accomplishment. I well knew that the biographer of Davy must hold himself prepared for the dissatisfaction of one party at the commendations he might bestow, and for the displeasure of the other, at the penury of his praise, or the asperity of his criticism. After great labour and much anxiety, I have at length completed the work; and in giving it to the world, I shall apply to myself the words of Swift "I have the ambition to wish, at least, that both parties may think me in the right; but if that is not to be hoped for, my next wish should be, that both might think me in the wrong, which I would understand as an ample justification of myself, and a sure ground to believe that I have proceeded, at least, with impartiality, and perhaps even with truth." It is certainly due to myself, and perhaps to the world, to state the circumstances by which I was induced to undertake a work requiring for its completion a freedom from anxiety, and an extent of research, scarcely compatible with the occupations of a laborious profession; and which, I may add, has been wholly composed during night, in hours stolen from sleep. Very shortly after the death of Sir Humphry Davy, an account of his life, written by no friendly hand, nor honest chronicler,' was submitted for my judgment by a Journalist who had intended to insert it in his paper. At my request, it was committed to the flames; but not until I had promised to supply the loss by another memoir. The sketches by which I redeemed this pledge were published in a weekly journal—THE SPECTATOR; and they have since been copied into various other works, sometimes with, but frequently without any acknowledgment. They constitute the greater part of the life which was printed in the Annual Obituary for 1829; and they form the introduction to an edition of his "Last Days," lately published in America. I was soon recognised as the writer of these Sketches; and the leading publishers of the day urged me to undertake a more extended work. To these solicitations I returned a direct refusal: I even declined entering upon any conversation on the occasion; feeling that the wishes of Lady Davy, at that time on the Continent, ought in the very first instance to be consulted on the subject. Had not the common courtesy of society required such a mark of attention, the wish expressed by Sir Humphry in his Will would have rendered it an imperative duty. On her arrival in London, in consequence of a letter she had addressed to Mr. Murray, I requested an interview with her Ladyship, from whom I received not only an unