the results may be produced1 even by the fall of a half an inch of rain more or less in the course of a season1 or a few degrees of temperature1 or even by a slight difference in the subsoil1 or in the inclination of the land4 8,information collected1 after views of distinct inquiry1 would necessarily be more accurate1 and more capable of being connected with the general principles of science2 and a few histories of the results of truly philosophical experiments in agricultural chemistry would be of more value in enlightening and benefitting the farmer1 than the greatest possible accumulation of imperfect trials conducted merely in the empirical spirit4 ,it is no unusual occurrence1 for persons who argue in favour of practice and experience1 to condemn generally all attempts to improve agriculture by philosophical inquiries and chemical methods4 ,that much vague speculation may be found in the works of those who have lightly taken up agricultural chemistry1 it is impossible to deny4 ,it is not uncommon to find a number of changes rung upon a string of technical terms1 such as oxygen1 hydrogen1 carbon1 and azote1 as if the science depended upon words rather than upon things4 ,but this is1 in fact1 an argument for the necessity of the establishment of just principles of chemistry on the subject4 ,whoever reasons upon agriculture1 is obliged to recur to this science4 ,he feels that it is scarcely possible to advance a step without it2 and if he is satisfied with insufficient views1 it is not because he prefers them to accurate knowledge1 but1 generally1 because they are more current4444 ,it has been said1 and undoubtedly with great truth1 that a philosophical chemist would most probably make a very unprofitable business of farming2 and this certainly would be the case1 if he were a mere philosophical chemist2 and unless he had served his apprenticeship to the practice of the art1 as well as to the theory4 ,but there is reason to believe that he would be a more successful agriculturist than a person equally uninitiated in farming1 but ignorant of chemistry altogether2 his science1 as far as it went1 would be useful to him4 ,but chemistry is not the only kind of knowledge required3 it forms a part of the philosophical basis of agriculture2 but it is an important part1 and whenever applied in a proper manner must produce advantages40 ,how highly these lectures were appreciated will be evident from the terms in which they were referred to by ,sir ,john ,sinclair in his address of #ahjf to the ,board4 ,he says3-- 8,in the year #ahjb1 when my ,lord ,carrington was in the chair1 the ,board resolved to direct the attention of a celebrated lecturer1 ,mr4 ,davy1 to agricultural subjects2 and in the following year1 during the presidency of ,lord ,sheffield1 he first delivered to the members of this ,institution1 a course of lectures on the ,chemistry of ,agriculture4 ,the plan has succeeded to the extent which might have been expected from the abilities of the gentleman engaged to carry it into effect4 ,the lectures have hitherto been exclusively addressed to the members of the ,board2 but to such a degree of perfection have they arrived1 that it is well worthy of consideration1 whether they ought not to be given to a larger audience40 ,the 8degree of perfection0 was in no small degree due to the amount of experimental and observational work which ,davy introduced into his lectures4 ,mr4 ,bernard allotted him a considerable piece of ground on his property at ,roehampton for experimental purposes1 and the ,duke of ,bedford carried out trials for him at ,woburn4 ,he studied from time to time all the operations of practical farming1 examined a great variety of soils1 and investigated the nature and action of manures4 ,he was thus brought into contact with some of the largest landowners and agriculturists of his time1 and was an honoured guest in the houses of men like ,lord ,sheffield1 ,lord ,thanet1 ,mr4 ,coke of ,holkham1 and others4,e ,in the practical interest he thus displayed in the most useful of all the arts he sought to emulate the example of his illustrious prototype ,lavoisier1 and his work constitutes the foundation of every treatise on the subject since the appearance1 in #ahdj1 of ,liebig's well-known book4 ,e ,in the print of the 8,woburn ,sheep-,shearing10 ,davy is represented as one of a group comprising ,mr4 ,coke1 ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 ,sir ,john ,sinclair1 and ,mr4 ,arthur ,young4 ,professor ,warington1 than whom no one is more fitted to express an opinion1 has favoured me with the following critical estimate of the value of ,davy's work3-- 8,the lectures profess to be exhaustive and thus present all that ,davy had been able to collect on the subject of the relations of chemistry to agriculture during a period of at least #aj years4 ,he appears to have made a careful study of the problems of agriculture for many years1 and to be acquainted with ,english practice1 and ,english experiments4 ,there is but little reference to foreign practice1 or foreign opinion1 save where the work done has been purely chemical1 as e4g4 that of ,gay ,lussac1 or ,vauquelin4 ,he approaches his subject in a thoroughly scientific manner1 taking an independent view of each question1 bringing all the knowledge at his disposal to bear upon it1 and not hesitating to come to conclusions different from those usually received4 ,the great step taken in these lectures is the assertion that ,agriculture must look to ,natural ,science1 and especially to ,chemistry1 for the explanation of its problems and the improvement of its practice4 ,davy seems to have been the first1 at least in this country1 who boldly claimed for #8,agricultural ,chemistry' the position of a distinct branch of science4 ,he was probably the earliest example of a first-class chemist1 who seriously and continuously devoted his best attention to the subject of agriculture4 8,the lectures1 looked at from a modern standpoint1 are of unequal value4 ,the method of food-analysis is very poor1 and it is somewhat surprising that the accurate mode of determining nitrogen employed by ,gay ,lussac is not made use of in ,davy's analyses4 ,nevertheless he manages to ascertain that spring sown wheat is richer in gluten than autumn sown1 and the wheat of hot countries richer than the wheat of temperate regions1 statements which are quite correct4 8,lecture ,,vi4 is decidedly poor4 ,davy believes that plants feed on carbonaceous matter by their roots1 and this mistaken theory leads him to assign an undue value to organic substances as manures4 ,it seems curious nowadays to find the whole subject of manures treated with hardly any reference to their contents in nitrogen1 phosphoric acid1 or potash4 8,lecture ,,iv4 is one of his best lectures1 full of keen observation and suggestive experiment4 8,the references to his own agricultural experiments are very numerous2 he seems to have made experiments on every subject of inquiry that came before him4 ,there is however no attempt at an extended and thorough investigation of any subject1 and for want of this the truth is sometimes missed4 ,thus in his trials of various ammonium salts as manures he finds the carbonate to be effective1 the chloride to be of little value1 and the sulphate of no good at all1 whereas the last-named salt is now generally chosen as a manure4 8,there are some paragraphs that read like the inspirations of genius1 though it is now of course difficult to tell to what extent his statements and opinions were warranted by the facts then known4 ,he gives a wonderfully correct idea of the action of peas or beans in rotation1 even including the statement that they obtain their nitrogen from the atmosphere40 ,although his time and energy were necessarily largely absorbed by the demands of the ,managers1 ,davy never lost sight of the subject of voltaic electricity1 and at intervals he was able to resume his inquiries upon it4 ,what specially impressed him was the power of the voltaic pile as an analytic agent2 and his laboratory journals1 preserved at the ,royal ,institution1 record the results of numerous trials on the behaviour of compound substances under its influence4 ,in spite of innumerable distractions and constant interruptions1 due mainly to the precarious position of the ,institution1 ,davy gradually succeeded in unravelling the fundamental laws of electro-chemistry1 and in thus importing a new order of conceptions1 altogether unlooked for and undreamt of1 into science4 ,this really constitutes his greatest claim as a philosopher to our admiration and gratitude4 ,the isolation of the metals of the alkalis1 and the proof of the compound nature of the alkaline earths1 were unquestionably achievements of the highest brilliancy1 and as such appeal strongly to the popular imagination4 ,but they were only the necessary and consequential links in a chain of discovery which1 had ,davy neglected to make them1 would have been immediately forged by others4 ,it is significant that almost immediately after the capital discovery of ,nicholson and ,carlisle1 ,dr4 ,henry of ,manchester1 the well-known friend and collaborator of ,dalton1 should have made the attempt to separate the presumed metallic principle of potash by the agency of voltaic electricity4 99 99 99 99 99 ,davy communicated the results of his inquiries made prior to the summer of #ahjf in a paper to the ,royal ,society1 which was made the ,bakerian lecture of the year4,f ,it is entitled 8,on some chemical ,agencies of ,electricity10 and is divided in nine sections and an introduction4 ,in the first section1 8,on the ,changes produced by ,electricity in ,water10 he set at rest the disputed question as to the origin of the acid and alkaline matter which had been observed to form during the electrolysis of this liquid4 ,by some these substances were supposed to be generated from pure water by the action of electricity2 and ,m4 ,brugnatelli had even attempted to prove the existence of a body sui generis which he termed the electric acid4 ,by a series of convincing experiments ,davy showed that the substances were due to the presence of saline matter in the water1 derived either from faulty purification1 or from the solvent action of the water on the vessels1 etc41 with which it was in contact4 ,cruickshank had found that in some cases the acid was nitric acid and the alkali ammonia3 these substances were shown by ,davy to be due to the presence of dissolved air4 ,when pure water1 contained in vessels on which it exerted no solvent action1 was 8electrised0 in vacuo1 not a trace of either acid or alkali was produced4 ,f ,this lecture1 which is one of the events of each session of the ,royal ,society1 owes its origin to ,mr4 ,henry ,baker1 ,f4,r4,s41 a learned antiquary and naturalist1 who1 by his will of ,july1 #agfc1 bequeathed the sum of #ajj to the ,society1 the interest of which was to be applied 8for an oration or discourse to be spoken or read yearly by someone of the ,fellows of that ,society1 on such part of ,natural ,history or ,experimental ,philosophy1 at such time1 and in such manner1 as the ,president and ,council of the said ,society for the time being1 shall please to order and appoint40 ,baker died in #aggd1 and the bequest came into operation during the presidency of ,sir ,john ,pringle2 and ,peter ,woulfe--one of the last of the ,english alchemists--was appointed to deliver the lecture1 which he did for three successive years4 ,in the second section1 8,on the ,agencies of ,electricity in the ,decomposition of various ,compounds10 he begins by pointing out that in all the experiments recorded in the preceding section--that is1 in all changes in which acid and alkaline matter had been present--the acid matter collected in the water round the positive pole1 and the alkaline matter round the negative pole4 ,this he shows to be true even of such sparingly soluble substances as gypsum1 the sulphates of strontium and barium1 and fluorspar4 ,by connecting together cups or vessels made of the substances under investigation by a thread of well-washed asbestos1 as suggested by ,wollaston1 he found that in all cases the acid element collected round the positive1 and the earthy base round the negative pole4 ,basalt from ,antrim1 a zeolite from the ,giant's ,causeway1 vitreous lava from ,etna1 and even glass1 in like manner yielded alkaline matter to water when subjected to the action of voltaic electricity4 ,soluble salts1 such as the sulphates of sodium1 potassium1 and ammonium1 the nitrates of potassium and barium1 the succinate1 oxalate and benzoate of ammonium1 were similarly decomposed3 the acids in a certain time collected in the tube containing the positive wire1 and the alkalis and earths in that containing the negative wire4 ,when metallic solutions1 such as those of iron1 zinc1 and tin were employed1 metallic crystals or depositions were formed on the negative wire1 and oxide was likewise deposited round it2 and a great excess of acid was soon found in the opposite cup4 ,in the next section1 8,on the ,transfer of ,certain of the ,constituent ,parts of ,bodies by the ,action of ,electricity10 he points out that the observations of ,gautherot and of ,hisinger and ,berzelius rendered it probable that the saline elements evolved in decompositions by electricity were capable of being transferred from one electrified surface to another1 according to their usual order of arrangement1 but that exact observations on this point were wanting4 ,he connected a cup of gypsum with one of agate by means of asbestos1 and filling each with purified water1 he inserted the negative wire of the battery in the agate cup1 and the positive wire in that of the sulphate of lime4 ,in about four hours he found a strong solution of lime in the agate cup1 and sulphuric acid in that of gypsum4 ,by reversing the order1 and carrying on the process for a similar length of time1 the sulphuric acid appeared in the agate cup1 and the solution of lime on the opposite side4 ,many trials were made with other saline substances with analogous results4 ,the time required for these transmissions 7the quantity and intensity of the electricity1 and other circumstances remaining the same7 seemed to be related to the length of the intermediate column of water4 ,to ascertain whether the contact of the saline solution with a metallic surface was necessary for the decomposition and transference1 he introduced purified water into two glass tubes2 a vessel containing solution of potassium chloride was connected with each of the tubes by means of asbestos2 on introducing the wires into the tubes alkaline matter soon appeared in one tube1 and acid matter in the other2 and in the course of a few hours moderately strong solutions of potash and of hydrochloric acid were formed4 ,two tubes1 one containing distilled water1 the other a solution of potassium sulphate1 were each connected by asbestos threads with a vessel containing a dilute solution of litmus2 the saline matter was negatively electrified2 and as it was natural to suppose that the sulphuric acid in passing through the water to the positive side would redden the litmus in its course1 some slips of litmus paper were placed above and below the pieces of asbestos1 directly in the circuit3 it was found that the acid and alkali passed through the litmus solution without effecting any change in colour4 8,as acid and alkaline substances during the time of their electrical transfer passed through water containing vegetable colours without affecting them1 or apparently combining with them1 it immediately became an object of inquiry whether they would not likewise pass through chemical menstrua having stronger attractions for them2 and it seemed reasonable to suppose that the same power which destroyed elective affinity in the vicinity of the metallic points would likewise destroy it1 or suspend its operation1 throughout the whole of the circuit40 ,to test this supposition1 solution of potassium sulphate was placed in contact with the negative wire1 and pure water in contact with the positive wire and a weak solution of ammonia was made the middle link of the conducting chain1 so that no sulphuric acid could pass to the positive pole in the distilled water without passing through the solution of ammonia4 ,in less than five minutes it was found that acid was collecting round the positive pole1 and in half an hour the water was sour to the taste1 and gave a precipitate with barium nitrate4 ,hydrochloric acid from common salt1 and nitric acid from nitre were transmitted through concentrated alkaline menstrua under similar circumstances4 ,strontia and baryta readily passed1 like the other alkaline substances1 through hydrochloric and nitric acids2 and vice vers these acids passed with facility through aqueous solution of baryta and strontia2 but it was impossible to pass sulphuric acid through baryta or strontia1 or to pass baryta and strontia through sulphuric acid1 as precipitates of insoluble barium and strontium sulphate were formed4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the next section1 8,on ,some ,general ,observations on these ,phenomena1 and on the ,mode of ,decomposition and ,transition10 he summarises the foregoing results3-- 8,it will be a general expression of the facts that have been detailed1 relating to the changes and transitions by electricity1 in common philosophical language1 to say that hydrogen1 the alkaline substances1 the metals1 and certain metallic oxides1 are attracted by negatively electrified metallic surfaces1 and repelled by positively electrified metallic surfaces2 and contrariwise1 that oxygen and acid substances are attracted by positively electrified metallic surfaces1 and repelled by negatively electrified metallic surfaces2 and these attractive and repulsive forces are sufficiently energetic to destroy or suspend the usual operation of elective affinity4 8,it is very natural to suppose1 that the repellent and attractive energies are communicated from one particle to another particle of the same kind1 so as to establish a conducting chain in the fluid2 and that the locomotion takes place in consequence2 and that this is really the case seems to be shown by many facts4 ,thus1 in all the instances in which ,i examined alkaline solutions through which acids had been transmitted1 ,i always found acid in them whenever any acid matter remained at the original source4444 8,in the cases of the separation of the constituents of water1 and of solutions of neutral salts forming the whole of the chain1 there may possibly be a succession of decompositions1 and recompositions throughout the fluid4 ,and this idea is strengthened by the experiments on the attempt to pass barytes through sulphuric acid1 and muriatic acid through solution of sulphate of silver1 in which as insoluble compounds are formed and carried out of the sphere of the electrical action1 the power of transfer is destroyed40 ,in the next section1 8,on the ,general ,principles of the ,chemical ,changes produced by ,electricity10 he points out that it had been already shown by ,bennet that many bodies brought into contact and afterwards separated exhibited opposite states of electricity2 and that this observation had been confirmed and extended by ,volta1 who had supposed that it also takes place with regard to metals and fluids4 ,in his paper in the ,philosophical ,transactions of #ahja1 the first he sent to the ,royal ,society1 ,davy had shown that when alternations of single metallic plates and acid and alkaline solutions were employed in the construction of voltaic combinations1 the alkaline solutions always received the electricity from the metal1 and the acid always transmitted it to the metal4 ,in the simplest case of electrical action1 the alkali which receives electricity from the metal would necessarily1 on being separated from it1 appear positive1 whilst the acid under similar circumstances would be negative2 and these bodies1 having respectively with regard to the metals that which may be called a positive and a negative electrical energy1 in their repellent and attractive functions seem to be governed by laws the same as the common laws of electrical attraction and repulsion4 ,the seventh section treats of 8,the ,relations between the ,electrical ,energies of ,bodies and their ,chemical ,affinities03-- 8,as the chemical attraction between two bodies seems to be destroyed by giving one of them an electrical state different from that which it naturally possesses2 that is1 by bringing it artificially into a state similar to the other1 so it may be increased by exalting its natural energy4 ,thus1 whilst zinc1 one of the most oxidable of the metals1 is incapable of combining with oxygen when negatively electrified in the circuit1 even by a feeble power2 silver1 one of the least oxidable1 easily unites to it when positively electrified2 and the same thing might be said of other metals4 ,amongst the substances that combine chemically1 all those1 the electrical energies of which are well known1 exhibit opposite states2 thus copper and zinc1 gold and quicksilver1 sulphur and the metals1 the acid and alkaline substances1 afford opposite instances2 and supposing perfect freedom of motion in their particles or elementary matter1 they ought according to the principles laid down1 to attract each other in consequence of their electrical powers4 ,in the present state of our knowledge it would be useless to attempt to speculate on the remote cause of the electrical energy1 or the reason why different bodies1 after being brought into contact should be found differently electrified2 its relation to chemical affinity is however1 sufficiently evident4 ,may it not be identical with it1 and an essential property of matter80 ,how ,davy sought to elaborate a theory of chemical affinity on these facts will be sufficiently obvious from the following extracts3-- 8,supposing two bodies1 the particles of which are in different electrical states1 and those states sufficiently exalted to give them an attractive force superior to the power of aggregation1 a combination would take place which would be more or less intense according as the energies were more or less perfectly balanced2 and the change of properties would be correspondently proportional40 8,when two bodies repellent of each other act upon the same body with different degrees of the same electrical attracting energy1 the combination would be determined by the degree2 and the substance possessing the weakest energy would be repelled2 and this principle would afford an expression of the causes of elective affinity and the decompositions produced in consequence40 8,or where the bodies having different degrees of the same energy1 with regard to the third body1 had likewise different energies with regard to each other1 there might be such a balance of attractive and repellent powers as to produce a triple compound2 and by the extension of this reasoning1 complicated chemical union may be easily explained40 ,as the combined effect of many particles possessing a feeble electrical energy may be conceived equal or even superior to the effect of a few particles possessing a strong electrical energy1 the same principle may explain the influence of mass action1 as elucidated by ,berthollet4 ,he conceives also that it may be possible to obtain a measure of chemical affinity founded upon the energy of the voltaic apparatus required to destroy the chemical equilibrium4 ,he points out that1 as light and heat are the common consequences of the restoration of the equilibrium between bodies in a high state of opposite electricities1 so it is perhaps an additional circumstance in favour of his theory to state that heat and light are likewise the result of all intense chemical action4 ,and as in certain forms of the voltaic battery when large quantities of electricity of low intensity act1 heat is produced without light2 so in slow combinations there is an increase of temperature without luminous appearance4 ,the effect of heat in producing combination may1 he assumes1 be also explained according to these ideas4 ,it not only gives more freedom of motion to the particles1 but in a number of cases--e4g4 tourmaline1 sulphur1 etc4--it seems to exalt the electrical energies of bodies4 ,in the eighth section he seeks to apply these principles to the mode of action of the voltaic pile1 and to explain the nature of the changes which occur between the plates and the exciting fluid1 and he points out that the theory in some measure reconciles the hypothetical principles of the action of the pile adopted by its inventor with the opinions concerning the chemical origin of galvanism held by the majority of ,british men of science at that period4 ,at the same time1 ,davy argues that the facts are in contradiction to the assumption that chemical changes are the primary causes of the phenomena of galvanism4 ,moreover1 in mere cases of chemical change--as in iron burning in oxygen1 the deflagration of nitre with charcoal1 the combination of potash with sulphuric acid1 the amalgamation of zinc1--electricity is never exhibited4 ,in the concluding section he trusts that many applications of the general facts and principles thus indicated to the processes of chemistry1 both in art and in nature1 may suggest themselves to the philosophical inquirer4 ,it is not improbable1 he thinks1 that the electric decomposition of the neutral salts in different cases may admit of economical uses4 ,he is induced to hope that the new mode of analysis may lead to the discovery of the true elements of bodies3-- 8,for if chemical union be of the nature which ,i have ventured to suppose1 however strong the natural electrical energies of the elements of bodies may be1 yet there is every probability of a limit to their strength3 whereas the powers of our artificial instruments seem capable of indefinite increase40 ,phenomena similar to those occurring in the voltaic cell must be produced in various parts of the interior strata of our globe1 and it is very probable that many mineral formations have been materially influenced1 or even occasioned1 by such action4 ,the electrical power of transference may serve to explain some of the principal and most mysterious facts in geology4 8,natural electricity has hitherto been little investigated1 except in the case of its evident and powerful concentration in the atmosphere4 ,its slow and silent operations in every part of the surface will probably be found more immediately and importantly connected with the order and economy of nature2 and investigations on this subject can hardly fail to enlighten our philosophical systems of the earth1 and may possibly place new powers within our reach40 ,the publication of this paper exercised a profound sensation1 both at home and abroad4 ,berzelius1 years afterwards1 spoke of it as one of the most remarkable memoirs that had ever enriched the theory of chemistry--and the praise is the more significant when it is remembered that ,davy had thereby seemed to have taken possession of a field of inquiry which the ,swedish chemist1 who was only a year younger than ,davy1 had been among the first to enter4 ,still more significant was the action of the ,french ,institute4 ,bonaparte1 when ,first ,consul1 had announced to the ,institute his intention of founding a medal 8for the best experiment which should be made in the course of each year on the galvanic fluid10 and had further expressed his desire to give the sum of sixty thousand francs 8 celui qui1 par ses expriences et ses dcouvertes fera faire l'electricit et au galvanisme un pas comparable celui qu'ont fait faire ces sciences ,franklin et ,volta40 ,a committee of the ,institute1 consisting of ,la ,place1 ,halle1 ,coulomb1 ,hauy and ,biot1 was appointed to consider the best means of accomplishing the wishes of the ,first ,consul1 and twelve months after the publication of the ,bakerian lecture they awarded its author the medal4 ,whether the ,institute had the means of awarding the sixty thousand francs as well is more than doubtful1 for it does not appear that the sum named by ,bonaparte ever went beyond the promise of it4 ,all that the ,institute got for themselves was1 as ,maria ,edgeworth said1 8a rating all round in imperial ,billingsgate40 ,the two countries at this period were at war1 and the feeling of animosity was most bitter4 ,of course1 there were persons who said that patriotism should forbid the acceptance of the award4 ,davy's own view was more sensible and politic4 8,some people10 he said to his friend ,poole1 8say ,i ought not to accept this prize2 and there have been foolish paragraphs in the papers to that effect2 but if the two countries or governments are at war1 the men of science are not4 ,that would1 indeed1 be a civil war of the worst description3 we should rather1 through the instrumentality of men of science1 soften the asperities of national hostility40 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,isolation ,,of ,,the ,,metals ,,of ,,the ,,alkalis4 ,however devoted ,davy might be to scientific investigation1 he was no less mindful of the sacred claims of the long vacation4 ,in the summer of #ahje he went to the ,lake ,country1 where he met ,scott in company with ,wordsworth2 and the occasion on which the party 8climbed the dark brow of the mighty ,helvellyn10 and which gave rise to ,scott's well-known poem1 is thus referred to by ,lockhart3-- 8,this day they were accompanied by an illustrious philosopher ,davy1 who was also a true poet--and might have been one of the greatest of poets had he chosen2 and ,i have heard ,mr4 ,wordsworth say1 that it would be difficult to express the feelings with which he1 who so often had climbed ,helvellyn alone1 found himself standing on its summit with two such men as ,scott and ,davy40 ,but the greater part of this summer he spent in the north of ,ireland1 examining the extraordinary geological features of that district4 ,lady ,brownrigg1 the sister of the ,bishop of ,raphoe1 has given a spirited little account of her impressions of his appearance and manner at that period4 ,she was1 she says1 very young at the time4 8,we had been invited 7,i say we1 for ,i was then with the ,bishop of ,raphoe7 by ,dr4 ,richardson to go to his cottage at ,portrush1 #8to meet the famous ,mr4 ,davy4' ,we arrived a short time before dinner4 ,in passing through a room we saw a youth1 as he appeared1 who had come in from fishing1 and who1 with a little note-book1 was seated in a window-seat1 having left a bag1 rod c41 on the ground4 ,he was very intent upon this little book1 and we passed through unnoticed4 ,we shook hands with our host and hostess1 and prepared for dinner4 ,i went into the drawing-room1 under some little awe of this great philosopher1 annexing to such a character at least the idea of an elderly grave gentleman1 not perhaps1 with so large a wig as ,dr4 ,parr1 or so sententious a manner as ,dr4 ,johnson1--but certainly ,i never calculated on being introduced to the identical youth1 with a little brown head1 like a boy1 that we had seen with his book1 and who1 when ,i came into the drawing-room was in the most animated manner recounting an adventure on the ,causeway which had entertained him and from his manner of telling it was causing loud laughing in the whole room40 ,davy also spent much of the summer of #ahjf in ,ireland1 and the journal which he kept during his tour contains many interesting notes of his impressions of the country and the people4 ,in the course of his journey he visited ,edgeworthstown--8the moral and intellectual paradise of the author of #8,castle ,rackrent1'0 as he calls it4 ,that gifted lady tells her cousin ,sophy ,ruxton that as the result her head 8was stuffed full of geological and chemical facts40 8,mr4 ,davy10 she adds1 8is wonderfully improved since you saw him at ,bristol2 he has an amazing fund of knowledge upon all subjects1 and a great deal of genius40 ,there was much in ,davy's own temperament to make him understand and appreciate the ,irish character2 himself a man of quick impulse and active sympathy1 he was profoundly moved by the spectacle of ,ireland's political degradation4 ,in a letter to his friend ,poole1 written after his return to ,london1 he says3-- 8,i long very much for the intercourse of a week with you3 ,i have very much to say about ,ireland4 ,it is an island which might be made a new and a great country4 ,it now boasts a fertile soil1 an ingenious and robust peasantry1 and a rich aristocracy2 but the bane of the nation is the equality of poverty amongst the lower orders4 ,all are slaves1 without the probability of becoming free2 they are in the state of equality which the sans culottes wished for in ,france2 and until emulation1 and riches1 and the love of clothes and neat houses are introduced among them1 there will be no permanent improvement4 8,changes in political institutions can1 at first1 do little towards serving them2 it must be by altering their habits1 by diffusing manufactories1 by destroying middlemen1 by dividing farms1 and by promoting industry by making the pay proportional to the work3 but ,i ought not to attempt to say anything on the subject when my limits are so narrow2 ,i hope soon to converse with you about it40 ,with the exception of a rapid journey into ,cornwall1 for the sake of seeing his family1 he spent the greater part of the summer and autumn of #ahjg in town4 ,he had been made ,secretary of the ,royal ,society in succession to ,gray1 and was obliged to be in or near ,london in order to see the ,philosophical ,transactions through the press4 ,from the ,laboratory ,journal it would appear that he was occupied at this time on a variety of disconnected investigations such as the nature of ,antwerp ,blue1 and the effect of electricity on flame4 ,in a letter to ,davies ,gilbert1 dated ,september #abth1 he states that he has been a good deal engaged in experiments on distillation for revenue purposes4 ,towards the end of this month1 or during the first week of ,october1 he resumed his experiments with the voltaic battery1 and he was led to study its action on the alkalis4 ,there is some evidence that he had attacked the same question at ,bristol4 ,in a note-book of that period1 under date ,august #fth1 #ahjj1 is the following sentence3 8,i cannot close this notice without feeling grateful to ,m4 ,volta1 ,mr4 ,nicholson1 and ,mr4 ,carlisle1 whose experience has placed such a wonderful and important instrument of analysis in my power0--evidently a jotting to be used in one of the short communications to ,nicholson's ,journal4 ,this is immediately followed by 8,query3 ,would not potash1 dissolved in spirits of wine1 become a conductor80 ,and he then gives an account of some experiments on the action of voltaic electricity on aqueous solutions of ammonia1 caustic potash1 and hydrochloric acid1 which apparently led to the same result as that already obtained by ,nicholson and ,carlisle in the case of water4 ,it is difficult to determine whether he had any precise idea in again attacking the problem1 or any expectation of a definite result4 ,in one of his lectures at the ,royal ,institution on ,electro-,chemical ,science1 delivered some time subsequently1 he said he had a suspicion at that time that potash might turn out to be 8phosphorus1 or sulphur united to nitrogen03 8,for as the volatile alkali was regarded as composed of an extremely light inflammable body--hydrogen--united to nitrogen1 ,i conceived that phosphorus and sulphur1 much denser bodies1 might produce denser alkaline matter2 and as there were no known combination of these with nitrogen1 it was probable that there might be unknown combinations40 ,davy once said that 8analogy was the fruitful parent of error02 and the whole history of science probably furnishes no more extraordinary instance of perverted analogy1 or one more unexpected in its consequences4 ,in another of his lectures he said of the alchemists that 8even their failures developed some unsought-for object partaking of the marvellous0--and the statement in this case is even more true of himself4 ,each phase in the story of this discovery indeed partakes of the marvellous4 ,sometime during the first fortnight in ,october1 #ahjg1 he obtained his first decisive result2 and on the #aith of ,november he delivered what is generally regarded as the most memorable of all his ,bakerian lectures1 8,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 ,bodies40 ,few discoveries of like magnitude have been made and perfected in so short a time1 and few memoirs have been more momentous in result than that which ,davy put together in a few hours1 and in which he announced his results to the world4 ,the whole work was done under conditions of great mental excitement4 ,his cousin ,edmund ,davy1 who at the time acted as his assistant1 relates that when he saw the minute globules of the quicksilver-like metal burst through the crust of potash and take fire1 his joy knew no bounds2 he actually danced about the room in ecstasy1 and it was some time before he was sufficiently composed to continue his experiments4 ,the rapidity with which he accumulated results after this first feeling of delirious delight had passed was extraordinary4 ,before the middle of ,november he had obtained most of the leading facts4 ,in a letter dated ,november #acth he tells ,w4 ,h4 ,pepys-- 8,i have decomposed and recomposed the fixed alkalies1 and discovered their bases to be two new inflammable substances very like metals2 but one of them lighter than ether1 and infinitely combustible4 ,so that there are two bodies decomposed1 and two new elementary bodies found40 ,the stories told by ,paris of his habits at this period1 and of his various expedients to gain time--of his rushing off to dinner with persons of the highest rank with no fewer than five shirts on1 and as many pairs of stockings1 because in his haste he could not put on fresh linen without removing that which was underneath2 of his continuing his chemical labours on his return to the laboratory until three or four in the morning2 and of his then being up before the servants1 are certainly much exaggerated1 if not wholly apocryphal4 ,he was1 it is true1 not very systematic in the disposal of his time1 but he seldom entered the laboratory before ten or eleven in the morning1 and rarely left it later than four1 and he was scarcely ever known to visit it after he had dressed for dinner4 ,except when preparing a lecture1 he seldom dined in his rooms at the ,institution3 his brother tells us that his invitations to dinner were so numerous that he was1 or might have been1 constantly engaged2 and after dinner he was much in the habit of attending evening parties1 and devoting the evening to amusement1 8so that to the mere frequenters of such parties he must have appeared a votary of fashion rather than of science40 ,it was characteristic of him1 that on the very eve of the announcement of the discovery which raised him to the summit of his scientific fame1 he could unbend the strung bow and thus write to his youngest sister3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,sister1 444 ,i looked last week at the pattern of the gown that my sister put into my hands1 and found it so worn and tattered that nothing can be made of it2 ,i cannot therefore get your gowns made till you send me another4 ,the best way will be to give me measure of the waist1 shoulders1 length c41 in this way1 and there can then be no difficulties3 thus waist1 #ae inches1 or whatever it may be2 between shoulders3 length from waist to skirt or train4 8,i do not wish to send gowns you cannot wear1 and in this way they can be well made4 ,by a piece of tape you can easily measure and then try the length by a carpenter's rule1 and give me the results for yourself1 and for ,kitty1 and ,grace1 and ,i shall then be able to send your gowns a few days after ,i receive your letter4444 8,i shall write to my mother soon1 about ,john4 ,and now1 my dear sister1 having written you as stupid a letter as ever was written about gowns1 ,i shall end with love to my mother1 ,kitty1 ,grace1 and my aunts4 8,your affectionate brother 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,the ,bakerian lecture in which ,davy announces the discovery of the compound nature of the fixed alkalis opens with a reference to the concluding remarks of his lecture of the previous year1 8that the new methods of investigation promised to lead to a more intimate knowledge than had hitherto been obtained concerning the true elements of bodies4 ,this conjecture1 then sanctioned only by strong analogies1 ,i am now happy to be able to support by some conclusive facts40 ,in the first attempts he made to decompose the fixed alkalis he acted upon concentrated aqueous solutions of potash and soda with the highest electrical power he could then command at the ,royal ,institution--viz4 from voltaic batteries containing #bd plates of copper and zinc of #ab inches square1 #ajj plates of #f inches1 and #aej of #d inches1 charged with solutions of alum and nitric acid2 but although there was high intensity of action nothing but hydrogen and oxygen was disengaged4 ,he next tried potash in igneous fusion1 and here the results were more encouraging3 there were obvious and striking signs of decomposition3 combustible matter was produced accompanied with flame and a most intense light4 ,he had observed that although potash when dry is a non-conductor1 it readily conducts when it becomes damp by exposure to air1 and in this state 8fuses and decomposes by strong electrical powers40 8,a small piece of pure potash1 which had been exposed for a few seconds to the atmosphere1 so as to give conducting power to the surface was placed upon an insulated disc of platina1 connected with the negative side of the battery of the power of #bej of #f and #d1 in a state of intense activity2,g and a platina wire communicating with the positive side was brought in contact with the upper surface of the alkali4444 8,under these circumstances a vivid action was soon observed to take place4 ,the potash began to fuse at both its points of electrization4 ,there was a violent effervescence at the upper surface2 at the lower1 or negative surface1 there was no liberation of elastic fluid2 but small globules having a high metallic lustre1 and being precisely similar in visible characters to quicksilver appeared1 some of which burnt with explosion and bright flame1 as soon as they were formed1 and others remained1 and were merely tarnished1 and finally covered by a white film which formed on their surfaces40 ,g ,it is frequently stated that ,davy was enabled to isolate the metals of the alkalis because of the large and powerful voltaic battery which he had at his disposal in the ,royal ,institution4 ,this is not correct4 ,the battery he employed was of very moderate dimensions1 and not by any means extraordinary in power4 ,it was the success he thus achieved that caused the large battery1 which is probably referred to1 to be constructed1 by special subscription1 in #ahji4 ,the platina1 as such1 was1 he found1 in no way connected with the result3 a substance of the same kind was produced when copper1 silver1 gold1 plumbago1 or even charcoal was employed for completing the circuit4 8,soda when acted upon in the same manner as potash1 exhibited an analogous result2 but the decomposition demanded greater intensity of action in the batteries1 or the alkali was required to be in much thinner and smaller pieces40 8,the substance produced from potash remained fluid at the temperature of the atmosphere at the time of its production2 that from soda1 which was fluid in the degree of heat of the alkali during its formation1 became solid on cooling1 and appeared having the lustre of silver40 ,it would seem from his description of its properties that the potassium he obtained was most probably alloyed with sodium derived from impure potash4 ,potassium is solid up to #adc ,f42 but1 as ,davy subsequently found1 an alloy of potassium and sodium is fluid at ordinary temperatures4 ,when the potassium was exposed to air its metallic lustre was immediately destroyed1 and it was ultimately wholly reconverted into potash by absorption of oxygen and moisture4 ,with the substance from soda the appearance and effects were analogous4 ,when heated in oxygen to a sufficiently high temperature1 both substances burnt with a brilliant white flame4 ,on account of their alterability on exposure to air1 ,davy had considerable difficulty in preserving and confining them so as to examine the properties of the new substances4 ,as he says1 like the alkahests imagined by the alchemists1 they acted more or less upon almost every body to which they were exposed4 ,he eventually found that they might be preserved in naphtha4 ,the 8basis0 of potash at #ej ,f4 was a soft and malleable solid with the lustre of polished silver4 8,at about the freezing point of water it becomes harder and brittle1 and when broken in fragments1 exhibits a crystallized texture1 which in the microscope seems composed of beautiful facets of a perfect whiteness and high metallic splendour40 ,it may be converted into vapour at a temperature approaching a red-heat1 and may be distilled unchanged2 it is a perfect conductor of electricity and an excellent conductor of heat4 ,its most marked difference from the common run of metals was its extraordinarily low specific gravity4 ,davy endeavoured to gain an approximation to its relative weight by comparing the weight of a globule with that of an equal-sized globule of mercury4 8,taking the mean of #d experiments1 conducted with great care1 its specific gravity at #fb ,fahrenheit1 is to that of mercury as #aj to #bbc1 which gives a proportion to that of water nearly as #f to #aj2 so that it is the lightest fluid body known4 ,in its solid form it is a little heavier40 ,although no great stress can be laid on numbers so obtained1 they serve to indicate that ,davy had not yet obtained the pure metal4 ,the real ratio of the specific gravities of potassium and mercury is as #aj to #aed4 ,an account is then given of the behaviour of potassium towards oxygen1 oxymuriatic acid gas chlorine1 hydrogen1 water1 alcohol1 ether1 the various mineral acids1 phosphorus1 sulphur1 mercury1 a number of metallic oxides1 and the various forms of glass4 ,the 8basis0 of soda is described as a white opaque substance of the lustre and general appearance of silver4 ,it is soft and malleable1 and is a good conductor of heat and electricity4 ,its specific gravity was found by flotation in a mixture of oil of sassafras and naphtha to be #jicdh 7the true specific gravity of sodium is #jigd74 ,it was found to fuse at about #ahj ,f4 7the real melting-point of sodium is #aige74 ,its action on a number of substances--oxygen1 hydrogen1 water1 etc4--is then described1 and its general behaviour contrasted with that of the 8basis0 of potash4 ,davy then attempted1 by synthetical experiments1 to determine the amount of the 8metallic bases0 in potash and soda respectively1 and1 considering the extremely small quantities he had to operate upon1 the results are fairly accurate4 ,he then enters upon some general observations on the relations of the 8bases0 of potash and soda to other bodies4 8,should the bases of potash and soda be called metals8 ,the greater number of philosophical persons to whom this question has been put1 have answered in the affirmative4 ,they agree with metals in opacity1 lustre1 malleability1 conducting powers as to heat and electricity1 and in their qualities of chemical combination4 8,their low specific gravity does not appear a sufficient reason for making them a new class2 for amongst the metals themselves there are remarkable differences in this respect1 444 and in the philosophical division of the classes of bodies1 the analogy between the greater number of properties must always be the foundation of arrangement4 8,on this idea1 in naming the bases of potash and soda1 it will be proper to adopt the termination which1 by common consent1 has been applied to other newly discovered metals1 and which1 though originally ,latin1 is now naturalized in our language4 8,potasium sic and sodium are the names by which ,i have ventured to call the new substances2 and whatever changes of theory1 with regard to the composition of bodies1 may hereafter take place1 these terms can scarcely express an error2 for they may be considered as implying simply the metals produced from potash and soda4 ,i have consulted with many of the most eminent scientific persons in this country1 upon the methods of derivation1 and the one ,i have adopted has been the one most generally approved4 ,it is perhaps more significant than elegant4 ,but it was not possible to found names upon specific properties not common to both2 and though a name for the basis of soda might have been borrowed from the ,greek1 yet an analogous one could not have been applied to that of potash1 for the ancients do not seem to have distinguished between the two alkalies40 ,he thinks there is the greater necessity for avoiding any theoretical views in terms because the time is yet far distant for a complete generalisation of chemical facts1 and although the antiphlogistic explanation of the phenomena has been uniformly adopted1 the motive for employing it has been rather a sense of its beauty and precision than a conviction of its permanency and truth4 8,the discovery of the agencies of the gases destroyed the hypothesis of ,stahl4 ,the knowledge of the powers and effects of the etherial substances may at a future time possibly act a similar part with regard to the more refined and ingenious hypothesis of ,lavoisier2 but in the present state of our knowledge1 it appears the best approximation that has been made to a perfect logic of chemistry40 ,led by analogy1 ,davy soon convinced himself that the volatile alkali--ammonia--also contained oxygen1 and in amount not less than #g or #h per cent4 ,it is not necessary to go into detail concerning the experiments on which this erroneous conclusion was founded4 ,davy was subsequently made aware of his error2 but at the time he seemed anxious to overturn--as1 indeed1 he did in the end1 but on other grounds--the ,lavoisierian doctrine that oxygen was the principle of acidity1 by showing that it was equally the principle of alkalescence4 ,in concluding his paper1 he mentions that he has begun experiments on the alkaline earths4 8,from analogy alone it is reasonable to expect that the alkaline earths are compounds of a similar nature to the fixed alkalies1 peculiar highly combustible metallic bases united to oxygen4 ,i have tried some experiments upon barytes and strontites1 and they go far towards proving that this must be the case40 8,barytes and strontites have the strongest relations to the fixed alkalies of any of the earthy bodies2 but there is a chain of resemblances through lime1 magnesia1 glucina1 alumina1 and silex4 ,and by the agencies of batteries sufficiently strong1 and by the application of proper circumstances1 there is no small reason to hope that even these refractory bodies will yield their elements to the methods of analysis by electrical attraction and repulsion40 ,although certain of the conjectures with which the paper terminates have been proved to be erroneous1 others have been shown to be sound4 ,thus he points out that the metals of the alkalis will undoubtedly prove powerful agents for analysis3 8,having an affinity for oxygen stronger than any other known substances they may possibly supersede the application of electricity to some of the undecompounded bodies40 ,such is a brief summary of the contents of one of the most classical papers in the ,philosophical ,transactions4 ,its publication created an extraordinary sensation1 not less profound1 and certainly more general from the very nature of the subject1 than that which followed his first ,bakerian lecture4 ,that potash and soda should contain metals--and such metals6--was undreamt of1 and was a shock to the settled convictions of persons who1 like the ,aberdonian professor1 declared that this 8ane ,davy was a vera troublesome person in chemistry40 ,but this 8troublesome person0 had well nigh ceased from troubling any more4 ,almost immediately after the delivery of his lecture he collapsed--struck down by an illness which nearly proved fatal1 and for weeks his life hung on a thread4 ,he had been in a low feverish condition for some time previously1 and a great dread had fallen upon him that he should die before he had completed his discoveries4 ,it was in this condition of body and mind that he applied himself to the task of putting together an account of his results4 ,four days after this was given to the world he took to his bed1 and he remained there for nine weeks4 ,such a blow following hard on such a triumph1 aroused the liveliest sympathy4 ,the doors of the ,royal ,institution were beset by anxious inquirers4 ,his physicians1 ,babington1 ,frank1 and ,baillie1 tended him with the greatest assiduity4 ,mrs4 ,greenwood1 the housekeeper1 and his cousin1 ,edmund ,davy1 nursed him night and day4 ,so great was the popular feeling that1 when he was at the worst1 written reports of his condition at various periods of the day had to be posted in the hall4 ,the strength of the feeling may be gleaned1 too1 from the sentences with which ,dr4 ,dibdin began his lecture introductory to the session of #ahjh3-- 8,the ,managers of this ,institution have requested me to impart to you that intelligence1 which no one who is alive to the best feelings of human nature can hear without the mixed emotions of sorrow and delight4 8,mr4 ,davy1 whose frequent and powerful addresses from this place1 supported by his ingenious experiments1 have been so long and so well known to you1 has for the last five weeks been struggling between life and death4 ,the effects of these experiments recently made in illustration of his late splendid discovery1 added to consequent bodily weakness1 brought on a fever so violent as to threaten the extinction of life4 ,over him it might emphatically be said in the language of our immortal ,milton1 that #8444 ,death his dart ,shook1 but delayed to strike4' 8,if it had pleased ,providence to deprive the world of all further benefit from his original talents and intense application there has certainly been sufficient already effected by him to entitle him to be classed among the brightest scientific luminaries of his country40 ,after having given an outline of ,davy's investigations 8at the particular request of the ,managers10 ,dr4 ,dibdin proceeds3-- 8,these may justly be placed amongst the most brilliant and valuable discoveries which have ever been made in chemistry1 for a great chasm in the chemical system has been filled up2 a blaze of light has been diffused over that part which before was utterly dark2 and new views have been opened1 so numerous and interesting1 that the more any man who is versed in chemistry reflects on them1 the more he finds to admire and to heighten his expectation of future important results4 8,mr4 ,davy's name1 in consequence of these discoveries1 will be always recorded in the annals of science amongst those of the most illustrious philosophers of his time4 ,his country with reason will be proud of him1 and it is no small honour to the ,royal ,institution that these great discoveries have been made within its walls2 in that laboratory1 and by those instruments1 which from the zeal of promoting useful knowledge have1 with so much propriety1 been placed at the disposal and for the use of its most excellent professor of chemistry40 ,dr4 ,dibdin then informs his auditors that ,davy's illness1 severe as it had been1 was now beginning to abate1 and that it may be reasonably hoped that the period of convalescence was not very remote4 ,his bodily weakness1 however1 continued for some time1 and it was not until the middle of ,march that he was able to resume his duties as lecturer4 ,his mind1 as his note-books show1 much more quickly recovered its wonted vigour4 ,perhaps it was in that condition of melancholy and debility produced by sickness1 which he regarded as favourable to intellectual exertion1 when1 as he says1 8the mind necessarily becomes contemplative when the body is no longer active1 and the empire of sensation yields to that of imagination10 that he finished the poem beginning3-- 8,lo6 o'er the earth the kindling spirits pour ,the flames of life that bounteous ,nature gives2 ,the limpid dew becomes the rosy flower1 ,the insensate dust awakes1 and moves1 and lives40 ,it is too long to give here1 but of all his poetical effusions it is perhaps the best1 as it certainly is the most highly-polished4 ,one proof of what ,davy was to the ,royal ,institution is seen in the position to which it was reduced in consequence of his protracted illness4 ,in the early part of the previous ,december the ,managers made the following announcement3-- 8,mr4 ,davy1 having been confined to his bed this last fortnight by a severe illness1 the ,managers are under the painful necessity of giving notice that the lectures will not commence until the first week of ,january next40 ,by the interruption of the lectures the income of the ,institution was greatly diminished2 it fell from #d1ada in the preceding year to #a1efj4 ,this was the low-water mark of its financial state4 ,how acute was the condition may be seen from the report of the ,visitors in #ahjh4 ,davy1 although better1 was still in bed1 confined there by the want of a sofa in his room4 ,this was not provided by the ,managers until ,january #beth1 when1 as the minutes tell us1 they furnished him with one at a cost of three guineas4 ,one would have thought he might have had ,albemarle ,street blocked with sofas if some of those lady-friends who sent him sonnets1 and intrigued for his company at their salons1 had only known of his condition4 ,the laboratory journals show that on ,april #aith he was able to resume his experiments1 and that he proceeded to attack the composition of muriatic hydrochloric acid4 ,the note runs1 8,indications of the decomposition of muriatic acid4 ,to use every effort to ensure accuracy in the results40 ,he seems to have decomposed muriatic acid gas by means of charcoal terminals1 and also to have acted on a mixture of dry calcium chloride and mercury4 ,on ,june #cjth he contributed a paper to the ,royal ,society on 8,electro-,chemical ,researches on the ,decomposition of the ,earths2 with ,observations on the ,metals obtained from the alkaline ,earths1 and on the ,amalgam procured from ,ammonia40 ,that the earths would turn out to be related to the metals was surmised by ,becher and ,stahl4 ,boyle considered it possible that metals might be produced from them1 and ,neumann described unsuccessful experiments to obtain a metal from quicklime4 ,bergman imagined that baryta was a metallic calx1 and ,baron that alumina contained a metal4 ,the supposition that the calces were all compounds of metals was1 of course1 a part of the antiphlogistic doctrine2 but ,lavoisier never hazarded any conjecture as to the nature of potash and soda4 ,it went almost without saying therefore that when ,davy had demonstrated the real character of the fixed alkalis1 the alkaline earths would be found to have an analogous constitution4 ,the attempts made by ,davy to decompose the alkaline earths by methods similar to those adopted in the case of potash or soda were not very successful1 and it was only when he had received intimation from ,berzelius that they might be procured in the form of amalgams by operating in contact with mercury that he obtained any decisive results4 ,in no case1 however1 was he able to prepare a pure metal1 and his description of the physical properties of the substances he actually procured is exceedingly meagre4 ,he seems to have been satisfied for the moment in demonstrating that-- 8,the evidence for the composition of the alkaline earths is of the same kind as that for the composition of the common metallic oxides2 and the principles of their decomposition are precisely similar1 the inflammable matters in all cases separating at the negative surface in the voltaic circuit1 and the oxygen at the positive surface40 8,these new substances will demand names2 and on the same principles as ,i have named the bases of the fixed alkalies1 potassium and sodium1 ,i shall venture to denominate the metals from the alkaline earths barium1 strontium1 calcium and magnium2 the last of these words is undoubtedly objectionable but magnesium has been already applied to metallic manganese by ,bergman and would consequently have been an equivocal term40 ,however1 as he states in his 8,elements of ,chemical ,philosophy10 8the candid criticisms of some philosophical friends0 induced him to subsequently change the name to magnesium4 ,he next made 8,inquiries ,relative to the ,decomposition of ,alumine1 ,silex1 ,zircone1 and ,glucine10 but although he made a large number of trials1 the results were equivocal4 8,had ,i been so fortunate10 he says1 8as to have obtained more certain evidences on this subject1 and to have procured the metallic substances ,i was in search of1 ,i should have proposed for them the names of silicium1 alumium1 zirconium1 and glucium40 ,one of the most interesting sections of the paper relates to the production of a so-called amalgam from ammonia1 first obtained by ,berzelius and ,pontin4 ,this curious substance has been the subject of much investigation1 and little doubt is now entertained that it is merely a mercurial froth1 as first stated by ,daniell--that is1 mercury distended by ammonia and hydrogen gases4 ,davy1 however1 saw in it the proof of the presence of oxygen in ammonia1 and of the existence of what he called 8the compound basis0 of ammonia4 ,he says3-- 8,the more the properties of the amalgam obtained from ammonia are considered the more extraordinary do they appear4 ,mercury by combination with about #a_/abjjj part of its weight of new matter is rendered a solid1 yet has its specific gravity diminished from #ace to #c1 and it retains all its metallic characters2 its colour1 lustre1 opacity1 and conducting powers remaining unimpaired4 ,it is scarcely possible to conceive that a substance which forms with mercury so perfect an amalgam1 should not be metallic in its own nature2 and on this idea to assist the discussion concerning it1 it may be conveniently termed ammonium40 ,davy's term 8ammonium0 is still retained in chemical nomenclature1 but there is at present no evidence for the independent existence of such an entity2 the so-called ammonium amalgam is certainly no proof4 ,on ,december #aeth1 #ahjh1 he delivered his third ,bakerian lecture4 ,it was entitled 8,an ,account of some new analytical ,researches on the ,nature of certain ,bodies1 particularly the ,alkalies1 ,phosphorus1 ,sulphur1 ,carbonaceous ,matter1 and the ,acids hitherto undecompounded1 with some general ,observations on ,chemical ,theory40 ,although this is one of the longest and most laboured of ,davy's papers1 it is1 perhaps1 one of the least satisfactory4 ,it is a record of many experiments with few definite results4 ,few as these were1 they yet paved the way for consequences of the greatest importance4 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard1 on the publication of ,davy's second ,bakerian lecture1 succeeded in devising a method by which larger quantities of potassium might be obtained than by the electrolytic process4 ,it consisted in passing molten potash over heated metallic iron and condensing the volatilised potassium in naphtha4 ,on heating potassium in ammonia1 they found that hydrogen was obtained together with potash1 whence they concluded that potassium was a hydruret of potash4 ,this experiment was repeated by ,davy2 he observed the formation of a substance since known as potassamide1 and completely disproved the conjecture of the ,french chemists4 ,his experiments on sulphur1 phosphorus1 and the various forms of carbon were1 however1 wholly fallacious1 and his conclusions as to the non-elementary nature of these substances were erroneous1 and were subsequently corrected by him4 ,his work on the decomposition of boracic acid is1 however1 accurate1 and he has every right to be considered as an independent discoverer1 with ,thenard1 of the element subsequently called by him boron4 ,at first ,davy was inclined 8to consider the boracic basis as metallic in its nature10 and to propose for it the name of boracium4 ,his experiments with 8fluoric acid0 were vitiated by the circumstance that he worked with a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and silicon fluoride4 ,unwittingly he obtained small quantities of silicon1 although he failed to recognise the individuality of this substance4 ,nor were the experiments with muriatic acid more decisive4 ,incidentally he obtained the two chlorides of phosphorus1 but for a time their true nature escaped him1 although he gives a fairly accurate description of their main properties4 ,the paper1 although containing an account of much experimental work1 was evidently put together in haste2 it would have been better for his reputation had he delayed its publication4 ,he seems to have been conscious of its imperfections1 and to have sought to strengthen his conclusions by new experiments which he gives in an appendix4 ,these1 so far from substantiating his views1 increased his doubts1 and it is remarkable how he misinterpreted the phenomena he observed4 ,thus in one series of experiments he obtained considerable quantities of the 8alcohol of sulphur of ,lampadius10 and attempted to ascertain its nature1 but his preconceptions as to the non-elementary nature of carbon and sulphur prevented him from recognising that it is a sulphide of carbon4 ,one explanation of this untoward haste is to be found in the position in which ,davy was placed4 ,he simply hungered for scientific fame1 and his appetite grew by what it fed on4 ,there was at the time the most intense spirit of rivalry between the ,english and ,french chemists--it was a phase of the national feeling which actuated the two peoples--and1 in spite of his phrases1 ,davy keenly felt what he considered an intrusion into his own field of work4 ,his illness had thrown him back1 and the ,french chemists had stolen a march on him in the meantime4 ,moreover1 he had ,berzelius on his flank4 ,all these circumstances1 whilst they impelled him to activity1 were unfavourable in a man of ,davy's temperament to the incubatory period1 8the wambling in the wame0 process1 which is often needed before the true aspect and meaning of things are perceived2 and there is no doubt that the fear of being anticipated urged him to the expression of hypotheses and surmises which at a later and calmer period he regretted and renounced4 ,but such was his position in ,england at this period1 that a ,bakerian lecture seemed to be expected from him at each succeeding session of the ,royal ,society as a matter of course1 and he was always ready to respond to the expectation1 even if he did not invariably satisfy it4 ,on ,november #afth1 #ahji1 he read his fourth ,bakerian lecture4 ,it was 8,on some new ,electrochemical ,researches on various ,objects1 particularly the metallic ,bodies1 from the ,alkalies and ,earths1 and on some ,combinations of ,hydrogene40 ,he begins by again drawing attention to the various surmises which had been made respecting the true nature of potassium and sodium4 ,although these substances had been isolated1 and in the hands of chemists for upwards of two years1 their properties were so extraordinary when compared with those of the metals in general1 that many philosophers hesitated to consider them as true metals4 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard1 as already mentioned1 regarded them as compounds of potash or soda with hydrogen2 ,curaudau as combinations of carbon or carbon and hydrogen with the alkalis2 whilst an ingenious inquirer in this country communicated to ,nicholson's ,journal his belief that they were really composed of oxygen and hydrogen6 ,davy1 in the light of the fuller knowledge he obtained from ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard's paper in the 8,mem4 d',arcueil0--a copy of which he owed to ,berthollet--had no difficulty in again proving 8that by the operation of potassium upon ammonia1 it is not a metallic body that is decompounded1 but the volatile alkali1 and that the hydrogen produced does not arise from the potassium1 as is asserted by the ,french chemists1 but from the ammonia40 ,m4 ,curaudau's hypothesis is shown to be based upon the accidental association of naphtha with the metals he employed4 ,in repeating some experiments of ,ritter's1 designed to show that potassium contained hydrogen1 ,davy was led to the discovery of telluretted hydrogen1 the properties of which he describes in some detail4 ,tellurium at that time was regarded as a metal1 but ,davy points out its strong analogies to sulphur1 with which element1 indeed1 it is now classed4 ,incidentally he throws light upon the nature of the intolerably fetid product known as 8the fuming liquor of ,cadet10 obtained by distilling acetate of potash with arsenious oxide4 ,on account of its extreme inflammability1 it was thought by ,davy that this liquid might possibly be a pyrophorus or volatile alloy of potassium and arsenic4 8,from a repetition of the process ,i find that though potash is decompounded in this operation yet that the volatile substance is not an alloy of potassium but contains charcoal and arsenic probably with hydrogen4 ,the gases not absorbable by water given off in this operation are peculiar4 ,their smell is intensely fetid4 ,they are inflammable1 and seem to contain charcoal1 arsenic and hydrogen3 whether they are mixtures of various gases1 or a single compound1 ,i am not at present able to decide40 ,so far as it goes1 this description of the nature of the substance is correct2 it was ,bunsen1 in #ahcg1 who first demonstrated the real character of 8the fuming liquor of ,cadet40 ,the paper is noteworthy for the clear distinction which is drawn for the first time between potash hydrate 7potassium hydroxide of modern nomenclature7 and potassium oxide1 the product formed by heating the metal in ordinary oxygen4 ,there is much in the rest of the paper that is ingenious and suggestive1 and not a few isolated facts that seem to have been lost sight of1 or rediscovered by subsequent observers1 such1 for example1 as the action of potassium upon metallic iron--an action which has vitiated the attempts to determine the vapour density of that metal in iron vessels4 ,it is curious to note with what persistency ,davy clings to the belief that nitrogen will turn out to be a compound substance1 and with what pertinacity he importunes it to give up its components4 ,at times he thinks he is on the verge of proof4 8,i hope on ,thursday10 he wrote to his friend ,children1 8to show you nitrogen as a complete wreck1 torn to pieces in different ways40 ,but still nitrogen1 with that passive immutability which is characteristic of it1 in spite of every form of torture1 remained whole and indissoluble4 ,on this point he wrote in the ,laboratory ,journal under date ,february #aeth3--8,were a description1 indeed1 to be given of all the experiments ,i have made1 of all the difficulties ,i have encountered1 of the doubts that have occurred1 and the hypotheses formed----40 ,but the sentence was not finished4 ,the attack was renewed and continued throughout the whole of the spring and summer1 until1 fairly baffled1 ,davy confessed himself beaten1 and turned his attention to other matters4 ,the condition of his laboratory at this time may be gleaned from the following note in the ,journal3-- 8,objects much wanted in the laboratory of the ,royal ,institution3 cleanliness1 neatness and regularity4 8,the laboratory must be cleaned every morning when operations are going on before ten o'clock4 8,it is the business of ,w4 ,payne to do this1 and it is the duty of ,mr4 ,e4 ,davy to see that it is done and to take care of and keep in order the apparatus4 8,there must be in the laboratory pen1 ink1 paper1 and wafers1 and these must not be kept in the slovenly manner in which they are usually kept4 ,i am now writing with a pen and ink such as was never used in any other place40 ,then follows a list of articles wanting1 8including most of the common metallic and saline solutions40 8,the laboratory is constantly in a state of dirt and confusion4 8,there must be a roller with a coarse towel for washing the hands and a basin of water and soap1 and every week at least a whole morning must be devoted to the inspection and ordering of the voltaic battery40 ,it would be interesting to know the comments of the persons named in this note as to the cause of the dirt and confusion which reigned in the laboratory4 ,davy was perfectly reckless with apparatus2 with him to think was to act1 and he frequently had half a dozen experiments going on simultaneously1 upon disconnected parts of the same inquiry4 ,anyone who has had the opportunity of seeing his laboratory notes1 or of glancing over the rough drafts of his memoirs1 which have been preserved by the pious care of ,faraday1 will appreciate the significance of the remarks upon his writing materials4 ,his usual method of erasure was by dipping his finger in the ink-pot2 and1 if we may be pardoned the use of the colloquialism1 he was simply 8,death on pens60 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,chlorine4 ,the rivalry between the ,french and ,english chemists continued1 but it took a new departure4 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard had stolen a march on ,davy by their discovery of a chemical method of making the metals of the alkalis1 whereby they were able to use these metals as chemical reagents to greater advantage2 but the tables were quickly turned4 ,on ,july #abth1 #ahaj1 ,davy read to the ,royal ,society his memorable paper 8,on the oxymuriatic ,acid1 its ,nature and ,combinations2 and on the ,elements of the muriatic ,acid2 with some ,experiments on ,sulphur and ,phosphorus1 made in the ,laboratory of the ,royal ,institution40 ,this paper1 in which he first demonstrates the nature of chlorine1 is very short--only some twenty-six quarto pages--but it is unquestionably one of the most brilliant1 as it is one of the most forcible of his productions4 ,davy is here seen at his best4 ,he is bold and yet wary1 and as dexterous as trenchant2 so confident is he in the strength of his position that he casts aside every argument that might tell in his favour1 unless it is based on the most unimpeachable evidence4 ,it is difficult to know what to admire most--the clearness of perception1 the precision of the statement1 the strictness of the logic1 the aptness of the illustration1 or the argumentative skill with which the whole is marshalled and presented4 ,as a piece of induction1 the memoir is a model of its kind1 and as an exercise in 8the scientific use of the imagination0 it has few equals4 ,most scientific papers will stand a considerable amount of winnowing1 and there is no assay-master more scrupulously strict than ,time4 8,the more a science advances1 the more it becomes concentrated in little books10 says ,leibnitz2 but the most fastidious of critics might read and re-read this work without wishing to omit or amend a sentence4 ,every chemical student to-day is told that the elementary nature of chlorine was first demonstrated by ,davy1 and if the student is informed what ,davy meant by the term 8element10 the statement is not incorrect4 ,what1 however1 ,davy actually did was to demonstrate that the substance called oxymuriatic acid contained no oxygen2 that it was a peculiar substance which 8has not as yet been decompounded10 and therefore is 8elementary as far as our knowledge extends40 ,the very character of the name which he suggested indicates this cautious and philosophical view4 ,in making the suggestion1 he says3-- 8,to call a body which is not known to contain oxygen and which cannot contain muriatic acid1 oxymuriatic acid1 is contrary to the principles of that nomenclature in which it is adopted2 and an alteration of it seems necessary to assist the progress of discussion1 and to diffuse just ideas on the subject4 ,if the great discoverer of this substance ,scheele1 who first observed it in #aggd had signified it by any simple name1 it would have been proper to have recurred to it2 but1 dephlogisticated marine acid is a term which can hardly be adopted in the present advanced era of the science4 8,after consulting some of the most eminent chemical philosophers in this country1 it has been judged most proper to suggest a name founded upon one of its obvious and characteristic properties--its colour1 and to call it chlorine1 or chloric gas4,h 8,should it hereafter be discovered to be compound1 and even to contain oxygen1 this name can imply no error1 and cannot necessarily require a change40 ,h ,from 4 ,as the actual facts and arguments on which ,davy based his views are seldom set forth in text-books1 or presented to the student by teachers1 it may be desirable to give a detailed account of his famous memoir4 ,he begins by saying3-- 8,the illustrious discoverer of the oxymuriatic acid considered it as muriatic acid freed from hydrogen2 and the common muriatic acid as a compound of hydrogen and oxymuriatic acid2 and on this theory he denominated oxymuriatic acid dephlogisticated muriatic acid4 8,m4 ,berthollet1 a few years after the discovery of ,scheele1 made a number of important and curious experiments on this body2 from which he concluded that it was composed of muriatic acid and oxygen2 and this idea for nearly twenty years has been almost universally adopted40 ,having thus accurately stated the position1 he proceeds to attack it4 ,in the first place1 he points out that ,henry1 ten years before1 had shown that hydrogen could be produced from muriatic acid gas by the agency of electricity2 this hydrogen was assumed by ,henry to be due to water contained in the gas4 ,davy1 in his ,bakerian lecture of #ahjh1 had shown that muriatic acid gas gave hydrogen when treated with potassium1 and he had stated 8that muriatic acid can in no instance be procured from oxymuriatic gas1 or from dry muriates1 unless water or its elements be present40 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard had concluded 8that muriatic acid gas contains about one-quarter of its weight of water2 and that oxymuriatic acid is not decomposable by any substances but hydrogen1 or such as can form triple combinations with it40 ,he then points out1 what he had already stated in a former paper1 that charcoal freed from hydrogen and moisture by intense ignition in vacuo may be heated to whiteness by the voltaic battery in oxymuriatic or muriatic acid gases without affecting any change in them4 ,it now occurred to him that if the liquor of ,libavius 7stannic chloride7 is a combination of muriatic acid and oxide of tin1 as then surmised1 oxide of tin ought to be separated from it by means of ammonia4 ,on admitting ammonia gas to the tin chloride over mercury1 the substances combined with great heat1 a white solid was obtained2 8some of it was heated to ascertain if it contained oxide of tin1 but the whole volatilised1 producing dense pungent fumes40 ,the experiment was repeated with every care1 but no oxide of tin could be obtained4 ,he was next led to study the behaviour of ammonia with the substances he had formerly obtained1 by the action of oxymuriatic gas on phosphorus 7see p4 #abi74 ,one of these is solid1 and is now known as phosphorus pentachloride2 the other is liquid1 and is termed phosphorus trichloride4 8,the first10 he says1 8on the generally received theory of the nature of oxymuriatic acid1 must be considered as a compound of muriatic acid and phosphoric acid4 ,it occurred to me that if the acids of phosphorus really existed in these combinations1 it would not be difficult to obtain them1 and thus to gain proof of the existence of oxygen in oxymuriatic acid40 ,he therefore brought ammonia gas into contact with the solid compound of oxymuriatic acid and phosphorus4 ,much heat was produced1 and a white opaque powder was formed4 8,supposing that this substance was composed of the dry muriate and phosphate of ammonia2 as muriate of ammonia is very volatile1 and as ammonia is driven off from phosphoric acid1 by a heat below redness ,i conceived that by igniting the product obtained ,i should procure phosphoric acid 444 but found to my great surprise that it was not at all volatile nor decomposable at this degree of heat1 and that it gave off no gaseous matter4 ,the circumstance that a substance composed principally of oxymuriatic acid and ammonia should resist decomposition or change at so high a temperature induced me to pay particular attention to the properties of this new body40 ,what he actually obtained was mainly a mixture of the so-called phospham and chlorophosphamide1 remarkably stable substances1 the characteristic properties of which he describes with accuracy4 ,he then examined the action of ammonia gas on sulphur chloride1 8the sulphuretted muriatic liquor of ,dr4 ,thomson10 but as the compounds formed 8did not present the same uniform and interesting properties as that from the phosphoric sublimate1 ,i did not examine them minutely3 ,i contented myself by ascertaining that no substance known to contain oxygen could be procured from oxymuriatic acid in this mode of operation40 ,he then shows that ammonia and oxymuriatic acid1 in condensing to sal ammoniac with liberation of nitrogen1 contrary to the general belief1 form no water4 ,according to ,cruickshank1 who appears to have been the first to make the observation1 8hydrogenous gas0 required rather more than its own volume of oxygenated muriatic acid to saturate it when a mixture of the two was exploded by means of the electric spark1 8the products being water and muriatic acid40 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard had stated that no water was thus formed4 8,i have attempted10 says ,davy1 8to make the experiment still more refined by drying the oxymuriatic acid and the hydrogen by introducing them into vessels containing muriate of lime calcium chloride and by suffering them to combine at common temperatures2 but ,i have never been able to avoid a slight condensation2 though in proportion as the gases were free from oxygen or water1 this condensation diminished4,i 8,,mm4 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard have proved by a copious collection of instances1 that in the usual cases where oxygen is procured from oxymuriatic acid1 water is always present1 and muriatic acid gas is formed2 now as it is shewn that oxymuriatic acid gas is converted into muriatic acid gas by combining with hydrogen1 it is scarcely possible to avoid the conclusion1 that the oxygen is derived from the decomposition of the water1 and consequently that the idea of the existence of water in muriatic acid gas1 is hypothetical1 depending upon an assumption which has not yet been proved--the existence of oxygen in oxymuriatic acid gas4 8,,mm4 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard indeed have stated an experiment1 which they consider as proving that muriatic acid gas contains one-quarter of its weight of combined water4 ,they passed this gas over litharge1 and obtained so much water2 but it is obvious1 that in this case1 they formed the same compound as that produced by the action of oxymuriatic acid on lead2 and in this process the muriatic acid must lose its hydrogen and the lead its oxygen2 which of course would form water2 these able chemists1 indeed1 from the conclusion of their memoir1 seem aware1 that such an explanation may be given1 for they say1 that the oxymuriatic acid may be considered as a simple body40 ,i ,theoretically1 there should be no contraction4 ,one volume of chlorine combines with one volume of hydrogen to form two volumes of hydrogen chloride muriatic acid gas4 ,dalton's law of gaseous volumes had been established by ,gay ,lussac before #ahaj4 ,he then repeats the experiments which first led him to suspect the existence of combined water in muriatic acid4 8,when mercury is made to act upon #a volume of muriatic acid gas1 by voltaic electricity1 all the acid disappears1 calomel is formed1 and about #e of hydrogen evolved40 ,the same result is obtained by the use of potassium4 8,and in some experiments made very carefully by my brother1 ,mr4 ,john ,davy1 on the decomposition of muriatic acid gas1 by heated tin and zinc1 hydrogen1 equal to about half its volume1 was disengaged1 and metallic muriates1 the same as those produced by the combustion of tin and zinc in oxymuriatic gas1 resulted40 8,it is evident from this series of observations1 that ,scheele's view 7though obscured by terms derived from a vague and unfounded general theory7 of the nature of the oxymuriatic and muriatic acids1 may be considered as an expression of facts2 whilst the view adopted by the ,french school of chemistry1 and which1 till it is minutely examined1 appears so beautiful and satisfactory rests in the present state of our knowledge upon hypothetical grounds40 ,he then proceeds to explain the action of water upon the chlorides of tin1 and phosphorus2 and shows that it is by the decomposition of the water that the hydrogen is furnished to the oxymuriatic acid1 and the oxygen to the tin and phosphorus4 8,the vivid combustion of bodies in oxymuriatic acid gas1 at first view1 appears a reason why oxygen should be admitted in it2 but heat and light are merely results of the intense agency of combination4 ,sulphur and metals1 alkaline earths and acids become ignited during their mutual agency2 and such an effect might be expected in an operation so rapid as that of oxymuriatic acid upon metals and inflammable bodies40 8,that the quantity of hydrogen evolved during the decomposition of muriatic acid gas by metals1 is the same that would be produced during the decomposition of water by the same bodies1 appears1 at first view1 an evidence in favour of the existence of water in muriatic acid gas2 but as there is only one known combination of hydrogen with oxymuriatic acid1 one quantity must always be separated4 ,hydrogen is disengaged from its oxymuriatic combination by a metal1 in the same manner as one metal is disengaged by another from similar combinations40 ,he once more shows that by the strongest analytical power he can command oxymuriatic acid fails to yield any substance differing from itself3 8,i have caused strong explosions from an electrical jar1 to pass through oxymuriatic gas1 by means of points of platina1 for several hours in succession2 but it seemed not to undergo the slightest change40 ,such1 then1 are the reasons which induced ,davy to consider that oxymuriatic acid contains no oxygen2 that it had hitherto been 8undecompounded10 and that1 therefore1 by the strict logic of chemistry1 it was to be regarded as an elementary body4 ,had his paper concluded at this point1 his position would have been unassailable1 even in the light of nearly ninety years of subsequent work4 ,but he could not stop here4 ,berthollet1 the author of the prevailing theory1 had discovered a salt then known as hyper-oxymuriate of potash1 presumably capable of furnishing an acid termed by ,chenevix hyper-oxygenised muriatic acid4 ,this salt is now termed potassium chlorate1 after the acid which ,davy subsequently succeeded in isolating1 and which1 when the chlorine theory was generally accepted1 was called chloric acid by ,gay ,lussac4 ,the existence of the hyper-oxymuriate of potash was for a time a stumbling-block1 and ,davy sought to explain it on the assumption that it was nothing more than a triple compound of oxymuriatic acid1 potassium1 and oxygen4 8,we have no right to assume the existence of any peculiar acid in it1 or of a considerable portion of combined water2 and it is perhaps more conformable to the analogy of chemistry to suppose the large quantity of oxygen combined with the potassium1 which we know has an intense affinity for oxygen1 and which from some experiments1 ,i am inclined to believe1 is capable of combining directly with more oxygen than exists in potash1 than with the oxymuriatic acid which1 as far as is known1 has no affinity for that substance40 ,it is perfectly true1 as ,davy surmised1 that potassium can combine with more oxygen than is contained in potash1 but it is no less true1 as he himself proved by his discovery of the so-called euchlorine1 that chlorine can combine with oxygen4 ,although he made several attempts to isolate ,mr4 ,chenevix's hyper-oxygenised muriatic acid1 he was not successful at the time1 and was evidently disposed to doubt its separate existence4 ,the remaining portion of the paper1 although of interest as exemplifying ,davy's power of dealing with the broad issues which his views raise1 need not detain us now4 ,he seizes the opportunity1 however1 to correct his statements with regard to the presumed compound nature of sulphur and phosphorus1 and gives details of observations1 some of which1 as in other of his papers1 have been 8discovered0 by subsequent observers4 ,thus he states3-- 8,i have never been able to burn sulphur in oxygen without forming sulphuric acid in small quantities2 but in several experiments ,i have obtained from #ib to #ih parts of sulphurous acid from #ajj of oxygen in volume2 from which ,i am inclined to believe that sulphurous acid consists of sulphur dissolved in an equal volume of oxygen40 ,it was hardly to be expected that views so entirely opposed to the convictions of chemists at the time should pass unchallenged4 ,berzelius1 the countryman of ,scheele1 warmly defended the doctrine of the ,french ,school1 and yet another ,scotch professor sought to show that ,davy was still 8vera troublesome40 ,the controversy1 in which ,davy himself took little part1 occasioned considerable stir at the period1 and was even of interest outside philosophical circles4 ,the discussion was not without its uses1 inasmuch as it led to fresh discoveries4 ,the noise of it all1 however1 is now forgotten4 ,berzelius eventually enjoined his cook to speak no longer of oxymuriatic acid3 8,thou must call it chlorine1 ,anna2 that is better40 ,dr4 ,murray1 with the pertinacity of his race1 still clung to the old doctrine1 and defended it with no little dialectical subtlety1 but he alone was faithful among the faithless4 ,it is true there has been an occasional flutter in the dovecots since these times1 and the faith of chemists in the validity of ,davy's teaching has been once or twice assailed1 but as yet it has survived all assaults4 ,the ,royal ,institution possesses a book which no lover of science can regard with other than reverential interest4 ,it is a small1 well-bound quarto of some #chf manuscript pages1 of notes taken by ,michael ,faraday1 when a bookbinder's apprentice1 of the last of ,davy's lectures at the ,institution4 ,a ,mr4 ,dance--his name deserves to be held in remembrance--had given the youth a ticket for the lectures1 and ,faraday1 perched in the gallery over the clock1 had zealously followed the expositions of the brilliant lecturer1 and had subsequently1 when asking for an engagement at the ,institution1 sent in these notes1 neatly written out and embellished with drawings of the apparatus1 to the ,professor as evidence of the applicant's 8knowledge1 diligence and order40 ,among the lectures is one on chlorine1 given on ,march #adth1 #ahab1 the notes of which are as characteristic of the auditor as of the lecturer4 ,we read3-- 8,accustomed for years to consider the chemical principles of the ,french ,school of ,physical ,sciences as correct1 ,i had adopted them and put faith in them until they became prejudices1 and ,i even felt unwilling to give them up when my judgment was fully convinced by experiment that they were erroneous4 ,i know that this is the case in some degree with almost every person2 he is unwilling to believe that he is wrong and therefore feels averse to adopt what is right when it opposes his principles40 ,then follows an account of various experiments showing the properties of chlorine1 and the proofs that it contains no oxygen3-- 8,oxygen does combine with chlorine4 ,i have ventured to name the compound euchlorine2 it is of a very bright yellow-green colour4 ,names should represent things not opinions for in the last case they often tend to misrepresent and mislead4 8,had ,mr4 ,berthollet obtained oxygen from chlorine there would have been no error in his theory1 but by not attending to the minute circumstances of his experiment1 by not ascertaining that the water present acted no part and was not decomposed he fell into an error1 and of course all the conclusions he drew were false and erroneous4 ,nothing should be allowed but what can be proved by experiment1 and nothing should be taken for granted upon analogy or supposition40 ,faraday concludes as follows3-- 8,mr4 ,davy now proceeded to comment and make observations on the former theory of chlorine gas4 ,here ,i was unable to follow him4 ,the plan which ,i pursue in taking of notes is convenient and self-sufficient with respect to the theoretical and also the practical part of the lecture1 but for the embellishments and ornaments of it it will not answer4 ,mr4 ,davy's language at those times is so superior 7and indeed throughout the whole course of the lecture7 that then ,i am infinitely below him1 and am incapable of following him even in an humble style4 ,therefore ,i shall not attempt it2 it will be sufficient to give a kind of contents of it4 ,he said that hypotheses should not be considered as facts and built upon accordingly4 ,nevertheless1 if cautiously pursued1 they might lead to mature fruit4 ,that nothing should be taken for granted unless proved4 ,by considering oxygen as contained in chlorine the whole chemical world had been wrapped in error respecting that body for more than one-third of a century4 8,he noticed that all the truly great scientific men were possessed of great humility and diffidence of their own opinions and powers4 ,he spoke of ,scheele1 the discoverer of chlorine2 observed that he possessed a truly philosophical spirit1 gave up his opinions when he supposed them to be erroneous1 and without hesitation or reluctance adopted those of others which he considered more correct2 admired his spirit and recommended it to all philosophers2 compared it to corn1 which looked but simple and insignificant in blossom1 and asked for little praise1 yet was the support of man40 ,in his fifth ,bakerian lecture1 8,on some of the ,combinations of ,oxymuriatic ,gas and ,oxygene1 and on the chemical ,relations of these ,principles to inflammable ,bodies10 read before the ,royal ,society on ,november #aeth1 #ahaj1 he still further developed his ideas respecting the nature of chlorine4 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard1 who had convinced themselves that potassium and sodium are not hydrates of potash and soda1 had made known the fact that potassium can combine with oxygen in more than one proportion2 and ,davy had confirmed their conclusion1 seeing in it a further proof of his views concerning the constitution of the hyper-oxymuriate of potash4 ,he then studied the behaviour of a large number of the metals and their oxides with chlorine1 making in many cases quantitative determinations1 from which very fair approximations to the combining proportions or atomic weights of the substances may be deduced4 ,thus1 he says 8the number representing the proportion in which mercury combines must be about #bjj10 and that 8the quantity of chlorine in corrosive sublimate is exactly double that in calomel1 and that the orange oxide contains twice as much oxygen as the black1 the mercury being considered the same in all40 ,the atomic weight of silver deducible from the amount of chlorine taken up by that metal during its conversion into horn-silver is almost exactly the value obtained by the most rigorous analyses of modern times4 ,it is1 however1 noteworthy that in this paper ,davy is brought into sharp conflict with ,dalton1 and there is a characteristic exhibition of temper in the way in which he protests against the manner in which ,dalton had sought to use certain of his numerical estimations in deducing the weights of atoms4 ,the comparative merits of ,mr4 ,higgins and ,john ,dalton as the real authors of the explanation of the laws of chemical combination have now been fully and finally assessed1 but it was wholly unnecessary for the purpose of ,davy's contention to underrate the originality of the ,manchester chemist4 ,dalton was no doubt wrong in the assumption that #dg represented the weight of the atom of nitrogen1 and ,davy was right in pointing out the invalidity of the basis on which this assumption rested1 and in his statement that #acd more nearly represented the smallest proportion in which nitrogen is known to combine4 ,davy says3-- 8,i shall enter no further at present into an examination of the opinions1 results1 and conclusions of my learned friend2 ,i am however obliged to dissent from most of them1 and to protest against the interpretations that he has been pleased to make of my experiments2 and ,i trust to his judgment and candour for a correction of his views4 8,it is impossible not to admire the ingenuity and talent with which ,mr4 ,dalton has arranged1 combined1 weighed1 measured1 and figured his atoms2 but it is not1 ,i conceive1 on any speculations upon the ultimate particles of matter1 that the true theory of definite proportions must ultimately rest4 ,it has a surer basis in the mutual decomposition of the neutral salts1 observed by ,richter and ,guyton de ,morveau1 in the mutual decompositions of the compounds of hydrogen and nitrogen1 of nitrogen and oxygen1 of water and the oxymuriatic compounds2 in the multiples of oxygen in the nitrous compounds2 and those of acids in salts1 observed by ,drs4 ,wollaston and ,thomson2 and above all1 in the decompositions by the ,voltaic apparatus1 where oxygen and hydrogen1 oxygen and inflammable bodies1 acids and alkalies1 c41 must separate in uniform ratios40 ,it has been alleged that ,davy in thus expressing himself offered a kind of factious opposition to the views of ,dalton4 ,in so far as they were atomic1 this is possibly true1 for ,davy never brought himself to regard the fact of chemical combination occurring in definite proportions as admitting of the simple mechanical explanation of ,dalton1 which he considered too speculative4 ,that1 however1 he did ample justice to ,dalton's merits ultimately will be seen from the terms in which he speaks of them on the occasion of the award to ,dalton in #ahbf of the first of the ,royal medals4 ,in one of his unfinished ,dialogues1 written shortly before his death1 8,on the ,powers which act upon ,matter and produce ,chemical ,changes10 he thus expresses himself3-- 8,the atomic doctrine1 or theory1 has been embraced by several modern chemists2 but the development of it is owing to ,mr4 ,dalton who seems to have been the first person to generalize the facts1 of chemistry relating to definite proportions4444 ,mr4 ,w4 ,higgins appears to have had only some loose idea of particles combining with particles1 without any profound views of the quantity being unalterable2 and there is good reason for thinking that these ideas1 as he expresses them1 were gained from another source1 ,dr4 ,bryan ,higgins1 who many years before supported the notion1 that chemical substances were formed of molecules1 either simple or compound1 surrounded by an atmosphere of heat2 and his views1 though not developed with precision1 approached nearer to those of ,mr4 ,dalton1 than those of his cousin4 ,but neither of these gentlemen attempted any statical expressions2 and to ,richter and ,dalton belongs the exclusive merit of having made the doctrine practicable4 ,as a theoretical view1 other authors have a claim to it1 and the early followers of ,newton1 such as ,kiel1 ,hartley1 and ,marzucchi1 all attempted a corpuscular chemistry1 founded upon figure1 weight1 and attractive power of the ultimate particles of matter2 but this chemistry was of no real use1 and had no other foundation than in the imagination4 ,indeed1 in my opinion1 ,mr4 ,dalton is too much of an ,atomic ,philosopher2 and in making atoms arrange themselves according to his own hypothesis1 he has often indulged in vain speculation2 and the essential and truly useful part of his doctrine1 the expression of the quantities in which bodies combine1 is perfectly independent of any views respecting the ultimate nature either of matter or its elements40 ,he concludes the paper in which he so minutely studied the action of chlorine upon oxides by asking1 if it be said that the oxygen arises from the decomposition of the oxymuriatic gas and not from the oxides1 why is it always the quantity contained in the oxide that is evolved8 ,and why in some cases1 as those of the peroxides of potassium and sodium1 it bears no relation to the quantity of oxymuriatic gas8 8,when potassium is burnt in oxymuriatic gas1 a dry compound is obtained4 ,if potassium combined with oxygen is employed1 the whole of the oxygen is expelled1 and the same compound formed4 ,it is contrary to sound logic to say1 that this exact quantity of oxygen is given off from a body not known to be compound1 when we are certain of its existence in another2 and all the cases are parallel40 ,an argument in favour of the existence of oxygen in chlorine might be derived from the circumstance of the formation of the latter gas by the action of muriatic acid on peroxides4 ,davy found that1 by heating muriatic acid gas in contact with dry peroxide of manganese1 water was rapidly formed and oxymuriatic gas produced4 8,now as muriatic acid gas is known to consist of oxymuriatic gas and hydrogen1 there is no simple explanation of the result1 except by saying that the hydrogen of the muriatic acid combined with oxygen from the peroxide to produce water40 ,the bleaching power of chlorine had been explained by ,scheele on the supposition that it destroyed colours by combining with phlogiston4 ,berthollet considered it to act by supplying oxygen4 ,davy then made the well-known experiment proving that the dry gas 8is incapable of altering vegetable colours1 and that its operation in bleaching depends entirely upon its property of decomposing water and liberating its oxygen40 ,it had been supposed that oxymuriatic acid gas was capable of being condensed and crystallised at a low temperature4 ,he shows that it was only damp chlorine or its solution in water that yielded any solid product4 ,he exposed the pure gas1 dried by muriate of lime1 to a temperature of -#dj ,f41 without observing any change4 ,it is curious1 however1 that liquid chlorine had actually been obtained by ,northmore five years before by heating the so-called hydrate of chlorine under pressure4 ,the phenomenon was misunderstood1 and it was reserved for ,faraday1 in #ahbc1 to show that the product was actually the liquefied gas4 ,davy1 who was not always happy in his suggestions as to chemical nomenclature1 proposed to denote the compounds of oxymuriatic gas by the names of their bases with the termination ane4 8,thus1 argentane may signify horn-silver2 stannane ,libavius's liquor2 antimonane1 butter of antimony2 sulphurane1 ,dr4 ,thomson's sulphuretted liquor1 and so on for the rest4444 ,in cases when two or more proportions of inflammable matter combine with one of gas2 or two or more of gas with one of inflammable matter1 it may be convenient to signify the proportions by affixing vowels before the name1 when the inflammable matter predominates1 and after the name when the gas is in excess2 and in the order of the alphabet1 a signifying two1 e1 three1 i1 four and so on40 ,thus he called phosphorus pentachloride phosphorana1 and the trichloride phosphorane1 because there was a larger percentage proportion of phosphorus in the latter compound than in the former4 ,that ,davy was not unaware of the difficulties and inconveniences of such a system of nomenclature may be inferred from what he says in his 8,elements0 concerning the names for the two chlorides of mercury1 the true composition of which he was the first to discover3-- 8,the names mercurane and mercurana which may be adopted to signify the relations of their composition1 are too similar to each other to be safely used as familiar appellations for the two substances1 as corrosive sublimate is a powerful poison1 calomel an excellent medicine40 ,in matters of chemical nomenclature ,davy was a great latitudinarian4 ,all that he contended for was that names should be independent of all speculative views1 and should rather be derived from some simple and invariable property4 ,it is remarkable1 however1 that he who invented the happy term 8chlorine0 should have objected to the word 8cyanogen40 ,at the close of the short paper 8,on the ,prussic ,basis and ,acid10 in which he first made known the existence of the cyanides of phosphorus and of iodine1 he said3-- 8,i wish ,m4 ,gay ,lussac could be prevailed upon to give up the inexpressive and difficult names of cyanogen and hydrocyanic acid1 and to adopt the simple ones of prussic gas and prussic acid40 ,by treating the potassium hyper-oxymuriate of ,berthollet 7potassium chlorate7 with hydrochloric acid1 a greenish-yellow explosive gas is obtained which ,chenevix had referred to as 8hyper-oxygenised muriatic acid10 and as indicating the existence of a compound of oxymuriatic gas and oxygen in a separate state4 ,davy1 as we have seen1 was at first inclined to doubt the existence of this substance1 and to consider the gas as simply chlorine4 ,but on comparing it with chlorine prepared in other ways he perceived a difference2 its solution in water was of lemon yellow or orange colour2 when treated with mercury it becomes of a brilliant yellow green4 ,it is1 moreover1 highly explosive1 especially when heated1 even at the warmth of the hand1 when it loses its vivid colour1 and is resolved into a mixture of oxygen and chlorine4 ,metals1 arsenic1 phosphorus1 charcoal1 nitric oxide1 act upon it in a manner different from that of chlorine4 ,davy makes use of these differences as a proof of the correctness of his views of the nature of chlorine4 8,if the power of bodies to burn in oxymuriatic gas depended upon the presence of oxygen1 they all ought to burn with much more energy in the new compound2 but copper and antimony1 and mercury and arsenic and iron and sulphur have no action upon it1 till it is decomposed2 and they act then according to their relative attractions on the oxygen1 or on the oxymuriatic gas4 ,there is a simple experiment which illustrates this idea4 ,let a glass vessel containing brass foil be exhausted1 and the new gas admitted1 no action will take place2 throw in a little nitrous gas nitric oxide1 a rapid decomposition occurs1 and the metal burns with great brilliancy4 8,as the new compound in its purest form is possessed of a bright yellow-green colour1 it may be expedient to designate it by a name expressive of this circumstance and its relation to oxymuriatic gas4 ,as ,i have named that elastic fluid ,chlorine2 so ,i venture to propose for this substance the name ,euchlorine1 or ,euchloric gas from and 4 ,the point of nomenclature ,i am not inclined to dwell upon4 ,i shall be content to adopt any name that may be considered as most appropriate by the able chemical philosophers attached to this ,society0 the ,royal ,society4 ,euchlorine was subsequently discovered by ,soubeiran to be a mixture of chlorine and chlorine peroxide1 a gas which ,davy himself afterwards isolated in a pure state4 ,it is however obvious from the accounts he gives that even in his first paper he must have been experimenting with a fairly pure product1 due probably to the circumstance that he had collected the mixed gases over mercury1 which retains the greater part of the chlorine4 ,former experimenters had collected the gas over water1 which dissolves the chlorine peroxide more readily than the chlorine4 ,madame de ,stal once observed that an interesting book might be written on the important consequences which have sprung from little differences4 ,it ought to be noted1 however1 that ,davy had himself doubts whether his euchlorine was not a mixture of chlorine and the gas which he subsequently discovered1 and to which he says3 8,i shall not propose to give any name till it is determined whether euchlorine is a mixture or a definite compound40 ,it has been stated that ,davy discovered the two chlorides of phosphorus4 ,in a paper read to the ,royal ,society on ,june #ahth1 #ahab1 8,on some ,combinations of ,phosphorus and ,sulphur and on some other ,subjects of ,chemical ,inquiry10 he reverts to these substances1 as they 8offer decided evidences in favour of an idea that has been for some time prevalent among many enlightened chemists and which ,i have defended in former papers published in the ,philosophical ,transactions2 namely that bodies unite in definite proportions1 and that there is a relation between the quantities in which the same element unites with different elements40 ,he first makes a determination1 singularly accurate for the time1 of the amount of chlorine contained in the lower chloride1 and finds that #acf grains on decomposition with water afforded #dc grains of horn-silver2 theory requires #dbf grains4 ,by synthetical experiments he came to the conclusion that the amount of chlorine absorbed by phosphorus to form the higher chloride was exactly double that contained in the lower chloride3 he found that #c grains of phosphorus combined with #bj grains of chlorine3 in reality it should require only #ag grains4 ,he shows that by treatment with water the lower chloride yields phosphorous acid1 the properties and mode of decomposition of which by heat he accurately describes4 ,he further concludes1 as the logical consequence of his view of the composition of the two chlorides1 and the mode of their decomposition by water1 that phosphorous acid contains half the amount of oxygen present in phosphoric acid1 the quantity of phosphorus being the same4 ,it is noteworthy that in his argument1 as indeed on all subsequent occasions when he speaks of the decomposition of water in definite proportions1 he regards water as composed of #b combining proportions of hydrogen and #a of oxygen1 and the number representing it as #ag1 oxygen being regarded as #ae4 ,certain of his statements considered in the light of subsequent work are interesting4 ,thus he says3-- 8,a solid acid volatile at a moderate degree of heat1 may be produced by burning phosphorus in very rare air1 and this seems to be phosphorous acid free from water2 but some phosphoric acid1 and some yellow oxide of phosphorus are always formed at the same time40 ,he also observes that unless the product of the combustion of phosphorus is strongly heated in oxygen it contains phosphorous acid as well as phosphoric acid4 ,he further states that sulphurous acid 7sulphur dioxide7 consists of equal weights of oxygen and sulphur1 which is almost strictly true1 and that sulphuretted hydrogen is composed of #a combining proportion of sulphur and #b of hydrogen1 although his values for the combining proportions of sulphur and oxygen are incorrect4 ,he repeats ,dalton's experiment of the formation of 8solid sulphuric acid0 by the mutual action of sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide1 and shows that the substance is only produced in presence of vapour of water2 the two substances1 he says1 then 8form a solid crystalline hydrate2 which when thrown into water gives off nitrous gas and forms a solution of sulphuric acid40 ,this substance is the so-called 8leaden-chamber crystal10 or nitrosulphonic acid1 the existence of which was first made known by ,scheele4 ,davy's conclusions concerning the composition of the oxides and chlorides of phosphorus were subsequently contested by ,berzelius and ,dulong1 who showed that although the amount of chlorine in the lower chloride was identical with that which he had found1 the ratio of this amount to that in the higher chloride was as #c to #e1 and not as #a to #b1 and that the same ratio held good as regards the oxygen in phosphorous oxide and phosphoric oxide4 ,davy1 six years afterwards1 repeated his experiments1 but without discovering the fallacy in his first observations4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the other incidents in ,davy's scientific career may be most conveniently dealt with in connection with his personal history4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,marriage--,,knighthood--,,elements ,,of ,,chemical ,,philosophy--,,nitrogen ,,trichloride--,,fluorine4 ,davy was now 7#ahaj7 thirty-two years of age1 and near the summit of his scientific fame1 and perhaps also1 says his brother ,john1 who was then in daily association with him1 at the height of his happiness4 8,he had earned an unsullied and noble reputation2 he was loved and admired by friends1 who had cheered him on in his career2 he had hardly passed the prime of manhood2 he was in possession of excellent health2 he had open to him almost every source of ordinary recreation and enjoyment2 and he had1 besides1 the unfailing pleasures derived from the active and successful pursuit of science4 ,his letters written at this time1 to his mother and sisters strongly mark a happy contentment1 as well as a very amiable and affectionate state of mind40 ,his popularity at the ,royal ,institution was unbounded2 indeed1 he was the very prop of its existence1 and was so recognised4 ,but honourable as his position was1 it brought him little more than a competency2 and however generously disposed the ,managers might have felt towards him1 the financial circumstances of the ,institution afforded no certainty of a future independence4 ,the ,bishop of ,durham and ,sir ,thomas ,bernard sought to induce him to enter the ,church1 in the hope that his talents and eloquence would minister no less to the cause of religion than to his own prospects of preferment4 ,at this period he had serious thoughts of again applying himself to the study of medicine1 with a view of practising as a physician1 and he actually entered his name at ,cambridge and kept some terms there4 ,but whether the unfortunate experience of his colleagues ,wollaston and ,young deterred him1 or whether1 as is more probable1 ,science had too strong a hold upon his affections1 it is certain he made no resolute attempt to abandon her4 ,money was never an object with ,davy1 except as the means of procuring him the advantages which the moneyed classes can command2 had he cared for it1 his talents were a marketable commodity1 and would have brought him riches in many ways4 ,the smiling goddess now showed him one way as honourable as it was lucrative and pleasurable4 ,the ,dublin ,society invited him to lecture to them on the discoveries which had made him famous1 with the promise of a more substantial token of their appreciation than the sound of their applause4 ,the following minutes from the ,proceedings of the ,society serve to explain this3-- 8,may #c1 #ahaj4 ,resolved--,that it is the wish of the ,society to communicate to the ,irish public in the most extended manner 7consistent with the engagements of the ,society71 the knowledge of a science so intimately connected with the improvement of agriculture and the arts1 which is their great object to promote2 and that1 with this view1 it appears to them extremely desirable to obtain the fullest communication of the recent discoveries in electro-chemical science which have been made by ,mr4 ,davy4 8,resolved--,that application be made to the ,royal ,society requesting that they be pleased to dispense with the engagements of ,mr4 ,davy as ,secretary1 so far as to allow the ,dublin ,society to solicit the favour of his delivering a course of electro-chemical lectures in their new laboratory1 as soon as may be convenient after the present course of chemical lectures shall have been completed by their professor1 ,mr4 ,higgins4 8,resolved--,that the sum of #djj guineas be appropriated out of the funds of the ,society1 to be presented to ,mr4 ,davy1 as a remuneration1 which they propose him to accept1 and as a mark of the importance they attach to the communication they solicit40 ,we further read3 8,mr4 ,davy arrived in ,dublin and delivered his course of lectures to a crowded auditory40 ,at the close of his lectures the following resolution was passed3-- 8,november #bith1 #ahaj4 ,resolved--,that the thanks of the ,society be communicated to ,mr4 ,professor ,davy1 for the excellent course of lectures which1 at their request1 he has delivered in their new laboratory2 and to assure him1 that the views which led the ,society to seek for these communications have been answered even beyond their hopes2 that the manner in which he has unfolded his discoveries has not only imparted new and valuable information1 but1 further1 appears to have given a direction of the public mind towards chemical and philosophical inquiries1 which cannot fail in its consequences to produce the improvement of the sciences1 arts1 and manufactures in ,ireland4 ,that ,mr4 ,davy be requested to accept the sum of five hundred guineas from the ,society40 ,from ,mr4 ,hare's 8,life and ,letters of ,maria ,edgeworth0 we gain some further information of the manner in which these lectures were received4 ,in a letter to her cousin1 ,miss ,ruxton1 ,miss ,edgeworth writes3 8,we are to set out for ,dublin on the #acth ,november to hear ,davy's lectures40 ,mrs4 ,edgeworth adds3 8,we spent a few weeks in ,dublin4 ,davy's lectures not only opened a new world of knowledge to ourselves and to our young people1 but were especially gratifying to ,mr4 ,edgeworth and ,maria1 confirming1 by the eloquence1 ingenuity1 and philosophy which they displayed1 the high idea which they had so early formed of ,mr4 ,davy's powers40 ,additional evidence of his success is seen in the circumstance that the ,society decided to repeat their invitation3 8,june #acth1 #ahaa4 ,resolved--,that a letter be written to ,mr4 ,professor ,davy requesting him to favour the ,dublin ,society and the ,irish public with a further communication of the recent discoveries in chemical philosophy1 and to deliver a course of lectures in their laboratory for that purpose1 in the months of ,november and ,december next2 and requesting that he will also repeat to them1 at the same time1 the course of lectures in geological science which he has read this year to the ,royal ,institution2 and that he will be so good as to procure for the ,society copies of as many of the geological sketches referred to in that course as he may think necessary for the elucidation of the subject2 and further requesting him to superintend the construction of a voltaic battery of large plates1 for the use of the ,society1 to be transmitted to them in time for these lectures40 ,we next read3 8,december #eth1 #ahaa4 ,resolved unanimously--,that the thanks of the ,society be communicated to ,mr4 ,davy1 for the two excellent courses of lectures in chemical and geological science which1 at their request1 he has delivered in their laboratory1 full of valuable information2 and which have not merely continued1 but materially increased1 the spirit of philosophical research in ,ireland4 8,resolved unanimously--,that ,mr4 ,davy be requested to accept the sum of #gej as a remuneration on the part of the ,society40 ,on the occasion of his second visit ,trinity ,college1 ,dublin1 conferred on him the degree of ,,ll4,d4 ,it was the only mark of distinction he ever received from any ,university4 ,before he gave his lectures he visited ,edgeworthstown1 as we learn in a letter from ,maria to ,miss ,ruxton3 8,davy spent a day here last week1 and was as usual full of entertainment and information of various kinds4 ,he has gone to ,connemara1 ,i believe1 to fish1 for he is a little mad about fishing2 and very ungrateful it is of me to say so1 for he sent to us from ,boyle the finest trout6 and a trout of ,davy's catching is1 ,i presume1 worth ten trouts caught by vulgar mortals40 ,to his mother he writes3 8,ballina1 ,ireland1 ,october #bdth4 8,,my ,,dear ,,mother1--,i am safe and well1 in a remote and beautiful part of ,ireland1 where ,i have been making an excursion with two of my friends4 ,i shall return to ,dublin in two or three days1 and shall be very glad to hear from you or my sisters there4 ,i hope you are all well and happy4 8,i heard from ,john a few days ago2 he was quite well and in good spirits4 8,the laboratory in ,dublin1 which has been enlarged so as to hold #eej people1 will not hold half the persons who desire to attend my lectures4 ,the #eej tickets issued for the course by the ,dublin ,society1 at two guineas each1 were all disposed of the first week2 and ,i am told now that from ten to twenty guineas are offered for a ticket4 8,this is merely for your eye2 it may please you to know that your son is not unpopular or useless4 ,every person here1 from the highest to the lowest1 shows me every attention and kindness4 8,i shall come to see you as soon as ,i can4 ,i hear with infinite delight of your health1 and ,i hope ,heaven will continue to preserve and bless a mother who deserves so well of her children4 8,i am your very affectionate son 8,h4 ,,davy4 8,my kindest love to my sisters and aunts40 ,but ,davy's affections at the moment were not wholly spent upon his kindred1 and another mistress than ,science had become the object of his devotion4 ,the 8little madness0 of which ,maria ,edgeworth wrote was always a vulnerable point with ,davy1 for he followed the calling of the ,apostles with all the zeal and ardour he gave to philosophy1 and to engage him upon the subject of angling was a more direct road to his sympathies than to talk to him of science4 ,the wooing began in this wise3 8,mr4 ,davy regrets that he cannot send ,walton to ,mrs4 ,apreece this morning4 ,he did not recollect that he had lent the book to a friend who lives a little way out of town4 ,he will send honest ,isaac to ,mrs4 ,apreece to-morrow or ,thursday4 8,mrs4 ,apreece is already of the true faith of the genuine angler1 the object of whose art and contemplation is to exalt spirit above matter1 to enable the mind to create its own enjoyments and to find society even in the bosom of ,nature40 ,matters went on apace4 ,shortly afterwards we read3 8,i return the ticket4 ,i begin to like the opera from association4 ,the same association would1 ,i think1 make me love a desert1 and perhaps1 in a long time1 might make me an admirer of routs40 ,again3 8,to avoid studiously what other people seek would have the semblance of affectation and though sincerely ,i have no ambition to shine in courts or to become a courtier2 yet ,i have sympathy more than enough to wish to be where you like to go40 ,on another occasion he wrote3 8,i find an invitation from ,mr4 ,t---- on my return last night for ,wednesday4 ,pray do you go to the ,miss ,ch----'s to-night or to ,miss ,s----'s to-morrow night8 ,i wish to know as you are my magnet 7though you differ from a magnet in having no repulsive point7 and direct my course4 ,your society always delightful to me is really at this moment balm to a wounded mind40 ,the following is a ,new ,year's ,day letter written to arrive on ,january #ast1 #ahab3-- 8,i hope the cold weather has not increased your indisposition and that the foggy sky has not made you melancholy4 ,i trust you are now well and happy3 ,i give myself pleasure by believing that you are4 8,i have a motive for writing this day besides that of doing what ,i like4 ,i find that ,friday the #ajth is a ,royal ,society ,club day and that ,i ought to dine with the ,club4 ,all other days are yours and that shall be yours if you command it1 but ,i know you wish me to do what ,i ought to do1 and you now cannot doubt the exclusive nature of your influence and the absolute nature of your power4 8,i spent the last two days very pleasantly at ,wilderness1 ,lord ,camden's2 there was a very agreeable social party and a ,christmas country ball3 a fine park had lost its beauty from the old age of the year and everything was white2 the circle round the fire had in consequence more charms and my friend and ,i left it this morning very well amused4 8,to-day we celebrate the old ,mr4 ,children's birthday who is #gj4 ,he bears his years healthfully and joyfully4 ,such winter's days as his are rather to be desired than feared--sunny1 calm and warm4 8,i hope1 my darling friend1 that you bear no uneasiness in your kind and good heart and that you give its true meaning to my unlucky sentence4 ,indeed ,i never in the whole course of our social converse ever intended to offend you or give you a moment of uneasiness and ,i do not think ,i should feel anything long painful that ,i thought would promote your happiness even though it should require from me the greatest of all sacrifices4 ,you know what this is and ,i trust you will never oblige me to make it4 8,i go on ,thursday to a wild part of ,kent to shoot pheasants3 the house is ,mr4 ,hodges1 the post-town ,cranbrook4 ,i shall accompany ,children to town on ,sunday2 and ,i hope you will permit me to see you that evening if ,i come in time1 or ,monday morning4 ,i am going on steadily for three hours a day with ,radiant ,heat and ,light4 ,i might petition for one of your distant beams of light4 ,you know it would delight me2 but whether it comes or no you shall not cease to be my sun40 ,these letters1 with many others addressed by him to the lady1 are now before me4 ,they had been carefully tied up and preserved1 and are all dated by her on the back--even down to the little missives sent across from ,albemarle ,street to ,berkeley ,square1 where she resided4 ,from the number and frequency of these it is evident that the porter suffered from no lack of exercise4 ,after her death in #ahee these letters came into the possession of ,dr4 ,john ,davy1 together with other papers1 and some have been published already in his 8,fragmentary ,remains40 ,the correspondence is of especial interest from the sidelight it throws on ,davy's disposition and character4 ,many of the letters are delightful in tone and feeling2 not even ,amadis de ,gaul1 that cream and flower of gentility1 or that mirror of chivalry1 the ,knight of the ,woful ,figure1 could have been more courteous in bearing1 or have shown a warmer and at the same time a more deferential admiration of the lady he wooed4 ,but the world1 after all1 has no concern with their tender confidences4 ,it is sufficient to say that ,davy's letters are such as might be expected from his ardent temperament and active imagination2 from his love of natural scenery1 his faculty of happy expression1 and graphic power of description4 ,early in #ahab ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 whose constant thought was of and for the ,royal ,society1 thus wrote to his friend ,sir ,george ,stanton3-- 8,the ,royal ,society has been well supplied with papers1 and continues to be so4 ,davy1 our secretary1 is said to be on the point of marrying a rich and handsome widow1 who has fallen in love with ,science and marries him in order to obtain a footing in the ,academic ,groves2 her name is ,apreece1 the daughter of ,mr4 ,carr1 ,kerr who made a fortune in ,india1 and the niece of ,dr4 ,carr1 ,kerr of ,northampton4 ,if this takes place1 it will give to science a kind of new clat2 we want nothing so much as the countenance of the ladies to increase our popularity40 ,the lady was the widow of ,shuckburgh ,ashby ,apreece1 the eldest son of ,sir ,thomas ,apreece2 she was the daughter and heiress of ,charles ,kerr of ,kelso1 who had been secretary to ,lord ,rodney1 and had made a fortune in the ,west ,indies4 ,she was also a 8far-away cousin0 of ,sir ,walter ,scott1 and on the occasion of his tour in the ,hebrides with his family1 8his dear friend and distant relation10 as he calls her1 accompanied them4 ,she had been1 he says1 8a lioness of the first magnitude in ,edinburgh0 during the preceding winter2 and in one of his letters to ,byron in #ahab1 inviting him to ,abbotsford1 he mentions as one of the visitors that would make his house attractive 8the fair or shall ,i say the sage ,apreece that was1 ,lady ,davy that is1 who is soon to show us how much science she leads captive in ,sir ,humphry2 so your lordship sees1 as the citizen's wife says in the farce1 #8,threadneedle ,street has some charms1' since they procure us such celebrated visitants40 ,how ,scott regarded her is further indicated in the letters which he addressed to her on the occasion of his son's marriage1 and during the financial crash which overwhelmed him4 ,when the marriage was arranged ,davy thus wrote to his mother3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,mother1--,you possibly may have heard reports of my intended marriage4 ,till within the last few days it was mere report4 ,it is ,i trust now a settled arrangement4 ,i am the happiest of men1 in the hope of a union with a woman equally distinguished for virtues1 talents and accomplishments4444 8,you1 ,i am sure1 will sympathise in my happiness4 ,i believe ,i should never have married1 but for this charming woman1 whose views and whose tastes coincide with my own1 and who is eminently qualified to promote my best efforts and objects in life4444 8,i am your affectionate son1 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,in the following letter to ,dr4 ,john ,davy1 who was then in ,edinburgh as a student of medicine1 we have also the announcement of another event3-- 8,friday1 ,april #ajth1 #ahab4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,you will have excused me for not writing to you on subjects of science4 ,i have been absorbed by arrangements on which the happiness of my future life depends4 ,before you receive this these arrangements will1 ,i trust1 be settled2 and1 in a few weeks1 ,i shall be able to return to my habits of study and of scientific research4 8,i am going to be married to-morrow2 and ,i have a fair prospect of happiness1 with the most amiable and intellectual woman ,i have ever known4 8,the ,prince ,regent1 unsolicited by me1 or by any of my intimate friends1 was pleased to confer the honour of knighthood on me at the last leve4 ,this distinction has not often been bestowed on scientific men2 but ,i am proud of it1 as the greatest of human geniuses bore it2 and it is at least a proof that the court has not overlooked my humble efforts in the cause of science4 8,i have discovered pure phosphorous acid 7a solid body1 very volatile72 and a pure hydro-phosphorous acid1 containing two proportions of water and four of phosphorous acid1 and decomposing by heat into phosphoric acid and a new gas containing four proportions of hydrogen and one of phosphorus4444 8,pray address to me ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 ,beechwood ,park1 near ,market ,st4 ,alban's4 8,believe me1 my dear ,john1 ,i shall always take the warmest interest in your welfare and happiness1 and will do everything to promote your views4 ,i shall have some ideas on your studies soon to communicate4 8,i am1 my dear brother most affectionately yours 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,he was knighted by the ,prince ,regent at a leve held at ,carlton ,house on the #hth ,april1 #ahab1 being the first person on whom that honour was conferred by the ,regent4 ,on the following day he delivered his farewell lecture as ,professor of ,chemistry at the ,royal ,institution4 ,it was on the ,metals1 and a report of it is contained in ,faraday's manuscript notes before referred to4 ,faraday says3-- 8,having thus given the general character of the metals1 ,sir ,h4 ,davy proceeded to make a few observations on the connection of science with the other parts of polished and social life4 ,here it would be improper for me to follow him4 ,i should merely injure and destroy the beautiful1 the sublime observations that fell from his lips4 ,he spoke in the most energetic and luminous manner of the advancement of the arts and sciences1 of the connection that had always existed between them and other parts of a nation's economy4 ,he noticed the peculiar congeries of great men in all departments of life that generally appeared together1 noticed ,anaximander1 ,anaximenes1 ,socrates1 ,newton1 ,bacon1 ,elizabeth1 etc41 but1 by an unaccountable omission1 forgot himself1 though ,i venture to say no one else present did4 8,during the whole of these observations his delivery was easy1 his diction elegant1 his tone good1 and his sentiments sublime40 ,two days afterwards he was married1 and ,lady ,davy and he passed most of the spring and summer in the ,north of ,england and in ,scotland1 on a round of visits1 cultivating those patrician instincts and susceptibilities to the charms of rank that his new station served to accentuate4 ,writing to ,miss ,margaret ,ruxton1 ,maria ,edgeworth says3-- 8,i suppose you have heard various jeux d'esprit on the marriage of ,sir ,humphry ,davy and ,mrs4 ,apreece8 ,i scarcely think any of them worth copying40 ,but she gives the following3-- 8,too many men have often seen ,their talents underrated2 ,but ,davy owns that his have been ,duly ,apreeciated40 ,shortly after his wedding he wrote to his brother ,john3-- 8,i communicated to you in a former letter1 my plans1 as they were matured4 ,i have neither given up the ,institution1 nor am ,i going to ,france2 and1 wherever ,i am1 ,i shall continue to labour in the cause of science with a zeal not diminished by increase of happiness and 7with respect to the world7 increased independence4 8,i have just finished the first part of my #8,chemistry' to my own satisfaction1 and ,i am going to publish my #8,agricultural ,lectures' for which ,i am to get #a1jjj guineas for the copyright and #ej guineas for each edition1 which seems a fair price4444 8,i was appointed ,professor 7honorary7 to the ,institution1 at the last meeting4 ,i do not pledge myself to give lectures4444 ,if ,i lecture it will be on some new series of discoveries1 should it be my fortune to make them2 and ,i give up the routine of lecturing1 merely that ,i may have more time to pursue original inquiries1 and forward more the great objects of science4 ,this has been for some time my intention1 and it has been hastened by my marriage4 8,i shall have great pleasure in making you acquainted with ,lady ,d4 ,she is a noble creature 7if ,i may be permitted so to speak of a wife71 and every day adds to my contentment by the powers of her understanding1 and her amiable and delightful tones of feeling40 ,the allusion to the ,institution is thus more circumstantially dealt with in the following ,minutes of the ,meetings of the ,managers3-- 8,may #aa1 #ahab4 ,mr4 ,hatchett reported that ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 though he cannot pledge himself to deliver lectures1 will be willing to accept the offices of ,professor of ,chemistry and ,director of the ,laboratory and ,mineralogical ,collection without salary40 ,following which we read-- 8,that the ,managers hear with great regret the notification which they have just received that ,sir ,h4 ,davy cannot pledge himself to continue the lectures which he has been accustomed to deliver with so much honour to the ,institution and advantage to the public2 but at the same time1 they congratulate themselves on the liberal offer which ,sir ,humphry ,davy has made to superintend the chemical department1 and to assist and advise any lecturer the ,managers may be pleased to appoint40 ,the ,managers thereupon ordered a special general meeting to nominate him ,professor of ,chemistry1 and he was elected on ,june #ast4 ,how necessary ,davy was to the very existence of the ,institution may be gleaned from the fact that the balance in its favour at the end of the year was #c #is4 #aa;d4 ,the 8,chemistry0 above referred to is his 8,elements of ,chemical ,philosophy10 which was published a few months after his marriage1 with a dedication to ,lady ,davy4 ,she is asked to receive it as a proof of his ardent affection1 which must be unalterable1 as it is founded upon the admiration of her moral and intellectual qualities4 ,the work was begun in the autumn of #ahaa1 and was composed with great rapidity1 the 8copy0 being sent to the press as it left his pen4 ,the introductory part on the ,history of ,chemistry1 and that on the ,general ,laws of ,chemical ,changes and on ,radiant or ,ethereal ,matter1 and probably some other portions1 are either transcripts or amplifications of his ,royal ,institution lectures4 ,other sections are avowedly based upon his own work as published in the ,philosophical ,transactions4 ,indeed1 it was remarked by a critic that the work could never be completed upon the plan on which it was commenced1 which was little less than a system of chemistry in which all the facts were to be verified by the author4 ,thomas ,young1 his former colleague at the ,royal ,institution1 in the ,quarterly ,review for ,september1 #ahab1 thus speaks of it3-- 8,with all its excellencies this work must be allowed to bear no inconsiderable marks of haste1 and we would easily have conjectured1 even if the author had not expressly told us so in his dedication1 that the period employed on it has been the #8happiest of his life'4444 8,the style and manner of this work are nearly the same with those of the author's lectures delivered in the theatre of the ,royal ,institution4 ,they have been much admired by some of the most competent judges of good language and good taste1 and it has been remarked that ,davy was born a poet1 and has only become a chemist by accident4 ,certainly the situation in which he was placed induced him to cultivate an ornamented and popular style of expression and embellishment1 and what was encouraged by temporary motives has become natural to him from habit4 ,hence have arisen a multitude of sentimental reflections and appeals to the feelings1 which many will think beauties and some only prettinesses2 nor is it necessary for us to decide in which of the two classes of readers we wish ourselves to be arranged1 conceiving that in matters so indifferent to the immediate object of the work a great latitude may be allowed to the diversity of taste and opinion40 ,despite its egoism and the obvious marks of haste and imperfection it displays1 the work may still be read with interest by the chemical student4 ,we would recommend him before perusing it to study ,dalton's 8,new ,system of ,chemical ,philosophy10 and he will gain a vivid impression of the extraordinary strides which the science had made during the four years which intervened between the publication of these memorable books4 ,each work1 too1 is strongly typical of its author1 and reflects in the most striking manner the range and limitations of his powers and the characteristics of his genius4 ,towards the middle of ,october ,davy returned to town4 ,in a letter written to his friend ,children1 from ,edinburgh1 he says3-- 8,i have received a very interesting letter from ,ampre4 ,he says that a combination of chlorine and azote has been discovered at ,paris1 which is a fluid1 and explodes by the heat of the hand2 the discovery of which cost an eye and a finger to the author4 ,he gives no details as to the mode of combining them4 ,i have tried in my little apparatus with ammonia cooled very low1 and chlorine1 but without success40 ,the substance here referred to is nitrogen chloride1 one of the most formidable explosives known to chemists1 and which seriously maimed ,dulong1 its discoverer1 as stated4 ,the 8little apparatus0 refers to a portable chemical chest which accompanied ,davy on all his travels4 ,any new combination of nitrogen was certain to attract his immediate attention4 ,he seems to have remained to the last convinced that nitrogen would turn out to be a non-elementary substance1 and it is remarkable how eagerly he caught at any hint or surmise which appeared likely to afford support to his conjecture4 ,he at once repeated ,dulong's experiments in ,children's laboratory at ,tunbridge1 and succeeded in obtaining considerable information concerning the chemical and physical properties of this extraordinary substance1 when he was wounded in the eye by its explosion4 ,he thus breaks the news of his accident to ,lady ,davy3-- 8444 ,yesterday ,i began some new experiments to which a very interesting discovery and a slight accident put an end4 ,i made use of a compound more powerful than gunpowder destined perhaps at some time to change the nature of war and influence the state of society4 ,an explosion took place which has done me no other harm than that of preventing me from working this day ,sunday and the effects of which will be gone to-morrow and which ,i should not mention at all1 except that you may hear some foolish exaggerated account of it1 for it really is not worth mentioning44440 ,in reality the accident was more serious than he would have ,lady ,davy believe1 and the injury prevented him from resuming his work for some time4 ,in a letter written about the middle of ,january1 #ahac1 from ,wimpole1 where he was staying with ,lord ,hardwicke1 he says3-- 8,i have had another severe attack of inflammation in the eye1 and was obliged to have the conjunctiva and cornea punctured4 ,i suspect the cause was some little imperceptible fragment4 ,i am just recovering1 and hope ,i shall see as well soon as with the other eye40 ,in the following ,april he was sufficiently recovered to resume the study of ,dulong's compound1 and in a letter to ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 dated ,june #bjth1 #ahac1 and subsequently published in the ,philosophical ,transactions1 he gives a number of details concerning its nature and composition4 ,he accurately determined its specific gravity--viz4 #afec--;but although he made a number of determinations of the amounts of its constituents by various methods1 his deduction that it consisted of one proportion of nitrogen to four of chlorine was incorrect4 ,the experiments of ,gattermann1 made with great skill and courage1 have conclusively shown that the compound is1 as long surmised1 a trichloride of nitrogen4 ,at about the same period1 as we learn from a letter to his brother1 dated ,april #dth1 #ahac1 he attacked the chemistry of fluorine3-- 8,i am now quite recovered1 and ,jane ,lady ,davy is very well1 and we have both enjoyed the last month in ,london4 ,i have been hard at work4 ,i have expelled fluorine from fluate of lead1 fluate of silver1 and fluate of soda by chlorine4 ,it is a new acidifier1 forming three powerful acids2 hydrofluoric1 silicated fluoric1 and fluo-boric4 ,it has the most intense energies of combination of any known body1 instantly combining with all metals1 and decomposing glass4 ,like the fabled waters of the ,styx1 it cannot be preserved1 not even in the ape's hoof4 ,we have now a triad of supporters of combustion40 ,the results of ,davy's work were communicated to the ,royal ,society on ,july #hth1 #ahac4 ,in his paper he states that ,m4 ,ampre of ,paris had furnished him with many ingenious and original arguments in favour of the analogy between the muriatic and fluoric compounds1 based partly upon his 7,davy's7 views of the nature of chlorine1 and partly upon reasonings drawn from the experiments of ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard4 ,after a short account of the main properties of the silicated fluoric acid gas 7silicon fluoride71 discovered by ,scheele1 fluoric acid 7hydrofluoric acid71 discovered by ,scheele but first obtained pure by ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard1 and fluoric acid 7boron fluoride71 discovered by ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard1 he states that1 on the hypothesis of ,m4 ,ampre-- 8the silicated fluoric acid is conceived to consist of a peculiar undecompounded principle1 analogous to chlorine and oxygen1 united to the basis of silica1 or silicum2 the fluo-boric acid of the same principle united to boron2 and the pure liquid fluoric acid as this principle united to hydrogen10 ,he then seeks to put the hypothesis to the test of experiment by combining fluoric acid with ammonia in a platinum apparatus2 the white solid substance he obtained--so-called fluate of ammonia--contained no moisture1 and hence he inferred that no water was present and that therefore fluoric acid was free from oxygen4 ,the inference was more correct than the experiment warranted4 ,he further found that the action of potassium upon fluate of ammonia is precisely similar to its action upon muriate of ammonia1 when ammonia and hydrogen are disengaged and muriate of potassa formed4 ,he then attempted to electrolyse solutions of hydrofluoric acid4 ,he says3 8,i undertook the experiment of electrizing pure liquid fluoric acid1 with considerable interest1 as it seemed to offer the most probable method of ascertaining its real nature2 but considerable difficulties occurred in executing the process4 ,the liquid fluoric acid immediately destroys glass1 and all animal and vegetable substances2 it acts on all bodies containing metallic oxides2 and ,i know of no substances which are not rapidly dissolved or decomposed by it except certain metals1 charcoal1 phosphorus1 sulphur and certain combinations of chlorine40 ,after various unsuccessful attempts to make tubes of sulphur and of the chlorides of lead and copper1 he succeeded 8in boring a piece of horn-silver in such a manner that ,i was able to cement a platina wire into it by means of a spirit lamp1 and by inverting this in a tray of platina filled with liquid fluoric acid1 ,i contrived to submit the fluid to the agency of electricity40 ,he found that the platina wire at the positive pole rapidly corroded1 and became covered with a chocolate powder1 and what appeared by its inflammability to be hydrogen separated at the negative pole4 ,he tried a number of other experiments with different vessels and various electrodes1 but with no better success4 ,he suffered great inconvenience from the fumes of hydrofluoric acid2 they acted vigorously on the nails1 and produced a most painful sensation when in contact with the eyes4 ,the conclusion he drew from his experiments was that fluoric acid is 8composed of hydrogen1 and a substance as yet unknown in a separate form1 possessed like oxygen and chlorine1 of the negative electrical energy1 and hence determined to the positive surface1 and strongly attracted by metallic substances40 ,he then attempted to isolate the fluoric principle by treating various fluates in a platinum apparatus with chlorine gas1 but although there was evidence of decomposition and the platinum was violently acted upon1 he could obtain no new gaseous matter4 8,from the general tenour of the results that ,i have stated1 it appears reasonable to conclude that there exists in the fluoric compounds a peculiar substance1 possessed of strong attractions for metallic bodies and hydrogen1 and which combined with certain inflammable bodies forms peculiar acids1 and which in consequence of its strong affinities and high decomposing agencies1 it will be very difficult to examine in a pure form1 and for the sake of avoiding circumlocution1 it may be denominated fluorine1 a name suggested to me by ,m4 ,ampre4 8,it is easy to perceive in following the above theory1 that all the ideas current in chemical authors respecting the fluoric combinations1 must be changed4 ,fluor-spar1 and other analogous substances1 for instance1 must be regarded as binary compounds of metals and fluorine40 ,davy's views are now part of current chemical doctrine1 and his previsions as to the nature of fluorine and its extraordinary chemical activity have been verified in the most striking manner by the admirable investigations of ,moissan4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,davy ,,and ,,faraday--,,iodine4 ,the year #ahac is memorable in the history of the ,royal ,institution1 from the fact that ,faraday's long and honourable association with it dates from that time4 ,the circumstances which led to this connection were subsequently stated by himself in the following letter to ,dr4 ,paris3-- 8,royal ,institution1 ,dec4 #bcrd1 #ahbi4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,you ask 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 8,when ,i was a bookseller's apprentice1 ,i was very fond of experiment 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 8,my desire to escape from trade1 which ,i thought vicious and selfish1 and to enter into the service of ,science 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 8,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 value4 8,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 8,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 8,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 year 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 8,i am1 dear ,sir1 very truly yours 8,m4 ,,faraday40 ,the answer which ,faraday characteristically says makes all the point of the foregoing communication is as follows3-- 8,december #bdth1 #ahab4 8,,sir1--,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 8,it would gratify me to be of any service to you4 ,i wish it may be in my power4 8,i am1 ,sir1 your obedient humble servant1 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,the immediate cause of the connection was very trivial and commonplace4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,payne1 whose name may be recalled in connection with ,davy's memorandum respecting the state in which the ,laboratory of the ,institution was kept1 in the latter part of ,february1 #ahac1 had a disagreement with ,mr4 ,newman1 the instrument-maker1 and so far forgot himself as to strike that gentleman4 ,whereupon the ,managers immediately resolved that ,mr4 ,payne should be dismissed from the ,royal ,institution1 and that a gratuity of #aj should be paid him in consideration of his long services4 ,davy appears then to have called to mind the modest1 bright-eyed1 active youth with the pleasant smile1 who had expressed his desire to devote himself to science4 ,in the minutes of the meeting of ,managers on ,march #ast1 #ahac1 we read-- 8,sir ,humphry ,davy has the honour to inform the ,managers that he has found a person who is desirous to occupy the situation in the ,institution lately filled by ,william ,payne4 ,his name is ,michael ,faraday4 ,he is a youth of twenty-two years of age4 ,as far as ,sir ,h4 ,davy has been able to observe or ascertain1 he appears well fitted for the situation4 ,his habits seem good1 his disposition active and cheerful1 and his manner intelligent4 ,he is willing to engage himself on the same terms as those given to ,mr4 ,payne at the time of quitting the ,institution4 8,resolved--,that ,michael ,faraday be engaged to fill the situation lately occupied by ,mr4 ,payne on the same terms40 ,in the minutes of the general monthly meeting of the members on ,april #eth1 #ahac1 for putting in nomination from the chair the professors for the year ensuing1 we read3-- 8,sir ,h4 ,davy rose1 and begged leave to resign his situation of ,professor of ,chemistry2 but he by no means wished to give up his connection with the ,royal ,institution1 as he should ever be happy to communicate his researches in the first instance to the ,institution 4441 and to do all in his power to promote the interest and success of this ,institution4 ,sir ,h4 ,davy having retired1 ,earl ,spencer moved ,that the thanks of this ,meeting be returned to ,sir ,h4 ,davy for the estimable services rendered by him to the ,royal ,institution4 ,this motion was seconded by the ,earl of ,darnley1 and1 on being put1 was carried unanimously4 ,earl ,spencer further moved1 ,that in order more strongly to mark the high sense entertained by this ,meeting of the merits of ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 he be elected ,honorary ,professor of ,chemistry2 which1 on being seconded by the ,earl of ,darnley1 met with unanimous approbation40 ,mr4 ,brande was subsequently elected ,professor4 ,during the autumn ,davy obtained permission from ,napoleon to pass through ,france in the course of an extended tour on the ,continent which ,lady ,davy and he now projected4 ,he thus announced his intention to his mother3-- 8,andover1 ,oct4 #ad1 #ahac4 8,,my ,,dear ,,mother1--,we are just going to the ,continent upon a journey of scientific inquiry which ,i hope will be pleasant to us and useful to the world4 ,we go rapidly through ,france to ,italy1 and from there to ,sicily2 and we shall return through ,germany4 ,we have every assurance from the governments of the countries through which we pass1 that we shall not be molested1 but assisted4 ,we shall stay probably a year or two4444 8,as soon as ,i have settled a plan of correspondence abroad1 ,i will write to you1 and shall hear of you from ,john as often as possible4 ,as ,i am permitted to pass through an enemy's country1 there must be no politics in any letters to me2 and you had better not write except through the channel ,i shall hereafter point out4444 8,when ,i return ,i shall peacefully fix my abode for life in my own country4 ,pray take care of ,betsy4 ,when the wind is cold she should not think of going out4 ,tell ,grace not to be afraid1 though ,i am going through ,france4 ,my love to ,kitty1 and to ,grace and ,betsy4 ,i am1 my dear mother1 wishing you all health and happiness1 your very affectionate son 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,on ,october #dth we find that he reported to the ,managers that-- 8,michael ,faraday had expressed a wish to accompany him on his scientific travels1 but that he would not engage ,mr4 ,faraday if the ,professor of ,chemistry considered his services as at all essential to the ,institution1 or if the ,managers had the slightest objection to the measure40 ,mr4 ,brande reported that arrangements could be made to allow ,mr4 ,faraday to leave1 8and that as he had shown considerable diligence and attention in cleaning and arranging the mineral collection he recommended his services to the ,managers' attention1 as this was not his immediate duty40 ,a few days afterwards the party1 consisting of ,sir ,h4 and ,lady ,davy1 ,mr4 ,faraday1 and ,lady ,davy's maid1 together with the chemical cabinet1 crossed in a cartel from ,plymouth to ,morlaix4 ,here they were arrested1 but after a week's detention1 allowed to depart for ,paris1 where they arrived on ,october #bgth4 ,nothing could exceed the cordiality and warmth of ,davy's reception by the ,french savants4 ,on ,november #bnd he attended a sitting of the ,first ,class of the ,institute1 and was placed on the right hand of the ,president1 who announced to the meeting that it was honoured by the presence of 8,le ,chevalier ,davy40 ,each day saw some reception or entertainment in his honour4 ,on ,november #ajth he dined with ,rumford at ,auteuil4 ,how much had happened in the ten years since last they met1 and how different their situations now6 ,davy at the very summit of his scientific eminence1 courted and caressed by society1 honoured and admired by his intellectual peers2 ,rumford1 his former patron1 a broken-hearted1 disappointed man about to sink into the grave1 worried to death1 in fact1 by his wife1 and the victim of the spiteful persecutions she instigated4 ,of the remarkable men of science whom ,davy met on these occasions he has left us some slight sketches composed during his last illness1 some of which are of interest to the student who desires to know something of the men whose names are as household words in the history of chemistry4 ,guyton de ,morveau--who played such a leading part in the political ,revolution of ,france1 as well as in the revolution of its chemistry1 and who1 with ,fourcroy1 popularised the doctrines of ,lavoisier whilst bringing his head to the scaffold--was found to be a gentleman of mild and conciliatory manners4 ,vauquelin gave him the idea of the ,french chemists of another age1 belonging rather to the pharmaceutical laboratory than to the philosophical one4 8,nothing could be more singular than his manners1 his life1 and his mnage4 ,two old maiden ladies1 ,mdlles4 de ,fourcroy1 sisters of the professor of that name1 kept his house4 ,i remember the first time that ,i entered it1 ,i was ushered into a sort of bed-chamber1 which likewise served as a drawing-room4 ,one of these ladies was in bed1 but employed in preparations for the kitchen2 and was actually paring truffles4444 ,nothing could be more extraordinary than the simplicity of his conversation2--he had not the slightest tact1 and even in the presence of young ladies1 talked of subjects which1 since the paradisaical times1 never have been the objects of common conversation40 8,,cuvier had even in his address and manner the character of a superior man2--much general power and eloquence in conversation1 and a great variety of information on scientific as well as popular subjects4 ,i should say of him1 that he is the most distinguished man of talents ,i have known2 but ,i doubt if he is entitled to the appellation of a man of genius40 8,,humboldt was one of the most agreeable men ,i have ever known1 social1 modest1 full of intelligence1 with facilities of every kind3 almost too fluent in conversation4 ,his travels display a spirit of enterprise4 ,his works are monuments of the variety of his knowledge and resources40 ,of his great rival his comment is as follows3-- 8,,gay ,,lussac was quick1 lively1 ingenious1 and profound1 with great activity of mind and great facility of manipulation4 ,i should place him at the head of living chemists of ,france40 8,,berthollet was a most amiable man2 when the friend of ,napoleon even1 always good1 conciliatory and modest1 frank and candid4 ,he had no airs1 and many graces4 ,in every way below ,la ,place in intellectual powers1 he appeared superior to him in moral qualities4 ,berthollet had no appearance of a man of genius2 but one could not look on ,la ,place's physiognomy without being convinced that he was a very extraordinary man40 ,all accounts appear to show that ,davy hardly treated his hosts with the cordiality and respect they extended to him4 ,his ,chauvinism seemed to get the better of his courtesy4 ,there was1 it is said1 a flippancy in his manner and a superciliousness and hauteur in his deportment which surprised as much as they offended4 ,napoleon1 with characteristic bluntness1 told one of the members of the ,institute that he had heard the young ,english chemist had a poor opinion of them all4 ,dr4 ,paris1 who could certainly speak from personal knowledge1 states that ,davy's unfortunate manner was not so much the expression of a haughty consciousness of superiority as the desire to conceal a mauvaise honte and gaucherie--an ungraceful timidity he could never conquer1 and which often led him to force himself into a state of effrontery and with a violence of effort which passed for a sally of pride or the ebullition of temper4 ,whatever ,davy's manner might have been1 it was not allowed to affect the admiration felt for his genius1 and on ,december #acth1 #ahac1 he was with practical unanimity elected a ,corresponding ,member of the ,first ,class of the ,institute4 ,during the last week of the preceding ,november ,ampre had given ,davy a small quantity of a substance which he had obtained from ,clement1 and which had been discovered by ,courtois1 a soap-boiler and manufacturer of saltpetre in ,paris1 in kelp or the ashes of sea-weeds4 ,the substance had the extraordinary property of giving a violet-coloured vapour1 but its true nature and relations were unknown1 and it was commonly designated as ,x4 ,although actually known for some time previously1 the first public notice of its existence was made by ,clement at a meeting of the ,institute on ,november #bith1 #ahac1 and at the meeting on ,december #fth ,gay ,lussac presented a short note on the substance1 to which he gave the name iode1 and stated that it had analogies to chlorine4 ,a week later--that is1 on the day of ,davy's election to the ,institute--a letter from him to ,cuvier was read1 in which he gave a general view of the chemical characters of the body2 and on ,january #bjth1 #ahad1 a paper by him1 dated ,paris1 ,december #ajth1 #ahac1 and entitled 8,some ,experiments and ,observations on a new ,substance which becomes a violet-coloured ,gas by ,heat10 was read to the ,royal ,society4 ,after reciting the above facts he explains why he has ventured to take up a subject on which ,gay ,lussac was still engaged4 ,the explanation was no doubt necessary2 he had evidently not forgotten ,gay ,lussac's intrusion into his own field of work on the occasion of the discovery of the metals of the alkalis4 ,he first draws attention to the peculiarities of the combination of the new substance with silver2 this1 he shows1 is markedly different from silver chloride4 ,he then forms this compound synthetically2 forms also the combination with potassium by direct union1 and describes its properties2 studies the action of chlorine on the new substance1 and notes the formation of the yellow solid chloride and the mode of its decomposition by water2 prepares a number of metallic compounds2 studies the action of the new substance on phosphorus1 the nature of the product1 and its mode of decomposition by water1 with formation of the white crystalline phosphonium iodide and hydriodic acid gas4 ,by acting on this gas with potassium he shows that it yields half its volume of hydrogen and forms the same product as by the direct union of the alkali metal with the new substance4 ,he further finds that this gas is formed when the new substance and hydrogen are passed through a heated tube2 it has a very strong attraction for water1 which dissolves it to a large extent1 and the concentrated solution rapidly becomes tawny4 ,when the new substance is treated with potash solution it forms the same product as by its direct union with potassium1 together with a salt precisely similar to potassium hyper-oxymuriate1 and which1 like that salt1 is decomposed when heated1 with evolution of oxygen4 ,he shows that the new substance is expelled from its compounds when these are heated with chlorine4 ,he studies the nature of the black fulminating compound discovered by ,desormes and ,clement by acting on the new substance with solution of ammonia1 and concludes that it is analogous to the detonating oil of ,dulong4 ,he attempts to determine the combining proportion of the new substance1 on the assumption that its compounds are analogous to those of chlorine1 but he has to admit that his experiments have been made upon quantities too small to afford exact results4 ,nevertheless they prove that the value is much higher than those of the simple inflammable bodies1 and higher even than those of most of the metals4 ,he further shows that the combination with hydrogen must be one of the heaviest elastic fluids existing4 8,from all the facts that have been stated1 there is every reason to consider this new substance as an undecompounded body4 ,in its specific gravity1 lustre1 colour1 and the high number in which it enters into combination1 it resembles the metals2 but in all its chemical agencies it is more analogous to oxygen and chlorine2 it is a non-conductor of electricity1 and possesses1 like these bodies1 the negative electrical energy with respect to metals1 inflammable and alkaline substances1 and hence when combined with these substances in aqueous solution and electrized in the voltaic circuit1 it separates at the positive surface2 but it has a positive energy with respect to chlorine4444 ,it agrees with chlorine and fluorine in forming acids with hydrogen4 8,the name ione has been proposed in ,france for this new substance from its colour in the gaseous state1 from 1 viola2 and its combination with hydrogen has been named hydroionic acid4 ,the name ione1 in ,english1 would lead to confusion1 for its compounds would be called ionic and ionian4 ,by terming it iodine1 from violaceous1 this confusion will be avoided1 and the name will be more analogous to chlorine and fluorine40 ,the rapidity with which ,davy ascertained the properties and relations of the new substance was characteristic of him4 ,a fortnight's work--done partly at his hotel and partly in the laboratory of the young ,chevreul1 amidst a succession of interruptions caused by ftes1 leves1 and visits of ceremony--sufficed to accumulate the material for his ,royal ,society paper1 in which he gives with unerring precision1 in spite of the small quantity of the matter at his disposal1 the broad outlines of the chemistry of iodine4 ,the paper shows him at his best3 he seems to have seized1 as if by instinct1 upon the central fact of the analogy of iodine to chlorine1 and he worked out the clue with a perspicacity and insight worthy of his genius4 ,as may be surmised1 ,davy's action hardly contributed to his popularity with a certain section of the savants of ,paris4 ,gay ,lussac and ,thenard were extremely angry with ,ampre and ,clement for having given him the material for his investigation1 and the feeling broke out after the publication of ,gay ,lussac's memoir in the ,annales de ,chimie in #ahad4 ,davy in a note published in the ,journal of the ,royal ,institution says3-- 8,who had most share in developing the chemical history of that body iodine1 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 ,chlorine40 ,davy left ,paris towards the end of ,december1 passing into ,auvergne and thence to ,montpellier1 where he resumed his work on iodine4 ,he then went to ,genoa1 where he made some experiments on the electricity of the torpedo1 and about the middle of ,march arrived at ,florence4 ,in a letter to his brother ,john he says3-- 8,i have worked a good deal on iodine and a little on the torpedo4 ,iodine had been in embryo for two years4 ,i came to ,paris2 ,clement requested me to examine it1 and he believed that it was a compound1 affording muriatic acid4 ,i worked upon it for some time1 and determined that it was a new body1 and that it afforded a peculiar acid by combining with hydrogen1 and this ,i mentioned to ,gay ,lussac1 ,ampre1 and other chemists4 ,the first immediately #8took the word of the ,lord out of the mouth of ,his servant1' and treated this subject as he had treated potassium and boron4 ,the paper which ,i sent to the ,royal ,society on iodine ,i wrote with ,clement's approbation and a note published in the #8,journal de ,physique' will vindicate my priority4 ,i have just got ready for the ,royal ,society a second paper on this fourth supporter of combustion4 8,the old theory is nearly abandoned in ,france4 ,berthollet1 with much candour1 has decided in favour of chlorine4 ,i know no chemist but ,thenard who upholds it at ,paris1 and he upholds it feebly1 and by this time1 probably1 has renounced it4 8,i doubt if the organ of the torpedo is analogous to the pile of ,volta4 ,i have not been able to gain any chemical effects by the shock sent through water2 but ,i tried on small and not very active animals4 ,i shall resume the inquiry at ,naples1 where ,i hope to be about the middle of ,may4 ,in my journey ,i met with no difficulties of any kind1 and received every attention from the scientific men of ,paris1 and the most liberal permission to go where ,i pleased from the government4 8,i lived very much with ,berthollet1 ,cuvier1 ,chaptal1 ,vauquelin1 ,humboldt1 ,morveau1 ,clement1 ,chevreul1 and ,gay ,lussac4 ,they were all kind and attentive to me2 and1 except for ,gay ,lussac's last turn of publishing without acknowledgement what he had first learnt from me1 ,i should have had nothing to complain of2 but who can control self-love8 8,it ought not to interfere with truth and justice2 but ,i will not moralise nor complain4 ,iodine is as useful an ally to me as ,i could have found at home40 ,at ,florence he worked in the laboratory of the ,accademia del ,cimento on iodine and on the diamond4 ,the results of his work on iodine he embodied in a paper read to the ,royal ,society on ,june #afth1 #ahad1 which deals mainly with the iodates1 or1 as he preferred to call them1 the oxyiodes4 ,the object of his work on the diamond was to determine whether any peculiar matter separated from it during its combustion1 and whether the gas formed in the process was precisely the same in its chemical nature as that produced by the combustion of plumbago and charcoal4 ,at ,florence he made use of the great burning-glass originally employed in the trials on the action of solar heat on the diamond instituted by ,cosmo ,,iii41 ,grand ,duke of ,tuscany2 he completed the research in the laboratory of the ,accademia dei ,lincei at ,rome4 ,from the results of his different experiments1 which were communicated to the ,royal ,society on ,june #bcrd1 #ahad1 it appeared that the diamond affords no other substance by its combustion in oxygen than pure carbonic acid gas1 and that the only chemical difference perceptible between diamond and the purest charcoal is that the latter contains a minute proportion of hydrogen4 8,but10 he asks1 8can a quantity of an element1 less in some cases than #a_/ejjjj part of the weight of the substance1 occasion so great a difference in physical and chemical characters80 ,this he concludes is most unlikely1 for1 as he points out1 even when the minute quantity of hydrogen is expelled by heating the charcoal in chlorine1 the specific differences remain4 ,the doctrine at that time current1 and which seemed indeed almost axiomatic1 8,that bodies cannot be exactly the same in composition or chemical nature1 and yet totally different in all their physical properties10 received its first great shock4 ,davy's work1 no doubt1 paved the way for the recognition of the fact of allotropy1 and thereafter of isomerism4 ,in ,may he went to ,naples and made his first ascent of ,vesuvius1 which he revisited on several subsequent journeys4 ,he commissioned one of the guides to inform him from time to time of the condition of the volcano1 and the man's letters1 in spite of their phonetic address--8,siromfredevi-,londra0--duly found their way to ,albemarle ,street4 ,he also interested himself in the excavations at ,pompeii instituted by direction of ,murat1 then ,king of ,naples1 and he performed a number of experiments on the colours used by the ancients in painting1 an account of which was communicated to the ,royal ,society on ,february #bcrd1 #ahae4 ,he then passed northwards with the intention of spending the summer at ,geneva4 ,on his way he called at ,milan to pay his respects to ,volta4 ,of this visit he wrote3-- 8,volta ,i saw at ,milan1 in #ahad1 at that time advanced in years1--,i think nearly seventy and in bad health4 ,his conversation was not brilliant2 his views rather limited1 but marking great ingenuity4 ,his manners were perfectly simple4 ,he had not the air of a courtier1 or even of a man who had seen the world40 ,if ,dr4 ,paris's story is to be credited1 the lack of brilliancy in the conversation of the great ,italian physicist may be attributed to the circumstances of this meeting4 ,davy1 we are told1 had written to announce his intended visit1 and on the appointed day and hour ,volta1 in full dress1 awaited his arrival4 8,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 him40 ,the party remained at ,geneva until the middle of ,september1 partaking freely of the intellectual life which that charming city afforded4 ,here he met ,saussure ,pictet1 ,de la ,rive1 ,madame de ,stal1 ,benjamin ,constant1 ,necker1 and ,talma1 whose society he greatly enjoyed4 ,with the approach of winter he returned to ,italy vi the ,brenner and ,venice1 and on ,november #bnd arrived at ,rome1 where he remained until ,march #ast1 #ahae1 occupying himself with his inquiry into the composition of ancient colours4 ,in this he was greatly assisted by the kindness of his friend ,canova1 the celebrated sculptor1 who was then charged with the care of the works connected with ancient art in ,rome1 and who supplied him with material from the colours found in the ,baths of ,titus and of ,livia1 and other palaces and baths of ancient ,rome and ,pompeii4 ,davy's memoir1 which appears in the ,philosophical ,transactions for #ahae1 displays considerable antiquarian and bibliographical research1 and1 considering his limited means1 much analytical skill and ingenuity4 ,the ancient reds he found to consist of minium1 several varieties of iron ochre1 and vermilion or cinnabar4 ,the yellows were mixtures of ochres and chalks1 or of ochre with minium4 ,he was unable to discover that orpiment was used2 a deep orange yellow on stucco in the ruins near the monument of ,caius ,cestius consisted of a mixture of massicot and minium4 ,the blues were mainly mixtures of the ,egyptian or ,alexandrine blue1 with more or less chalk4 ,this ,egyptian blue1 he found1 was a frit1 made by heating soda1 sand1 and copper1 either used as an ore or as metal4 ,he gives a method of making it1 and speaks highly of its permanence and beauty4 ,the greens were1 as a rule1 compounds of copper4 ,the exact nature of the purples he was unable to determine2 they were probably organic1 but whether obtained from shell-fish or madder could not be ascertained4 ,the purplish reds in the ,baths of ,titus were found to be mixtures of red ochres1 and the blues were copper compounds4 ,the blacks and browns were mixtures of carbonaceous matter with oxides of iron or manganese4 ,the whites were mainly chalk1 or occasionally clay2 cerusse1 or white-lead1 was apparently not used4 ,before leaving ,italy he again went to ,naples1 for the purpose of witnessing ,vesuvius in eruption1 and on several occasions he was as near the crater as he could get4 ,he left ,naples on ,march #bast1 and came home by way of ,verona1 ,innsbruck1 ,ulm1 ,stuttgart1 ,heidelberg1 and the ,rhine1 arriving in ,london ,april #bcrd1 #ahae4 ,a few days after his arrival he wrote to his mother3-- 8,we have had a very agreeable and instructive journey and ,lady ,davy agrees with me in thinking that ,england is the only country to live in1 however interesting it may be to see other countries4 8,i yesterday bought a good house in ,grosvenor ,street1 and we shall sit down in this happy land4 8,i beg you to give my best and kindest love to my sisters1 and to remember me with all affection to my aunts40 ,faraday was again engaged as assistant in the laboratory of the ,royal ,institution and superintendent of the apparatus 7at a salary of #cjs4 a week71 and was accommodated with apartments at the top of the house4 ,in ,dr4 ,bence ,jones's 8,life of ,faraday0 we have more detailed information concerning this tour1 derived from the journal which ,faraday kept whilst he was abroad4 ,faraday describes in considerable detail the life in ,paris and the work on ,iodine2 we have accounts of ,chevreul's laboratory at the ,jardin des ,plantes1 and of ,gay ,lussac's lectures at the cole ,polytechnique2 of the work on the torpedo at ,genoa2 of the combustion of the diamond at the ,accademia del ,cimento1 and a description of the great burning-glass1 and how it was actually employed2 of the experiments of ,morichini on the alleged magnetisation of a needle by the solar rays2 of his meeting ,volta--8an hale1 elderly man1 bearing the red ribbon1 and very free in conversation02 of the work at ,rome on chlorous oxide and iodic acid1 and on the pigments employed by the ancients4 8,the constant presence of ,sir ,humphry ,davy10 wrote ,faraday to his friend ,abbott1 8is a mine inexhaustible of knowledge and improvement40 ,but he adds3 8,i have several times been more than half decided to return hastily home2 but second thoughts have still induced me to try what the future may produce 444 the glorious opportunities ,i enjoy of improving in the knowledge of chemistry and the sciences continually determine me to finish this voyage with ,sir ,h4 ,d4 ,but if ,i wish to enjoy these advantages ,i have to sacrifice much1 and though these sacrifices are such as an humble man would not feel1 yet ,i cannot quietly make them40 ,faraday's troubles arose from his anomalous position in the party4 ,when ,davy elected to go abroad1 he arranged to take his valet with him2 but at the eleventh hour this man1 moved by the tears of his wife--to whom the 8,corsican ,ogre0 was a kind of bogey--refused to proceed4 8,when ,sir ,h4 informed me of this circumstance10 says ,faraday1 8he expressed his sorrow at it1 and said--that if ,i would put up with a few things on the road until he got to ,paris1 doing those things which could not be trusted to strangers or waiters 444 he would get a servant4444 ,at ,paris he could find no servant to suit him10 nor was he more successful at ,montpellier or at ,genoa4 ,it was1 doubtless1 difficult at this period to find a man in such places who understood ,english and was in other respects suitable4 ,faraday goes on to say3-- 8,sir ,humphry has at all times endeavoured to keep me from the performance of those things which did not form a part of my duty1 and which might be disagreeable4444 ,i should have but little to complain of1 were ,i travelling with ,sir ,humphry alone1 or were ,lady ,davy like him2 but her temper makes it oftentimes go wrong with me1 with herself and with ,sir ,h4444 8,she likes to show her authority1 and at first ,i found her extremely earnest in mortifying me4 ,this occasioned quarrels between us1 at each of which ,i gained ground and she lost it2 for the frequency made me care nothing about them1 and weakened her authority1 and after each she behaved in a milder manner40 ,how ,davy and his wife appeared to the world at this time may be seen from the following extracts from ,ticknor's ,life3-- 8#ahae4 ,june #ac4--;,i breakfasted this morning with ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 of whom we have heard so much in ,america4 ,he is now about thirty-three he was actually thirty-seven1 but with all the freshness and bloom of twenty-five1 and one of the handsomest men ,i have seen in ,england4 ,he has a great deal of vivacity--talks rapidly1 though with great precision--and is so much interested in conversation that his excitement amounts to nervous impatience1 and keeps him in constant motion4 ,he has just returned from ,italy1 and delights to talk of it2 thinks it1 next to ,england1 the finest country in the world1 and the society of ,rome surpassed only by that of ,london1 and says he should not die contented without going there again40 8#ae ,june4--,as her husband had invited me to do1 ,i called this morning on ,lady ,davy4 ,i found her in her parlour1 working on a dress1 the contents of her basket strewed about the table1 and looking more like home than anything since ,i left it4 ,she is small1 with black eyes and hair and a very pleasant face1 an uncommonly sweet smile2 and when she speaks has much spirit and expression in her countenance4 ,her conversation is agreeable1 particularly in the choice and variety of her phraseology1 and has more the air of eloquence than ,i have ever heard before from a lady4 ,but1 then1 it has something of the appearance of formality and display1 which injures conversation4 ,her manner is gracious and elegant2 and though ,i should not think of comparing her to ,corinne yet ,i think she has uncommon powers40 ,in ,henry ,crabb ,robinson's ,diary we read1 under date ,may #cast1 #ahac3-- 8,dined with ,wordsworth at ,mr4 ,carr's4 ,sir ,humphry and ,lady ,davy there4 ,she and ,sir ,h4 seem to have hardly finished their honeymoon4 ,miss ,joanna ,baillie said to ,wordsworth1 #8,we have witnessed a picturesque happiness4'0 ,in #ahae it was very evident the honeymoon had waned and that the picturesque happiness was at an end4 ,however fitted her ladyship might be to shine in salons1 at routs and fashionable gatherings1 she lacked the homelier1 kindlier charms which grace the placens uxor4 ,an accomplished woman1 of fastidious taste1 fond of study1 upright in her dealings1 and charitable to the poor1 she was withal cold and unsympathetic1 self-willed and independent1 8fitted to excite admiration rather than love1 and neither by nature happy in herself1 or qualified to impart1 in the best sense of the term1 happiness to others40 ,such is the character given of her by ,dr4 ,davy2 and he adds1 8,there was an oversight1 if not a delusion1 as to the fitness of their union02 and 8it might have been better for both if they had never met40 ,it was1 no doubt1 from the fulness of his own experience that ,davy once wrote to a friend3-- 8,upon points of affection it is only for the parties themselves to form just opinions of what is really necessary to ensure the felicity of the marriage state4 ,riches appear to me not at all necessary1 but competence1 ,i think is2 and after this more depends upon the temper of the individual than upon personal1 or even intellectual circumstances4 ,the finest spirits1 the most exquisite wines1 the nectars and ambrosias of modern tables1 will be all spoilt by a few drops of bitter extract2 and a bad temper has the same effect in life1 which is made up1 not of great sacrifices or duties1 but of little things1 in which smiles and kindness1 and small obligations given habitually1 are what win and preserve the heart1 and secure comfort40 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,safety ,,lamp4 ,shortly after ,davy's return to ,england his sympathy was enlisted in a cause which enabled him to display all the attributes of his genius1 and to achieve a triumph which1 while greatly enhancing his popular reputation1 added no little to his scientific fame4 ,to show him how he might be useful1 was at all times a certain method of securing his interest2 for1 like ,lavoisier1 he was even more the friend of humanity than of science1 and to make science serviceable to humanity was1 he considered1 the highest object of his calling4 ,during the early years of this century the country was repeatedly shocked by the occurrence of a succession of disastrous colliery explosions1 especially in the north of ,england1 attended by great destruction of life and property and widespread misery and destitution4 ,the development of our iron-trade1 the improvements in the steam-engine1 and the more general application of machinery to industry had greatly stimulated the opening out of our coal-fields2 and the working of coal was being extended with a rapidity that greatly aggravated the evils and dangers at all times inseparable from it4 ,in the early days of coal-getting1 when the pits were shallow and the workings comparatively near the shafts1 fire-damp1 although not unheard of1 was little dreaded1 and explosions were rare--so rare1 indeed1 that when they occurred they were thought worthy of mention in the ,philosophical ,transactions of the ,royal ,society4 ,as the pits became deeper1 and the ways more extended1 explosions became more frequent1 and at times it was impossible to work the coal1 owing to the accumulation of fire-damp and its liability to 8fire0 at the candles of the miners4 ,in #agcb attempts were first made to ventilate the pits by 8fire-lamps0 or furnaces1 and by mechanical means1 so as to sweep out the 8sulphur0 by means of fresh air4 ,carlisle ,spedding1 a little later1 invented the steel mill--a contrivance by which a disc of steel was caused to revolve against a piece of flint1 so as to throw off a shower of sparks sufficiently luminous to enable the miner to carry on his business4 ,in spite of the 8spark-emitting wheel10 and of the systems of ventilation introduced by ,ryan1 ,james ,spedding1 ,john ,buddle1 and others1 8the swart demon of the mine0 grew more and more formidable1 and demanded a greater number of victims every year4 ,mechanical science would appear to have spent itself1 and the mining world was gradually coming to look upon fire-damp with the fatalism with which ignorant and superstitious people regard the plague4 ,some of the great coal owners--powerless to do more1 but afraid of the rising tide of public opinion--used their influence with the newspapers to suppress all allusion to these calamities4 ,but many persons1 especially the physicians and clergymen in the mining districts1 who were witnesses of the suffering and distress which the 8firing0 of a mine occasioned1 kept public attention alive by means of pamphlets and letters and notices to such journals as would insert their communications4 ,one colliery--the ,brandling ,main or ,felling ,colliery1 near ,gateshead-on-,tyne--acquired an unenviable notoriety from the frequency with which it fired4 ,on ,may #beth1 #ahab1 an explosion occurred which killed ninety-two men and boys4 ,no calamity of such magnitude had ever happened before in a coal mine4 ,eighteen months afterwards a second explosion took place by which twenty-three lives were lost4 ,in the following year explosions occurred at ,percy ,main1 ,hebburn1 and ,seafield4 ,in ,june1 #ahae1 ,newbottle ,colliery exploded with the loss of fifty-seven men and boys1 and this was immediately followed by a similar disaster at ,sheriff ,hill4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,hodgson--the historian of ,northumberland--in whose parish the ,brandling ,main was situated1 published a particular account of the first ,felling ,colliery ,explosion4 ,this was widely circulated1 and ultimately found its way into ,thomson's ,annals of ,philosophy1 which continued to print accounts of similar accidents as they occurred4 ,at length ,mr4 ,j4 ,j4 ,wilkinson1 a barrister resident in the ,temple1 suggested the formation of a society to investigate the whole subject and to seek for remedies4 ,the ,bishop of ,durham and the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,gray1 afterwards ,bishop of ,bristol1 but then ,rector of ,bishopwearmouth1 led the way1 and ultimately the society was instituted on ,october #ast1 #ahac1 with ,sir ,ralph ,millbanke1 afterwards ,sir ,ralph ,noel1 as ,president4 ,its first report contains a letter from ,mr4 ,john ,buddle1 the great authority on the ventilation of coal mines1 in which he expresses his conviction that mechanical agencies are practically powerless to prevent explosions in mines subjected to sudden bursts of fire-damp1 and he concludes 8that the hopes of this society ever seeing its most desirable object accomplished must rest upon the event of some method being discovered of producing such a chemical change upon carburetted hydrogen gas as to render it innoxious as fast as it is discharged1 or as it approaches the neighbourhood of lights4 ,in this view of the subject1 it is to scientific men only that we must look up for assistance in providing a cheap and effectual remedy40 ,the society received a number of suggestions1 for the most part wholly impracticable1 and generally of the character of that of ,dr4 ,trotter1 who proposed to flood the mines with chlorine4 ,a variety of air-tight or insulated lamps were suggested by ,clanny1 ,brandling1 ,murray1 and others1 much on the same lines as that devised by ,humboldt1 but none of them appears to have been seriously tried4 ,under these circumstances it was decided to ask for the co-operation of ,davy1 and with that object ,mr4 ,wilkinson called upon him at the ,royal ,institution1 in the autumn of #ahac1 but found he had left for ,paris4 ,a few months after his return the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,gray wrote to him on the subject1 and received the following letter in reply3-- 8,august #c1 #ahae4 84444 8,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 8,if you think my visiting the mines can be of any use1 ,i will cheerfully do so4 99 99 99 99 99 8,i shall be here 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 coal gas40 ,dr4 ,gray1 in reply1 referred him to ,mr4 ,john ,buddle1 of the ,wallsend ,colliery4 ,on ,august #bdth1 #ahae1 ,mr4 ,buddle wrote to ,dr4 ,gray3-- 8,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 8,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 neutralise the inflammable air1 as to prevent it firing at the candles of the workmen4 8,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 particular40 ,after spending a few days in the district with ,mr4 ,hodgson and ,dr4 ,gray1 in the course of which he saw and experimented with ,dr4 ,clanny's lamp1 he went on a round of visits in ,durham and ,yorkshire1 and arrived in ,london at the end of ,september4 ,early in ,october a quantity of fire-damp was sent to him by ,mr4 ,hodgson1 the receipt of which he acknowledged on the #aeth1 saying3-- 8,my experiments are going on successfully and ,i hope in a few days to send you an account of them2 ,i am going to be fortunate far beyond my expectations40 ,four days afterwards he again wrote to ,mr4 ,hodgson stating that he had discovered 8that explosive mixtures of mine-damp will not pass through small apertures or tubes2 and that if a lamp or lanthorn be made air-tight on the sides1 and furnished with apertures to admit the air1 it will not communicate flame to the outward atmosphere40 ,on the #beth ,october he gave an account of his work to the ,chemical ,club4 ,on ,october #cjth he wrote to ,dr4 ,gray and to ,mr4 ,hodgson1 giving a description of three forms of safe lamps4 ,his letter to ,dr4 ,gray was as follows3-- 8,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 8,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 8,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 8,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 it40 ,mr4 ,hodgson's letter was shown to several persons1 and appears to have been copied by some1 on or about ,november #bnd1 and an extract from it appeared in ,dunn's 8,view of the ,coal ,trade40 ,on ,november #ith ,davy read his first paper on the subject before the ,royal ,society2 it was entitled 8,on the fire-damp of coal mines1 and on the methods of lighting the mines so as to prevent its explosion40 ,after describing the manner in which his attention had been specially called to the subject1 he states that he first made experiments with a variety of phosphori 7,kunckel's1 ,canton's1 and ,baldwin's71 and also with the electrical light in close vessels1 in the hope that they might be found to afford the requisite amount of illumination2 but the results were not encouraging4 ,after an account of the chemical characters of the fire-damp sent to him by ,mr4 ,hodgson1 he describes the results of experiments on its combustibility and explosive nature1 and on the degree of heat required to explode it when mixed with air4 ,in respect of its combustibility fire-damp was found to differ most materially from the other common inflammable gases in that it required a far higher temperature to effect its inflammation or explosion4 ,moreover1 it was found that the flame formed by the union of air and fire-damp would not pass through tubes of a certain minimum diameter2 8and in comparing the power of tubes of metal and those of glass1 it appeared that the flame passed more readily through glass tubes of the same diameter2 and that explosions were stopped by metallic tubes of one-fifth of an inch when they were an inch and a half long2 and this phenomenon probably depends upon the heat lost during the explosion in contact with so great a cooling surface1 which brings the temperature of the first portions exploded below that required for the firing of the other portions4 ,metal is a better conductor of heat than glass2 and it has been already shown that fire-damp requires a very strong heat for its inflammation40 ,the observation that mixtures of air and coal-gas would not explode in very narrow tubes had been previously made1 unknown to ,davy1 by ,wollaston and ,tennant4 ,davy likewise found that explosions would not pass through very fine wire sieves or wire gauze4 ,he also noted that an admixture of carbonic acid and nitrogen1 even in small proportions1 with explosive mixtures of fire-damp greatly diminished the velocity of the inflammation4 8444 ,it is evident then1 that to prevent explosions in coal mines it is only necessary to use air-tight lanterns1 supplied with air from tubes or canals of small diameter1 or from apertures covered with wire-gauze placed below the flame1 through which explosions cannot be communicated and having a chimney at the upper part1 as a similar system for carrying off the foul air2 and common lanterns may be easily adapted to the purpose by being made air-tight in the door and sides1 by being furnished with the chimney and the system of safety apertures below and above4 ,the principle being known1 it is easy to adapt and multiply practical applications of it40 ,illustration3 ,,davy',s ,,experimental ,,safety ,,lamps4 ,he then devised a number of lamps on this principle1 and subjected them to trial with explosive mixtures in various ways4 ,the plate on page #aii1 copied from the original paper in the ,philosophical ,transactions1 shows the successive forms through which the lamps passed4 ,illustration ,on ,january #aath1 #ahaf1 he read a second paper to the ,royal ,society1 entitled1 8,an account of an invention for giving light in explosive mixtures of fire-damp in coal mines by consuming the fire-damp10 in which he shows that the tubes or canals as well as the sides of the lanterns may be replaced by cages or cylinders of wire gauze4 ,the inflammable mixture will readily pass through the meshes of the gauze and will burn within it1 filling the cylinder with a bright flame1 but no explosion will pass outwards1 even although the wire becomes heated to redness4 ,a fortnight later he read a third paper to the ,society1 8,on the ,combustion of ,explosive ,mixtures confined by ,wire ,gauze1 with some ,observations on ,flame10 in which he gives the results of further inquiries respecting the limits of the size of the apertures1 and of the wire in the metallic gauze required to shield the flame of an oil-lamp1 and describes a number of illustrations of the action of the gauze in lowering the temperature of the explosive mixture below the point of ignition4 ,some of these illustrations are now among the stock experiments of the lecture theatre4 ,he offers some observations concerning the essential nature of flame1 and concludes by informing the ,society that his 8cylinder lamps i4e4 lamps of which the flames are enclosed within a cylinder of gauze3 see ,fig4 #aa1 p4 #aii have been tried in two of the most dangerous mines near ,newcastle with perfect success40 ,the form which the lamp finally took in the hands of ,mr4 ,newman1 the instrument-maker1 is seen on p4 #bjj4 ,the trials above referred to were first made by ,mr4 ,matthias ,dunn and the indefatigable ,mr4 ,hodgson in the ,hebburn ,colliery1 and shortly afterwards by ,mr4 ,john ,buddle in the ,wall's ,end ,colliery4 ,mr4 ,buddle has placed on record his impressions of his first experience4 8,i first tried it10 he says1 8in an explosive mixture on the surface2 and then took it into a mine2 444 it is impossible for me to express my feelings at the time when ,i first suspended the lamp in the mine and saw it red hot4444 ,i said to those around me #8,we have at last subdued this monster4'0 ,some months afterwards ,davy accompanied ,mr4 ,buddle into the pit and saw his lamp in actual use4 8,sir ,humphry was delighted10 says ,mr4 ,buddle1 8and ,i was overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude to that great genius which had produced it40 ,further testimony of ,mr4 ,buddle's appreciation of this memorable invention may be seen from the following extract from a letter by him to ,davy4 ,it is not only interesting in view of ,davy's remark that 8the evidence of the use of a practical discovery is of most value when furnished by practical men10 but also as showing the rapidity with which the discovery was taken advantage of3-- 8,walls ,end ,colliery1 ,newcastle1 ,june #ast1 #ahaf4 8,after having introduced your safety lamp into general use in all the collieries under my direction1 where inflammable air prevails1 and after using them daily in every variety of explosive mixture1 for upwards of three months1 ,i feel the highest possible gratification in stating to you that they have answered to my entire satisfaction4 8,the safety of the lamps is so easily proved by taking them into any part of a mine charged with fire-damp1 and all the explosive gradations of that dangerous element are so easily and satisfactorily ascertained by their application1 as to strike the minds of the most prejudiced with the strongest conviction of their high utility2 and our colliers have adopted them with the greatest eagerness4 8,besides the facilities afforded by this invention to the working of coal mines abounding in fire-damp1 it has enabled the directors and superintendents to ascertain1 with the utmost precision and expedition1 both the presence1 the quantity1 and the correct situation of the gas4 ,instead of creeping inch by inch with a candle1 as is usual1 along the galleries of a mine suspected to contain fire-damp1 in order to ascertain its presence1 we walk firmly in with the safe lamps1 and with the utmost confidence prove the actual state of the mine4 ,by observing attentively the several appearances upon the flame of the lamp1 in an examination of this kind1 the cause of accidents which have happened to the most experienced and cautious miners is completely developed2 and this has been1 in a great measure1 matter of mere conjecture4 8,i feel peculiar satisfaction in dwelling upon a subject which is of the utmost importance1 not only to the great cause of humanity1 and to the mining interest of the country1 but also to the commercial and manufacturing interests of the ,united ,kingdom2 for ,i am convinced that by the happy invention of the safe lamp large proportions of the coal mines of the empire will be rendered available1 which otherwise might have remained inaccessible1 at least without an invention of similar utility1 which could not have been wrought without much loss of the mineral1 and risk of life and capital4 8,it is not necessary that ,i should enlarge upon the national advantages which must necessarily result from an invention calculated to prolong our supply of mineral coal1 because ,i think them obvious to every reflecting mind2 but ,i cannot conclude1 without expressing my highest sentiments of admiration for those talents which have developed the properties1 and controlled the power1 of one of the most dangerous elements which human enterprise has hitherto had to encounter40 ,this letter is only one of many received by ,davy from practical men1 all telling the same story of wonder and astonishment 8that so simple a looking instrument should defy an enemy heretofore unconquerable02 and all expressing the deepest gratitude to him as its inventor1 often in language which gains in force1 and even in eloquence1 from its very homeliness and simple pathos4 ,the following address from the ,whitehaven colliers was among the papers lent to me by ,dr4 ,rolleston3-- 8,september #ah1 #ahaf4 8,we1 the undersigned1 miners at the ,whitehaven ,collieries1 belonging to the ,earl of ,lonsdale1 return our sincere thanks to ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 for his invaluable discovery of the safe lamps1 which are to us life preservers2 and being the only return in our power to make1 we most humbly offer this1 our tribute of gratitude40 ,the names of eighty-two miners are appended--the majority of them--viz4 forty-seven--with their mark 77 affixed4 ,what the learned world thought may be judged from the following extracts from an article in the ,edinburgh ,review--a periodical not always characterised by a just appreciation of the work of the ,royal ,institution professors1 for the literature of science contains few things more disingenuous or more spiteful than the attack of 8the young gentleman from ,edinburgh0--afterwards known as ,lord ,brougham--on ,thomas ,young when he first made known the undulatory theory of light4 ,in the ,review for ,february1 #ahaf1 ,mr4 ,playfair begins his article on ,davy's discovery by pointing out that-- 8,the safe lamp is a present from philosophy to the arts1 and to the class of men furthest removed from the influence of science4 ,the discovery is in no degree the effect of accident2 and chance1 which comes in for so large a share in the credit of human inventions1 has no claims on one which is altogether the result of patient and enlightened research4444 8,this is exactly such a case as we should choose to place before ,bacon1 were he to revisit the earth1 in order to give him1 in a small compass1 an idea of the advancement which philosophy has made1 since the time when he had pointed out to her the route which she ought to pursue4 ,the great use of an immediate and constant appeal to experiment cannot be better evinced than in this example4 ,the result is as wonderful as it is important4 ,an invisible and impalpable barrier made effectual against a force the most violent and irresistible in its operations2 and a power1 that in its tremendous effects seemed to emulate the lightning and the earthquake1 confined within a narrow space1 and shut up in a net of the most slender texture1--are facts which must excite a degree of wonder and astonishment from which neither ignorance nor wisdom can defend the beholder4 ,when to this we add the beneficial consequences and the saving of the lives of men and consider that the effects are to remain as long as coal continues to be dug from the bowels of the earth1 it may fairly be said that there is hardly in the whole compass of art or science a single invention of which one would rather wish to be the author40 ,davy was urged by several of his friends to protect his invention by a patent4 ,among them was ,mr4 ,buddle1 who pointed out to him that he might have received his five or ten thousand a year from it4 8,my good friend10 was his answer1 8,i never thought of such a thing3 my sole object was to serve the cause of humanity2 and if ,i have succeeded1 ,i am amply rewarded in the gratifying reflection of having done so4444 ,more wealth could not increase either my fame or my happiness4 ,it might undoubtedly 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 four80 ,the gratitude of some of the leading colliery proprietors for an invention so unselfishly placed at their disposal found expression in a letter from the chairman of a general meeting of the coal-owners held at ,newcastle on ,march #ahth1 #ahaf1 conveying the terms of a vote of thanks4 ,a few months afterwards it was determined that their appreciation should take a more substantial form1 and a general meeting of the coal-owners was held at ,wallsend ,colliery on ,august #cast1 #ahaf1 at which it was resolved to make ,davy a present of plate4 ,a note of opposition was at once sounded1 and it came from one of the proprietors of the ,felling ,colliery4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,brandling urged that it was not proved that ,sir ,humphry ,davy was the first and true inventor of the safety lamp1 or even the discoverer of the principle on which it was based4 8,the conviction10 he said1 8upon 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 for 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 principle40 ,the opposition thus started very quickly gathered strength1 and by appeals to local prejudice and to ignorance a degree of heat and even animosity was imported into the question1 which served no other purpose than to confuse the true issue4 ,at an adjourned meeting of the coal-owners held on ,october #aath1 #ahaf1 ,mr4 ,william ,brandling moved-- 8,that the meeting do adjourn1 until by a comparison of dates it shall be ascertained whether the merit of the safety lamp belongs to ,sir ,humphry ,davy1 or to ,mr4 ,george ,stephenson40 ,although ,mr4 ,brandling failed to convince the meeting1 it becomes necessary in the interests of truth and justice to examine the grounds upon which ,george ,stephenson--a man of undoubted genius1 and of an integrity as blameless as that of ,davy1 and who1 as the pioneer of railway enterprise1 subsequently acquired a fame as high and as deserved as that of the great chemist--has claims to be regarded as an inventor of the safety lamp4 ,in equity1 it must be admitted that the question is not merely a question of dates1 for in assigning merit in a matter of this kind the calmer judgment of posterity is not wholly swayed by priority of date2 it looks to circumstances1 conditions1 motives1 and it apportions its meed of approbation accordingly4 ,the glory of ,priestley as an independent discoverer of oxygen is in nowise dimmed by the circumstance that ,scheele is now known to have discovered it before him4 ,it cannot be truthfully asserted that ,davy was not an independent inventor of the safety lamp4 ,what has to be determined is1 has ,george ,stephenson any such claim8 ,stephenson's claim has been ably and temperately stated by ,dr4 ,smiles in his biography of ,george ,stephenson1 in 8,the ,lives of the ,engineers10 but an unbiassed review of the evidence will convince most people that1 however certain it may be that the ,killingworth engine-tenter was an independent searcher after a method of protecting a flame1 it is equally certain that he was not the discoverer of the true principle on which the safety lamp is constructed1 and that the lamp associated with his name1 although it bears the impress of the crude ideas with which he started1 owes its real merit to the discoveries of ,davy4 ,this controversy and the feeling it gave rise to greatly exasperated ,davy1 and his anger is manifested in his letters at the time4 ,the action of the ,brandlings he seemed to think was inspired by the most unworthy motives4 ,as to his rival1 he says3-- 8,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 above 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 tissue permeable to light and air1 and impermeable to flame40 ,on the #beth of ,september1 #ahag1 as ,davy passed through ,newcastle on his return from ,scotland1 the coal-owners who had subscribed to his testimonial invited him to a banquet and presented him with the plate1 which1 in accordance with his wishes1 took the form of a dinner-service4 8,i wish10 he had said1 8that 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 life40 ,the chairman--his friend ,mr4 ,lambton1 afterwards the ,earl of ,durham1 and who was with him under the care of ,dr4 ,beddoes at ,bristol--made the presentation in an impressive and felicitous speech1 and ,davy acknowledged it in terms worthy of himself and of the occasion4 ,in a subsequent speech1 in response to the toast of his health1 he dilated upon the theme always uppermost in his mind1 and to which he never neglected the opportunity to give utterance1 namely1 the benefit of abstract science to mankind4 ,he had an admirable moral to which to point1 and it was driven home with all his wonted skill and power4 ,in what manner this plate1 which was valued at about #b1ejj1 was subsequently made subservient to the interests of science will be seen hereafter4 ,the friends of ,stephenson were not wanting in the courage of their convictions or in determination to give substantial proof of it4 ,in the following ,november they met and resolved that as in their opinion ,mr4 ,g4 ,stephenson had been the first to discover the principle of safety and to apply it1 he was entitled to some reward4 ,whereupon ,davy's friends again assembled in public meeting on ,november #bfth1 #ahag1 and passed resolutions to the effect that in their opinion the merit belonged to ,sir ,humphry ,davy alone1 and that ,stephenson's latest lamps were evident imitations of those of ,sir ,humphry ,davy2 and they further ordered that copies of their resolutions should appear in a number of local1 ,london1 and ,edinburgh papers1 and be sent to the principal owners and lessors of collieries upon the ,tyne and ,wear4 ,davy's friends in ,london also exerted themselves in his behalf1 and a copy of resolutions similar in purport to those passed in ,newcastle1 signed by ,sir ,joseph ,banks1 ,p4,r4,s41 ,brande1 ,hatchett1 and ,wollaston1 was sent to the newspapers4 ,mr4 ,brandling and his friends eventually collected about #hjj 7including #ajj guineas which the meeting of ,october #aath had awarded ,stephenson as an acknowledgment of his efforts to construct a safe lamp71 and gave it1 together with a silver tankard1 to ,mr4 ,stephenson at a public dinner in ,january1 #ahah4 ,this is not the place to follow the subsequent history of the ,davy lamp1 or to describe the various modifications which have grown out of it1 or even to show the dangers which a larger experience reveals as latent in its original form4 ,these dangers have in great measure arisen from the development of the very system of ventilation which ,buddle himself instituted2 and he who in his joy exultingly exclaimed1 8,at last1 we have subdued this monster60 has unwittingly contributed to the maleficent activity of the monster in coping with the lamp as ,buddle knew it4 ,in the course of his numerous trials made to elucidate the principle of the safety lamp1 ,davy observed certain peculiarities connected with flame which led him to take up the general question4 ,hence arose a series of investigations1 which have contributed in no small degree to our knowledge of a particularly difficult and intricate subject4 ,he proved1 in the first place1 that flame must be considered as an explosive mixture of inflammable gas or vapour and air1 and that the heat communicated by it must depend upon its mass4 ,the different appearance of a flame of coal gas burning in a jet in the open air1 and in his safety lamp mixed with common air1 led him to investigate the cause of luminosity in flame4 ,he says3-- 8,in reflecting on the circumstances of the two species of combustion ,i was led to imagine that the cause of the superiority of the light of the stream of coal gas might be owing to the decomposition of a part of the gas towards the interior of the flame1 where the air was in smallest quantity1 and the deposition of solid charcoal1 which1 first by its ignition1 and afterwards by its combustion1 increased in a high degree the intensity of the light40 ,the principle of the increase of the brilliancy and density of flame by the production and ignition of solid matter explains the appearance of the different parts of the flames of burning bodies1 and of the blow-pipe flame2 it also explains the intensity of the light of those flames in which fixed solid matter is produced in combustion1 e4g4 phosphorus and zinc in oxygen1 potassium in chlorine2 and1 on the other hand1 the feebleness of the light of flames in which gaseous and volatile matter is alone produced1 e4g4 hydrogen in oxygen1 phosphorus in chlorine4 ,davy's theory has not been unchallenged1 but all subsequent research1 when pushed sufficiently far1 has shown that1 as regards all ordinary illuminating flames1 i4e4 carbonaceous flames--e4g4 coal-gas1 oil1 paraffin1 candle--the presence of solid incandescent carbon is a prime cause of their luminosity4 ,it had been observed that the rarefaction of a mixture of inflammable gases diminishes its combustibility3 ,davy proved that this diminution was not the result of the removal of pressure per se1 but of the cooling effect thus indirectly produced4 ,hence1 the lower the temperature of ignition of a gaseous mixture the more it may be rarefied without becoming uninflammable4 ,in like manner he shows that by heating the gaseous mixture it may be caused to explode at a lower temperature1 and that when gases combine by sudden compression1 the combination is caused by the heat evolved4 ,also that the power of an indifferent gas to prevent the explosion of a gaseous mixture depends upon its power of abstracting heat1 and that the higher the temperature of ignition of the explosive mixture the less is the amount of indifferent gas required to stop the explosion4 ,he proved that it was quite possible to effect the gradual combination of gases without flame--that is1 without the production of heat sufficient to raise the products to incandescence2 and he discovered the singular fact that platinum would induce the combination of many inflammable gases and vapours1 and on this circumstance based the construction of his flameless lamp4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the early summer of #ahah1 he thus wrote to his mother3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,mother1--,we are just going on a very interesting journey4 ,i am first to visit the coal miners of ,flanders1 who have sent me a very kind letter of invitation and of thanks for saving their lives4 ,we are then going to ,austria1 where ,i shall show ,vienna to ,lady ,davy1 and then visit the mines2 and lastly1 before ,i return1 we are going to visit ,naples4 8,i have the commands of his ,royal ,highness the ,prince ,regent to make experiments upon some very interesting ancient manuscripts1 which ,i hope to unfold4 ,i had yesterday the honour of an audience from his ,royal ,highness1 and he commissioned me to pursue this object in the most gracious and kind manner4444 8,we shall be absent some months4 ,with kindest love to my sisters and my aunts1 8,i am1 my dear mother1 8,your most affectionate son1 8,h4 ,,davy40 ,a few months after this visit to the ,prince ,regent he received the intimation that he had been created a baronet4 ,he arrived at ,naples in the autumn1 and began his researches on the ,herculaneum manuscripts referred to in his letter4 ,his first results were sufficiently encouraging to induce him to make some prolonged experiments with a view of discovering a method of unfolding them4 ,he found that the papyri had suffered not so much from fire1 as was believed1 as from a gradual change in vegetable structure1 similar to that which accompanies the transformation of vegetable matter into lignite4 ,he managed to unroll a number1 and an account of his results was communicated to the ,royal ,society in #ahba4 ,but from the fragmentary character of the papyri these were found to be of little value to literature4 ,subsequently difficulties were put in his way by the curators of the museum1 and ultimately his investigations were abandoned1 not without some little exhibition of temper and resentment on his part4 ,during his stay at ,naples he again interested himself in the volcanic phenomena of ,vesuvius1 and his observations constitute the material of a paper which was published in the ,philosophical ,transactions in #ahbg1 and many of his personal experiences in connection with the subject are referred to in his last work1 8,consolations in ,travel40 ,he left ,naples in the spring of #ahai1 and after a short stay at the baths of ,lucca he went for the summer and early autumn into the ,tyrol1 whence he again proceeded to ,lucca1 and on the approach of winter returned to ,naples1 where he arrived on ,december #ast4 ,he quitted it in the spring of #ahbj1 and travelled slowly home by the south of ,france and ,bordeaux1 arriving in ,england about the middle of ,june4 ,on the #aith of that month ,sir ,joseph ,banks died1 and so terminated his forty-two years' presidency of the ,royal ,society1 to which position he was elected before ,davy was even born4 ,davy immediately announced his intention of becoming a candidate for the vacant chair1 and was elected at the following anniversary meeting on ,november #cjth4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,davy ,,and ,,the ,,royal ,,society--,,his ,,last ,,days4 ,davy was elected into the ,royal ,society in #ahjc4 ,his certificate describes him as 8a gentleman of very considerable scientific knowledge1 and author of a paper in the ,philosophical ,transactions40 ,two years afterwards--that is1 in his twenty-seventh year--he was awarded the ,copley medal2 from which we may infer either that the ,society considered their medal not to have the lustre it now possesses1 or that they had a confident belief in the power and coming greatness of the recipient1 since the papers for which it was given are perhaps the least meritorious of ,davy's productions4 ,his active interest in the affairs of the ,society led to his election--or rather selection1 for the appointment in those days was made by the ,president--as one of the ,secretaries1 a position he held until #ahab1 when he resigned it at the time of his marriage4 ,in #ahaf he received the ,rumford medal of the ,society for his work in connection with flame and the safety lamp--an award which would have given a peculiar satisfaction to ,rumford had he lived to witness it4 ,on the death of ,sir ,joseph ,banks the general voice of the ,fellows seemed to designate ,wollaston as his successor4 ,it was1 indeed1 ,sir ,joseph ,banks's desire that ,dr4 ,wollaston should be nominated4 8,so excellent a man10 he remarked to ,barrow1 8of such superior talents1 and everyway fitted for the situation4 ,davy is a lively and talented man1 and a thorough chemist2 but 444 he is rather too lively to fill the chair of the ,royal ,society with that degree of gravity which it is most becoming to assume40 ,oh this gravity6 8,la gravit10 says ,la ,rochefoucauld1 8est un mystre du corps1 invent pour cacher les dfauts de l'esprit40 ,and ,sir ,joseph had enough of it and to spare4 ,wollaston--a man of wide knowledge1 steady1 cautious1 and sure1--of cool judgment and sagacious views1 as ,davy said of him--felt no inclination to accept a position for which his retiring habits and reticent disposition to some extent unfitted him1 and he declined to be put in nomination4 ,davy's attitude is indicated in the following letter to his friend ,poole3-- 8,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 8,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 them40 ,the 8strong feeling in the majority0 was shown on the day of election4 ,a few votes were given in favour of ,lord ,colchester1 but ,davy's triumph was practically complete4 ,he thus writes to ,mr4 ,poole in answer to a letter of congratulation3-- 8,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 science40 ,davy was re-elected to the ,presidential ,chair without opposition for seven successive years--until1 in short1 his failing health compelled him to resign4 ,although the ,society owes much to him1 he himself derived little satisfaction or pleasure from the position4 ,he soon found1 as he anticipated1 that the ,president's ,chair1 after ,sir ,joseph1 was no light matter2 and there is little doubt that the worries and cares of the office contributed to his untimely death4 ,in bearing1 manner1 temperament--in fact1 in almost every particularity--he was the very opposite to his predecessor2 and when the discontent which had slumbered1 with an occasional awakening1 during ,sir ,joseph's long reign1 and which his firmness1 tact1 and the weight of his personal character had for the time allayed1 broke out1 ,davy was too impulsive and irascible to deal with it as ,banks had done1 and matters which a less sensitive or a more impassive man would have unheeded were causes of annoyance and ill-temper to him1 and served to add to the spirit of disunion which prevailed4 ,but if he occasionally lacked discretion1 he was never wanting in zeal4 ,he laboured incessantly to add to the dignity and usefulness of the ,society4 ,he strove in every way to enhance the character of its publications and to raise the standard of ,fellowship4 ,his great ambition was to bring the ,society into more intimate relation with the ,state4 8,it was his wish10 says his brother1 8to have seen the ,royal ,society an efficient establishment for all the great practical purposes of science1 similar to the college contemplated by ,lord ,bacon1 and sketched in his ,new ,atlantis2 having subordinate to it the ,royal ,observatory at ,greenwich for astronomy2 the ,british ,museum1 for natural history1 in its most extensive acceptation40 ,realising in his own case what such a laboratory as that of the ,royal ,institution1 supported wholly by private liberality1 had done for science1 it was his desire that similar laboratories1 amply provided with all means requisite for original inquiry1 should be maintained and administered by the ,society4 ,but1 as his brother adds1 the ,government1 although ready enough to consult him when in want of his knowledge or of that of other ,fellows of the ,society1 was lukewarm and indifferent in matters of science1 and he received no effectual support4 ,it is true that towards the end of his ,presidency the ,society received a mark of ,royal favour by the foundation of the ,royal ,medals in #ahbe1 but from various causes the medals were not actually forthcoming until #ahcc1 when the ,duke of ,sussex was in the ,chair1 although no fewer than ten awards had been made in the meantime4 ,in his attention to the personal duties of his office ,davy was unremitting4 ,his addresses were a feature of the session2 in these he displayed all the ardour1 eloquence and poetical fervour1 and1 it may be added1 all the egoism1 which characterised his lectures4 ,he delighted to dwell upon the power and dignity of science1 its worth as a mental instrument1 and its value to the national life4 ,in his announcements of the awards of the ,society's medals the range of his knowledge1 his power of exposition1 and his faculty of felicitous expression found ample opportunity for exercise4 ,he was the first ,president to introduce obituary notices of ,fellows1 and his loges are marked by judgment1 taste1 and warmth of feeling4 ,in everything that related to the dignity and ceremony of his office he was1 as might have been expected1 most punctilious4 ,although as a rule somewhat careless in dress1 he invariably took the chair in full ,court dress1 sitting covered1 and with the mace of office--the veritable 8bauble0 which ,cromwell ordered to be removed from the table of the ,house of the ,commons--in front of him1 as is still the custom4 ,to enhance his dignity we are told that he petitioned ,government for the ,red ,ribbon of his predecessor1 and it was said that he felt so certain his request would be granted that his name was printed with the coveted letters ,k4,b4 appended4 ,during the session he followed the practice of ,sir ,joseph ,banks in assembling the ,fellows at a weekly conversazione at his house in ,lower ,grosvenor ,street4 ,subsequently1 on his removal to ,park ,street1 these meetings were held in the apartments of the ,society at ,somerset ,house4 ,davy's vivacity and conversational powers made the gatherings in the outset a great success1 but when the tide of his unpopularity as ,president set in1 the attendance fell off1 and they were eventually discontinued4 ,during the autumn preceding his first election he spent some time with ,scott at ,abbotsford1 in company with ,wollaston and ,mackenzie 7the ,man of ,feeling71 and ,lockhart gives some account of him as the party started on a sporting expedition on a ,september morning4 8,but the most picturesque figure was the illustrious inventor of the safety lamp4 ,he had come for his favourite sport of angling 444 and his fisherman's costume--a brown hat with flexible brims1 surrounded with line upon line1 and innumerable fly-hooks2 jack-boots worthy of a ,dutch smuggler1 and a fustian surtout dabbled with the blood of salmon--made a fine contrast to the smart jackets1 white-cord breeches1 and well polished jockey-boots of the less distinguished cavaliers about him4 ,dr4 ,wollaston was in black1 and with his noble serene dignity of countenance might have passed for a sporting archbishop4444 ,i have seen ,sir ,humphry in many places1 and in company of many different descriptions2 but never to such advantage as at ,abbotsford4 ,his host and he delighted in each other1 and the modesty of their mutual admiration was a memorable spectacle4 ,davy was by nature a poet--and ,scott1 though anything but a philosopher in the modern sense of that term1 might1 ,i think it very likely1 have pursued the study of physical science with zeal and success1 had he happened to fall in with such an instructor as ,sir ,humphry would have been to him1 in his early life4 ,each strove to make the other talk--and they did so in turn more charmingly than ,i have ever heard either on any other occasion whatsoever4 ,scott in his romantic narratives touched a deeper cord of feeling than usual1 when he had such a listener as ,davy2 and ,davy1 when induced to open his views upon any question of scientific interest in ,scott's presence1 did so with a degree of clear energetic eloquence1 and with a flow of imagery and illustration1 of which neither his habitual tone of table-talk 7least of all in ,london71 nor any of his prose writings 7except1 indeed1 the posthumous ,consolations in ,travel7 could suggest an adequate notion4 ,i say his prose writings--for who that has read his sublime quatrains on the doctrine of ,spinoza can doubt that he might have united1 if he had pleased1 in some great didactic poem1 the vigorous ratiocination of ,dryden and the moral majesty of ,wordsworth8 ,i remember ,william ,laidlaw whispering to me1 one night1 when their #8wrapt talk' had kept the circle round the fire until long after the usual bed-time of ,abbotsford--#8,gude preserve us6 ,this is a very superior occasion6 ,eh1 sirs6' he added1 cocking his eye like a bird1 #8,i wonder if ,shakspeare and ,bacon ever met to screw ilk other up8'0 ,in spite of the many calls upon his time and energies entailed by his duties as ,president1 he still found opportunity to work in his laboratory1 and one outcome of his labours was a paper 8,on the magnetic phenomena produced by electricity10 published in the ,philosophical ,transactions for #ahba--the sequel of a letter addressed to ,wollaston and also printed in the ,transactions4 ,this memoir was followed a few months later by a communication 8,on the ,electrical phenomena exhibited in vacuo40 ,these papers1 together with one on a ,new ,phenomenon of ,electro-,magnetism1 published in #ahbc1 are interesting in relation to the development of ,oersted's great discovery1 and in connection with the subsequent work of ,faraday4 ,with that power of generalisation which is one of the distinguishing marks of his genius1 he shows the possible connection of the facts he had observed with the phenomena of terrestrial magnetism4 ,he concludes his first paper by asking 8whether 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 be40 ,it is perhaps idle to speculate on such a matter1 but it is more than likely that had ,davy been free from the cares and restraints of office1 and from the innumerable distractions inseparable from his position in the social and scientific world of ,london1 he might have revealed the possibilities in electro-magnetism with the same brilliant success as he had done those of voltaic electricity4 ,he was now at the maturity of his mental power1 and had still much of the enthusiasm and ardour which characterised his earliest work1 and under serener conditions he might have achieved triumphs not less striking than those reserved for ,faraday4 ,his few short papers on the subject indicate that he fully realised the great wealth of the new territory thus opened out to science1 and into which he was one of the first to penetrate4 ,but it is sad to think that he might have extended a more generous hand to one who1 equally with himself1 was striving to enter the new land1 and who eventually did enter and for a time possessed it4 ,in the concluding words of ,davy's last paper on electro-magnetism1 we discern in the allusion to ,wollaston's idea of the possibility of the rotation of the electro-magnetic wire round its axis 8the rift within the lute0 in his relations towards his assistant1 which widened in the matter of the condensation of chlorine1 and which threatened to become an open breach when ,faraday was elected into the ,royal ,society4 ,the jealousy thus manifested by ,davy is one of the most pitiful facts in his history4 ,it was a sign of that moral weakness which was at the bottom of much of his unpopularity1 and which revealed itself in various ways as his physical strength decayed4 ,greedy as he was of fame--that infirmity of noble minds--many incidents in his life up to this period prove that he was not wanting on occasion in a generous appreciation of the work of his contemporaries1 even in fields he might reasonably claim as his own4 ,but1 although in his intellectual combats he could show at times a certain knightly courtesy1 it must be confessed that he was lacking in the magnanimity which springs from the charity that envieth not4 ,in genius he was unquestionably superior to ,faraday2 in true nobility of character he was far below him4 ,it is almost impossible to avoid comparing him with ,faraday4 ,indeed it is one of the penalties of his position that he has to be tried by so severe a standard1 and it may well be that his good name1 which1 as ,bacon says1 is the proper inheritance of the deceased1 has suffered unduly in consequence4 ,his true place in the history of science is defined by his discoveries2 it is a sad reflection that the lustre of his fame has been dimmed rather than heightened by what has been styled the greatest of them all--,faraday4 ,but there has undoubtedly been injustice in the comparisons which have been made4 ,what ,davy was to ,faraday1 ,faraday would have been the first to admit4 ,davy made himself what he was by the sheer force of his unaided genius2 what ,faraday became was in large measure due to his connection with ,davy1 and the germs of his greatest works are to be traced to this association4 ,this fact has been frankly acknowledged by ,faraday4 ,to the end of his days he regarded ,davy as his true master1 preserving to the last1 in spite of his knowledge of the moral frailties of ,davy's nature1 the respect and even reverence which is to be seen in his early lecture notes and in his letters to his friend ,abbott4 ,faraday was not easily roused to anger1 but nothing so effectually moved him as any aspersion of ,davy's character as a man of science1 or any insinuation of ungenerous treatment of himself by ,davy4 ,at about this time--that is1 in the autumn of #ahbc--;,davy gave the first signs of the obscure malady which ultimately occasioned his death4 ,in a letter to his brother1 in which he describes his symptoms1 we have a reference1 also1 to his domestic worries3 8,to add to my annoyances1 ,i find my house1 as usual1 after the arrangements made by the mistress of it1 without female servants2 but in this world we have to suffer and bear1 and from ,socrates down to humble mortals1 domestic discomfort seems a sort of philosophical fate40 ,he was able1 however1 to continue his scientific work1 but instead of the fame and applause on which he so confidently counted1 he found only disappointment and chagrin4 ,in #ahbc the ,admiralty sought the advice of the ,royal ,society as to 8the best means of securing to the service copper of the most durable quality1 and such as will preserve the smoothest surface40 ,a committee of the ,society was appointed1 under ,davy's direction1 to consider the question1 which ultimately resolved itself into one of preventing the corrosion of the metal4 ,in this matter ,davy's special experience proved most useful1 and1 as a fact1 he took all the experimental part of the inquiry upon himself1 and with what result may be seen from the following letter to his brother3-- 8,firle1 ,jan'y #cj1 #ahbd4 8,i have lately made a discovery of which you will for many reasons be glad4 ,i have found a complete method of preserving the copper sheeting of ships1 which now readily corrodes4 ,it is by rendering it negatively electrical4 ,my results are of the most beautiful and unequivocal kind3 a mass of tin renders a surface of copper #bjj or #cjj times its own size sufficiently electrical to have no action on sea water4 8,i was led to this discovery by principle1 as you will easily imagine2 and the saving to government and the country by it will be immense4 ,i am going to apply it immediately to the navy4 ,i might have made an immense fortune by a patent for this discovery1 but ,i have given it to my country2 for in everything connected with interest1 ,i am resolved to live and die at least #8sans tche4'0 ,his method of rendering the copper negatively electric consisted in affixing to the sheets a number of short bars of iron or zinc1 properly curved to the shape of the vessel4 ,in this way the 8protectors10 as the zinc or iron bars were called1 gradually corroded1 whilst the copper remained unattacked4 ,but1 as ,dr4 ,paris remarks1 the truth of the theory was completely established by the failure of the remedy4 ,the ship's bottom became so foul by the adhesion of shells and weed that her speed was greatly impeded1 and after a number of trials1 in the course of which a steam vessel was placed at his disposal1 in which he made a voyage to ,norway and back1 the ,admiralty directed the protectors to be removed4 ,to add to his mortification1 the order was issued immediately after a communication to the ,royal ,society announcing the complete success of his plan4 ,throughout the whole of this business he was exposed to a number of vexatious attacks1 which greatly embittered him and reacted disastrously upon his health and character4 ,so long as there was the hope of success and the prospect of reward his claims to the originality of the invention were contested3 no sooner was the project abandoned than he was assailed in the periodical press and made an object of sarcasm and censure4 ,as might be imagined1 his philosophy was not proof against such attacks4 ,he wrote to his friend ,children-- 8,a mind of much sensibility might be disgusted1 and one might be induced to say 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 services40 ,during the autumn his indisposition increased1 and his home letters show that the wonderful elasticity of spirit1 which1 as his brother remarks1 had hitherto carried him lightly and joyously through life1 over all its rubs and cares1 now seemed to flag4 ,he had an ailing winter1 and with the spring came news of his mother's illness4 ,he could only write with difficulty3--8,if it please ,god1 ,i will certainly be at ,penzance the last week in ,october or the first in ,november40 ,he never saw her again2 she rallied for a time1 but died somewhat suddenly in ,september4 ,davy never really recovered from the shock of her death4 ,it was with the greatest difficulty that he was able to preside at the anniversary meeting of the ,society on the ensuing ,st4 ,andrew's ,day4 ,the effort was so marked that those near him feared he was on the verge of apoplexy1 and he was too ill to attend the dinner4 ,a few weeks later he had a slight attack of paralysis1 from which he only slowly recovered4 ,his good friend ,dr4 ,babington,j ordered him abroad1 away from 8the convivial epicurean habits of ,london society10 and from 8the many annoyances and causes of injurious excitement to which he was exposed at home40 ,he set out with his brother ,john1 in the depth of winter--8a dreary beginning of a dreary journey40 ,he avoided ,paris2 he would not even pass through it1 so apprehensive was he that he should not escape from 8the allurement--or1 rather1 excitement--of its society0 if he stopped there4 ,the roads were in a wretched state1 the country covered with snow1 and 8no object to arrest the eye1 except a village here and there rising out of the white waste1 or a distant steeple1 or some solitary tree40 ,the cold was intense1 and once or twice the travellers were benighted1 the wheels of their carriage being locked in the frozen ruts4 ,as they passed through the towns ,davy1 who seemed to cling to life with a passionate tenacity1 would visit the churches1 and1 falling on his knees1 would offer up a silent prayer4 ,they crossed ,mont ,cenis in a storm of wind and amidst drifting snow1 and with great difficulty got down to ,susa on sledges4 ,the snow in ,lombardy was deeper than in the passes of the ,alps1 and even at ,ravenna1 where they arrived in the first week of ,march1 it was still to be seen in the ditches4 ,here his brother left him1 his duties as an army surgeon calling him to ,corfu4 ,in spite of severe weather1 the discomforts of travelling at such a time1 and the forced delays at wretched inns1 ,davy gradually improved2 his brother noted before he left that he was certainly stronger1 less paralytic1 and more active4 ,he wrote to his friend ,poole3-- ,j 8,babington1 the best and warmest-hearted friend1 the kindest husband and father1 and perhaps the most disinterested physician of his time2 with good talents1 and a fine tact1 and a benevolence which created sympathy for him wherever he appeared1 and ,i believe often cured his patients40 8,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 complete4 ,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 and ,i hope for humanity1 ,i submit to it1 believing that the ,great ,source of intellectual being so wills it for good40 ,he tells ,poole that he had chosen ,ravenna--this spot of the declining ,empire of ,rome--as one of solitude and repose1 and as out of the way of travellers and in a good climate4 ,he was interested1 too1 in its many associations with his friend ,byron1 with ,dante1 and in its old-world memories of ,theodoric and his lost legions4 ,how the place affected him in his state of physical enfeeblement1 but with his mind chastened and purified1 may be seen in the character of much that he wrote there1 and particularly in his poems1 with their many notes of sadness and hope1 trust and resignation4 ,he was lodged in the ,apostolical ,palace by the kindness of the ,vice-,legate--a graceful1 learned1 and accomplished man1 with whom he contracted a warm friendship4 ,he says he could not speak of his goodness without tears of gratitude in his eyes1 and with this exception and an occasional visit from the ,countess ,guiccioli he had no society4 ,most of his time was spent in riding amidst the pines and junipers1 or following the petzardone among the marshes of ,la ,classe2 or in reading and in the study of natural history4 8,the natural strength of his mind10 says his brother1 8was very clearly manifested under these circumstances4 ,dependent entirely on his own resources2 no friend to converse with2 no one with him to rely on for aid1 and in a foreign country1 without even a medical adviser2 destitute of all the amusements of society2 without any of the comforts of home--month after month1 he kept on his course1 wandering from river to river1 from one mountain lake and valley to another1 in search of favourable climate2 amusing himself with his gun and rod1 when sufficiently strong to use them1 with #8speranza' for his rallying word40 ,with the approach of spring he passed by way of ,gorizia into ,illyria1 and1 as the heat increased1 into ,upper ,austria1 ,bavaria1 and ,switzerland1 and back1 in the late summer1 to ,illyria4 ,his journals give a fairly full account of his movements and of the manner in which he spent his time2 they also indicate his state of mind1 the alternations of hope and despondency1 and his constant struggles with the insidious disease which was gradually exhausting his physical powers4 ,he wrote to his wife from ,laybach3-- 8,you once talked of passing this winter in ,italy2 but ,i hope your plans will be entirely guided by the state of your health and feelings4 ,your society would undoubtedly be a very great resource to me1 but ,i am so well aware of my own present unfitness for society1 that ,i would not have you risk the chance of an uncomfortable moment on my account4 ,i often read ,lord ,byron's ,euthanasia3 it is the only case1 probably1 where my feelings perfectly coincide with what his were40 ,at times the feeling of despair was so intense that he actually seemed apprehensive of suicide4 ,it was probably under the influence of such a fear that he wrote in his journal that he had too strong a faith in the optimism of the system of the universe ever to accelerate his dissolution4 8,i have been and am taking a care of my health which ,i fear it is not worth2 but which1 hoping it may please ,providence to preserve me for wise purposes1 ,i think it my duty40 ,on another occasion he wrote to ,lady ,davy3-- 8,i am glad to hear of your perfect re-establishment1 and with health and the society of ,london1 which you are so well fitted to ornament and enjoy1 your #8viva la felicit' is much more secure than any hope belonging to me40 ,subsequently he wrote3-- 8,should your feelings or inclination lead you to the land of the sun1 ,i need not say what real pleasure it would give me to enjoy your society2 but do not make any sacrifice on my account40 ,a couple of days afterwards he wrote3-- 8,i hope ,i shall have the delight of seeing you at ,baden ,baden4 ,if not1 ,i shall come to ,england4444 ,pray let my physicians know what an obedient patient ,i am4444 ,god bless you1 my dear ,jane60 ,towards the end of ,september1 and at ,baden1 the solitary man wrote3-- 8,i fear my light of life is burnt out1 and that there remains nothing but stink1 and smoke and dying snuff4444 ,dubito fortissime restaurationem meum4--,decidedly worse and have decided to go home immediately40 ,at ,mayence he informed his wife that he trusted soon to see her in ,park ,street4 ,he had a lingering hope that she might still be induced to cross the water1 and that he might meet her at ,calais4 8,i think you will find me altered in many things--with a heart still alive to value and reply to kindness1 and a disposition to recur to the brighter moments of my existence of fifteen years ago1 and with a feeling that though a burnt-out flame can never be rekindled1 a smothered one may be4444 ,i hope it is a good omen that my paper by accident is couleur de rose40 ,he had previously determined to resign the chair of the ,royal ,society1 and announced his decision in a letter to his old friend ,davies ,gilbert1 the treasurer4 ,to his wife he wrote3-- 8,if ,i had perfectly recovered ,i know not what ,i should have done with respect to the ,p4 under the auspices of a new and more enlightened government2 but my state of health renders the resignation absolutely necessary4 ,to attempt business this year would be to prepare for another attack40 ,he is pleased with the idea that ,sir ,robert ,peel1 who had 8no scientific glory to awaken jealousy10 may be his successor2 and he resumes3-- 8,the prosperity of the ,royal ,society will always be very dear to me1 and there is no period of my life to which ,i look back with more real satisfaction than the six years of labour for the interests of that body4 ,i never was1 and never could be1 unpopular with the active and leading members1 as six unanimous elections proved2 but because ,i did not choose the ,society to be a tool of ,mr4 ----'s journal jobs1 and resisted the admission of improper members1 ,i had some enemies1 who were listened to and encouraged from ,lady ----'s chair4 ,i shall not name them1 but as ,lord ,byron has said #8my curse shall be forgiveness4'0 ,he arrived in ,london in the first week in ,october1 and towards the end of the month he wrote to his friend ,poole that he had consulted all the celebrated men who had written upon or studied the nervous system4 8,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 months and advise a residence in the ,west of ,england40 ,poole promptly asked him down to ,nether ,stowey4 ,his friend relates that although his bodily infirmity was very great and his sensibility painfully acute--78,here ,i am1 the ruin of what ,i was60 he exclaimed on his arrival7--his mind still showed much of its wonted ardour and vigour4 ,he spent his mornings in literary work1 mainly on his 8,salmonia2 or1 ,days of ,fly-fishing10 a philosophical disquisition on angling1 published in #ahbh1 and which1 despite the rollicking banter of ,christopher ,north1 passed through five or six editions4 ,davy had the ambition to do for fly-fishing what ,walton had done for the humbler art of bottom-fishing4 ,but ,davy's book1 although constructed on much the same lines as 8,the ,compleat ,angler10 lacks every feature which has made honest ,izaak's work immortal--the quaint simplicity1 the homely wit1 the delicate humour1 the delightful charm--the reflection1 in a word1 of the mental features of a lovable man blessed with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit4 ,the egotism and garrulity of ,piscator are delicious2 the loquacity and self-confidence of ,davy's ,halieus are tiresome to the last degree4 ,we are bored with his long didactic speeches1 his consciousness of superiority1 and his cheap and tawdry sentiment4 ,it was a poor return for all the kindness and skill of ,babington1 that his patient should have seen in such a creation the character of one of the most charming and estimable of men4 ,more than one mention has been made in this biography of what ,maria ,edgeworth termed ,davy's 8little madness40 ,indeed1 the love of angling amounted to a passion with him2 and he told ,ticknor that he thought if he were obliged to renounce either fishing or philosophy he should find the struggle of his choice pretty severe4 ,whenever he could escape from town he would hie him to some favourite stream and spend the day in the practice of his beloved art4 ,he was known to have posted a couple of hundred miles for the sake of a day's fishing1 and to have returned contented1 although he had never a rise4 ,when confined to ,albemarle ,street1 and chafing at his inability to get away1 he would sometimes turn over the leaves of his fly-book and derive much consolation from the sight of his hackles and harles1 his green-tails1 dun cuts1 red spinners1 and all the rest of the deadly paraphernalia associated in his mind with the memories of pleasant days and exciting combats4 ,he greatly prided himself on his skill1 and his friends were often secretly amused to notice his ill-concealed chagrin when a brother-angler outvied him in the day's catch or in the narration of some piscatorial triumph4 ,they were amused1 too1 at the costume which he was wont to don on such occasions--his broad-brimmed1 low-crowned hat1 lined with green and garnished with flies2 his grey-green jacket1 with a multitude of pockets for the various articles of his angling gear2 his wading-boots and knee-caps--all made up an attire as original as it was picturesque4 ,in these fishing expeditions he enjoyed some of the happiest hours of his life2 at such times he threw off his cares and annoyances2 he was cheerful even to hilarity1 and never was his conversation more sprightly or more entertaining4 ,in spite of the thoughtful care of his friend ,poole1 ,davy's health showed no material improvement1 and at times his feeling of despondency was very great4 ,his confidence in his mental powers1 however1 never forsook him4 ,he said on one occasion3-- 8,i do not wish to live1 as far as ,i am personally concerned2 but ,i have views which ,i could develope1 if it please ,god to save my life1 which would be useful to science and to mankind40 99 99 99 99 99 8,his inherent love of the laboratory 7if ,i may so speak710 says ,mr4 ,poole1 8was manifested in a manner which much interested me at the moment4 ,on his visiting with me a gentleman in this neighbourhood who had offered to let him his house1 and who has an extensive philosophical apparatus1 particularly complete in electricity and chemistry1 he was fatigued by the journey2 and as we were walking round the house very languidly1 a door opened1 and we were in the laboratory4 ,he threw his eyes round the room1 which brightened in the action--a glow came over his countenance1 and he appeared himself twenty years ago4 ,he was surprised and delighted and seemed to say1 #8,this is the beloved theatre of my glory4' ,i said #8,you are pleased4' ,he shook his head and smiled40 ,in the spring he determined to quit ,england for his beloved ,illyria1 and towards the end of ,may arrived by easy stages at ,wurzen4 ,in his journal he wrote3-- 8,may #bb4 ,to my old haunt1 ,wurzen1 which is sublime in the majesty of ,alpine grandeur2 the snowy peaks of the ,noric ,alps rising above thunder clouds1 whilst spring in all its bloom and beauty blooms below2 its buds and blossoms adorning the face of ,nature under a frowning canopy of dark clouds1 like some ,judith beauty of ,italy--a ,transteverene brow and eye1 and a mouth of ,venus and the ,graces40 ,from ,aussee he wrote to his brother3-- 8,it suits me better to wile away my days in this solitary state of existence1 in the contemplation of ,nature1 than to attempt to enter into ,london society1 where recollections call up the idea of what ,i was1 and the want of bodily power teaches me what a shadow ,i am4444 ,i am now going to ,ischl1 where there are warm salt baths to try if they will renovate the muscular powers of my arm and leg4444 ,i wish to go to ,trieste in ,october1 to make the experiments ,i have long projected on the torpedo40 ,he derived some little benefit from the treatment at ,ischl1 and in ,october went to ,trieste1 where he carried out his projected experiments on the electricity of the torpedo1 the results of which he communicated to the ,royal ,society4 ,this paper was the last of his scientific memoirs4 ,in the middle of ,november he arrived at ,rome1 where he learnt that ,wollaston also had been stricken with paralysis4,k ,on ,february #fth1 #ahbi1 he wrote to ,poole3-- ,k ,he died on ,december #bbnd1 #ahbh4 8,i am here wearing away the winter1--a ruin amongst ruins6 444 ,i hope you got a copy of my little trifle #8,salmonia4'444 ,i write and philosophise a good deal1 and have nearly finished a work with a higher aim than the little book ,i speak of above1 which ,i shall dedicate to you4 ,it contains the essence of my philosophical opinions1 and some of my poetical reveries4 ,it is like the #8,salmonia1' an amusement of my sickness2 but #8paulo majora canamus4' ,i sometimes think of the lines of ,waller1 and seem to feel their truth-- #8,the soul's dark cottage1 batter'd and decay'd1 ,lets in new light through chinks that ,time has made4'0 ,the work to which he here alludes1 and which he did not live to see printed1 was his 8,consolations in ,travel2 or1 ,the ,last ,days of a ,philosopher40 ,he had practically finished it at the date of his letter1 and had written in his journal3 8,si moro1 spero che ho fatto il mio dovere1 e che mia vita1 non e stato vano ed inutile40 ,on ,february #bjth he was seized with a new attack1 and his right side was quite powerless4 ,on the #bcrd he dictated the following letter to his brother1 who was then at ,malta3-- 8,notwithstanding all my care and discipline1 and ascetic living1 ,i am dying from a severe attack of palsy1 which has seized the whole of the body with the exception of the intellectual organ 444 the weakness increases and a few hours or days will finish my mortal existence4 ,i shall leave my bones in the ,eternal ,city4 ,i bless ,god that ,i have been able to finish all my philosophical labours4444 ,i hope you will have the goodness to see these works published4444 ,i have given you1 by a codicil to my will1 the copyright of these books4444 ,god bless you1 my dear ,john6 ,may you be happy and prosperous60 ,the letter was signed by him1 and he added in his own handwriting1 only just legible1 8,come as quickly as possible40 ,two days afterwards he dictated another letter1 in which he gives minute directions concerning some experiments on the torpedo which he wished his brother to make4 ,he describes the apparatus which may be employed and indicates where the torpedoes may be procured1 and he concludes3 8,pray do not neglect this subject1 which ,i leave to you as another legacy40 ,it was the #afth of ,march before ,dr4 ,davy could reach ,rome4 ,the stricken man's pale and emaciated countenance lighted up as he saw his brother at his bedside4 ,he spoke as if he had only a few hours to live1 and rejected all expectation and hope of recovery1 saying he was sure his career was run4 ,under the care and medical skill of ,dr4 ,davy1 however1 he rallied4 8,as he mended10 says his brother1 8the sentiment of gratitude to ,divine ,providence was overflowing1 and he was most amiable and affectionate in manner4 ,he often inculcated the propriety1 in regard to happiness1 of the subjugation of self1 in all selfishness1 as the very bane of comfort1 and the most active cause of the dereliction of social duties1 and the destruction of good and friendly feelings2 and he expressed frequently the intention1 if his life were spared1 of devoting it to purposes of utility 7seeming to think lightly of what he had already done71 and to the service of his friends1 rather than to the pursuits of ambition1 pleasure1 or happiness1 with himself for their main object40 ,but1 ,dr4 ,davy adds3-- 8,now that he was intent on recovery1 he no longer took the same interest in my examination of the torpedo1 as if he looked forward to the time when he should be able to enter into the investigation actively again40 ,at the beginning of ,april ,lady ,davy arrived from ,england1 and he had so far improved that it was decided to remove him to ,geneva4 ,by easy stages1 and occasional halts of two or three days at the more interesting places1 he arrived at ,geneva on ,may #bhth4 ,he bore the journey well3 the delightful freshness of the spring1 the bursting vegetation1 the many streams1 the pure mountain air1 and the indescribable influence of ,alpine scenery1 seemed to invigorate him4 ,on his arrival at the inn 78,la ,couronne07 he walked to the window1 looked out upon the lake1 and expressed a longing wish to throw a fly upon its blue waters4 ,lady ,davy here broke to him the news of the death of his old friend and colleague1 ,thomas ,young4 ,this1 coming so soon after the loss of ,wollaston1 profoundly affected him4 ,during the evening he struck his elbow against the projecting arm of the sofa on which he sat2 the blow gave him great pain1 and seemed to have the most extraordinary effect4 ,he was got to bed as soon as possible4 ,he took an anodyne1 and desired to be left alone4 ,soon after midnight he was found to be insensible1 and shortly before three on the morning of the #bith of ,may he died4 ,in his will he had enjoined that he should be buried where he died3 ,natura curat suas reliquias1 he had written4 ,the ,city gave him a public funeral1 and representatives of every institution in the town followed his remains to their resting-place in the cemetery at ,plain-,palais4 ,a simple monument1 with the following inscription1 marks the spot3-- ,,hic ,,jacet ,,humphry ,,davy ,,eques ,,magn ,,britanni ,,baronetus ,,olim ,,regi ,,societ4 ,,londin4 ,,pr,,ses ,,summus ,,arcanorum ,,natur ,,indigator4 ,,natus ,,penzanti ,,cornubiensum ,,xvii ,,decemb4 ,,mdcclxxviii4 ,,obiit ,,genev ,,helvetiorum ,,xxix ,,mai ,,mdcccxxix4 ,his widow placed a tablet to his memory in the north transept of ,westminster ,abbey4 ,his baronetcy died with him4 ,by his will he directed that the service of plate given to him by the coal-owners should1 after ,lady ,davy's death1 pass to his brother1 and that in the event of his having no heirs in a position to make use of it1 it should be melted and given to the ,royal ,society1 8to found a medal to be given annually for the most important discovery in chemistry anywhere made in ,europe or ,anglo-,america40 ,this is the origin of the ,davy ,medal which has been awarded annually by the ,society since #ahgg4 ,many eloquent tributes have been paid to the genius and labours of ,davy1 and some of these eulogies are among the most brilliant passages in the literature of science4 ,one of the best-known is from the gifted pen of ,dr4 ,henry in the preface to his 8,elements of ,chemistry10 published soon after ,davy's death4 ,he thus sketches the more striking characteristics of the great chemist4 8,davy10 he says1 8was imbued with the spirit1 and was a master of 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 it not only to connect classes of facts of more limited extent and importance but to develope great and comprehensive laws1 which embrace phenomena that are almost universal to the natural world4 ,in explaining these laws1 he cast upon them the illuminations of his own clear and vivid conceptions2--he felt an intense admiration of the beauty1 order and harmony which are conspicuous in the perfect chemistry of ,nature2--and he expressed these feelings with a force of eloquence which could issue only from a mind of the highest powers and of the finest sensibilities40 ,not less forcible or eloquent1 although hardly so well known1 is the estimate in ,silliman's ,american ,journal of ,science and ,arts for ,january1 #ahcj4 ,after an analysis1 of ,davy's mental attributes the writer concludes3-- 8,we look upon ,sir ,humphry ,davy as having afforded a striking example of what the ,romans called a man of good fortune2--whose success1 even in their view1 was not however the result of accident1 but of ingenuity and wisdom to devise plans1 and of skill and industry to bring them to a successful issue4 ,he was fortunate in his theories1 fortunate in his discoveries1 and fortunate in living in an age sufficiently enlightened to appreciate his merits2--unlike1 in this last particular1 to ,newton1 who 7says ,voltaire71 although he lived forty years after the publication of the ,principia1 had not1 at the time of his death1 twenty readers out of ,britain4 ,some might even entertain the apprehension that so extensive a popularity among his contemporaries is the presage of a short-lived fame2 but his reputation is too intimately associated with the eternal laws of ,nature to suffer decay2 and the name of ,davy1 like those of ,archimedes1 ,galileo and ,newton1 which grow greener by time1 will descend to the latest posterity40 ,such1 then1 is the story of a life of fruitful endeavour and splendid achievement2--the record of one who1 if not wholly good or truly noble1 has left a track of greatness in his passage through the world4 ,,index4 ,address from ,whitehaven colliers to ,davy1 #bjc ,agriculture1 ,davy's lectures on1 #id et seq42 #afe ,alkali metals1 ,isolation of1 #aad1 #aaf2 their properties1 #aah ,alkaline earths1 ,decomposition of1 #abf ,ammonia3 ,davy's conjectures as to its nature1 #aba ,ammonium amalgam3 ,davy's views as to its nature1 #abg ,ammonium nitrate1 ,modes of decomposition of1 #dc 8,annual ,anthology1 ,the10 #ah1 #eg ,apreece1 ,mrs41 #aei1 #afb ,babington1 ,dr41 his character1 #bbd ,bakerian lecture1 ,origin of1 #ajj ,banks1 ,sir ,joseph1 his opinion of the ,royal ,institution1 #hj2 his account of ,davy's courtship1 #afb2 his opinion of ,davy1 #bac2 death of1 #bab ,beddoes1 ,mrs41 #bh ----1 ,thomas1 #bc2 letters to ,davies ,gilbert1 #bd1 #be2 engages ,davy as chemist to the ,pneumatic ,institution1 #be2 his testimony to ,davy's originality1 #cb2 his end1 #fe ,bernard1 ,thomas1 #ff1 #fg1 #hj ,berthollet1 ,davy's account of1 #agi2 his theory of the nature of chlorine1 #acf1 #add ,berzelius1 ,jakob1 #id1 #aji1 #adc1 #aed ,bonaparte's medal for discoveries in galvanism awarded to ,davy1 #aji ,borlase1 ,bingham1 #ae1 #be ,boron1 ,isolation of1 #abi ,brande1 ,william ,thomas1 succeeds ,davy as ,professor of ,chemistry in the ,royal ,institution1 #agf ,brownrigg1 ,lady1 her account of ,davy1 #aaa ,buddle1 ,john1 #aid1 #aie1 #bja1 #bjd1 #bji2 letter to ,davy1 #bja ,cardew1 ,dr41 ,master of ,truro ,grammar ,school1 his opinion of ,davy as a boy1 #ab ,chlorine1 ,discovery of1 by ,scheele1 #acf2 its nature1 #acd et seq42 controversy as to its nature1 #adc2 its bleaching power explained1 #adi2 its liquefaction by ,northmore1 #adi2 by ,faraday1 #adi ---- compounds1 ,davy's nomenclature of1 #adi ,chlorophosphamide1 #ach ,coal-owners' ,testimonial to ,davy1 #bje1 #bjh ,coleridge1 ,samuel ,taylor1 his opinion of ,davy1 #ah1 #ee1 #eg1 #hh2 letters to ,davy1 #eg1 #eh1 #ei2 letter to ,purkis1 #hh ,colouring matters of the ,ancients1 ,investigation of1 by ,davy1 #ahe1 #ahg 8,consolations in ,travel10 #bcb ,copley medal awarded to ,davy1 #bac ,coryton1 ,mr41 ,master of ,penzance ,grammar ,school1 his methods of tuition1 #ab1 #ac1 #ec ,cottle1 ,amos1 his account of ,davy1 #ee ,cuvier1 ,davy's account of1 #agh ,davy3 ,his birth1 #i2 becomes chemist to the ,pneumatic ,institution1 #be2 goes to the ,royal ,institution1 #fc2 his views on the ,atomic ,theory1 #adf1 #adg2 marriage1 #afc2 is knighted1 #afd2 is elected a member of the ,institute1 #agi2 is created a baronet1 #baa2 his illness1 #bba1 #bbd2 death1 #bcd2 burial1 #bcd2 his character1 #bce1 #bcf2 as an angler1 #aeh1 #aei1 #bbi2 as a lecturer1 #ga1 #gc et seq41 #hd1 #hf2 as a man of society1 #hg1 #aae2 as a poet1 #ag1 #ah1 #ai1 #abe1 #agi ,davy's letters3 ,to ,mrs4 ,apreece1 #aei1 #afj1 #afa2 to ,mr4 ,children1 #afh1 #bbc2 to ,lady ,davy1 #bbf1 #bbg1 #bbh2 to ,dr4 ,john ,davy1 #afc1 #afe1 #ahc1 #bbb1 #bca1 #bcb2 to ,faraday1 #agd2 to ,mr4 ,davies ,gilbert1 #bi1 #dj1 #ea1 #fc1 #he1 #bbh2 to ,dr4 ,gray1 #aie1 #aig2 to ,rev4 ,mr4 ,hodgson1 #aif2 to ,dr4 ,hope1 #fb1 #fi2 to his mother1 #ac1 #bf1 #bg1 #eb1 #fb1 #gi1 #aeh1 #afc1 #agf1 #ahh1 #baa1 #bbc2 to ,mr4 ,poole1 #hh1 #bad1 #bbe1 #bbh1 #bcb2 to his sisters1 #aaf ---- nomenclature of chlorine compounds1 #adi ,davy medal1 ,the1 #bce ----1 ,edmund1 cousin of ,humphry ,davy1 #aad1 #abc1 #acc ----1 ,edmund1 grandfather of ,humphry ,davy1 #aj ----1 ,lady1 her character1 #ahi1 #aij1 #aia ----1 ,robert1 father of ,humphry ,davy1 #i1 #aj ,diamond1 ,davy's investigation of nature of1 #ahd ,dibdin1 ,dr41 his address on the occasion of ,davy's illness1 #abc ,edgeworth1 ,maria1 her account of the respiratory action of nitrous oxide1 #da2 her account of ,davy's visit to ,ireland1 #aab1 #aeh2 on ,mrs4 ,apreece1 #afe ,electro-chemical ,theory of ,davy1 #ajf ,electrolytic decomposition of water1 ,discovery of1 by ,nicholson and ,carlisle1 #ij ,electro-magnetism1 ,davy's contributions to1 #bah 8,elements of ,chemical ,philosophy10 ,davy's1 #afg ,euchlorine1 #adb1 #aea ,faraday1 ,michael1 attends ,davy's lectures1 #adc2 joins the ,royal ,institution1 #agc2 his letters to ,abbott concerning ,davy1 #ahh1 #ahi2 his relations to ,davy1 #bbj 8,fidelissima10 her sonnets to ,davy1 #gh ,fire-damp explosions1 #aic ,flame1 ,davy's investigations on1 #bji ,fluorine1 ,attempts to isolate1 by ,davy1 #agj ---- theory1 ,the1 #agb et seq4 8,fuming liquor of ,cadet10 ,davy's investigation of1 #acb ,garnett1 ,thomas1 first lecturer in the ,royal ,institution1 #fh ,gay ,lussac1 ,davy's account of1 #agi ,gilbert1 ,davies 7,davies ,giddy71 #ba1 #bb ,gray1 ,rev4 ,dr41 his association with ,davy1 #aie1 #aig ,heat a mode of motion1 #cb 8,heat1 ,light1 and the ,combinations of ,light10 #cj1 #cg ,hippesley1 ,sir ,john1 #fi1 #hj ,hodgson1 ,rev4 ,mr41 his association with ,davy1 #aid1 #aif1 #bja ,horner1 ,francis1 his opinion of ,davy as a lecturer1 #gg ,humboldt1 ,davy's account of1 #agh ,hydrogen chloride1 ,synthesis of1 by ,cruickshank1 #aci ,iodates1 ,davy's investigation of1 #ahd ,iodine1 ,discovery of1 by ,courtois1 #ahj2 investigation of1 by ,clement1 #ahj2 by ,davy1 #ahj et seq42 by ,gay ,lussac1 #ahj ,ireland1 ,davy's views on1 #aab2 his lectures in1 #aef et seq4 ,lavoisier's 8,elements0--character as a text-book1 #ai 8,liquor of ,libavius10 ,action of ammonia on1 studied by ,davy1 #acg ,lockhart's account of ,davy1 #aaj1 #bag ,nitrogen believed by ,davy to be a compound1 #acb et seq4 ---- chloride1 ,investigation of1 by ,davy1 #afh2 its explosion injures ,davy1 #afi ---- oxides1 ,davy's work on1 #db1 #de ,nitrosulphonic acid1 #aed ,nitrous oxide1 discovery of its respirability1 #da1 #df1 #di2 composition of1 #de2 effect of breathing1 #di ,oxymuriatic acid1 ,davy's memoir on1 #acd ,papyri1 ,davy's attempts to unroll1 #baa ,penzance1 ,state of society in1 at close of #ahth century1 #ad ,phosoxygen1 #cj1 #cc1 #ce1 #cg ,phospham1 #ach ,phosphorous acid and oxide1 #aec ---- chlorides discovered by ,davy1 #abi1 #aeb2 action of ammonia on1 #acg2 action of water on1 #adj2 analysis of1 #aec ,pneumatic ,institution1 ,bristol1 #bc1 #bg1 #bi ,potassamide1 ,preparation of1 #abi ,potassium1 ,isolation of1 #aad et seq41 #aaf et seq42 properties of1 #aaf ,priestley1 ,joseph1 #ch ,purkis1 ,mr41 his account of ,davy's lectures1 #gg ,royal ,institution1 ,the1 its origin and character1 #ff1 #gi2 its chemical laboratory1 #ij1 #acc2 minutes of ,managers1 #fc1 #gb1 #aff1 #age1 #agf ---- medals1 the1 ,institution of1 #baf ---- ,society1 ,davy's election into the1 #bac2 becomes ,secretary1 #aab2 becomes ,president1 #bad2 his views of its functions1 #bae ,rumford1 his theory of heat1 #cb2 founds the ,royal ,institution1 #ff2 visit of ,davy to1 at ,auteuil1 #agg ---- medal awarded to ,davy1 #bac ,safety lamp1 its invention1 #aib et seq42 account of1 by ,playfair1 #bjc 8,salmonia10 ,account of1 #bbi ,scheele1 discoverer of chlorine1 #acf ,scott1 ,sir ,walter1 his friendship for ,lady ,davy1 #afb2 his friendship for ,davy1 #bag ,ship-sheathing1 ,davy's experiments on1 #bbb ,silex in plants1 #ci ,sodium1 ,isolation of1 #aah2 properties of1 #aai ,southey1 ,robert1 his opinion of ,davy1 #ah1 #ee1 #ef2 letter to ,davy1 #ef ,steel-mill1 ,the1 #aic ,stephenson1 ,george1 his attempts to make a safe lamp1 #bje ,tanning1 ,lectures on1 #gb ,telluretted hydrogen1 ,discovery of1 by ,davy1 #aca ,tepidarians1 ,the1 #ge1 #gh ,ticknor's account of ,davy1 #aij2 of ,lady ,davy1 #aij ,tonkin1 ,john1 ,davy's benefactor1 #i1 #ac1 #bj1 #be1 #ec ,torpedo1 ,electricity of1 #ahc1 #bca ,trinity ,college1 ,dublin1 confers honorary ,,ll4,d4 on ,davy1 #aeh ,vauquelin1 ,davy's account of1 #agh ,vesuvius1 ,davy's investigations on1 #ahe1 #ahg1 #bab ,volta1 ,davy's account of1 #ahf2 ,faraday's account of1 #ahh ,voltaic electricity1 ,davy's contributions to1 #ic1 #ii1 #ajj1 #aac1 #aad1 #abf1 #aca ---- pile1 ,discovery of1 #ij1 #ic ,warington1 ,professor1 his estimate of ,davy as an agricultural chemist1 #ih ,watt1 ,gregory1 his character1 #ba1 #eb ,wavellite1 ,davy's analysis of1 #id 8,west ,country ,collection10 #cj2 characteristics of ,davy's contributions to1 #cg ,wollaston1 ,william ,hyde1 character of1 #bad1 #bag2 his death1 #bcb ,wordsworth meets ,davy on ,helvellyn1 #aaj ,young1 ,thomas1 his connection with the ,royal ,institution1 #gb2 his review of ,davy's 8,elements of ,chemical ,philosophy10 #afg2 death of1 #bcd ,,printed ,,by ,,cassell ,,company1 ,,limited1 ,,la ,,belle ,,sauvage1 ,,london1 ,e4,c4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,punctuation1 hyphenation1 and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book2 otherwise they were not changed4 ,simple typographical errors were corrected2 occasional unbalanced quotation marks retained4 ,ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained4 ,index not checked for proper alphabetization or correct page references4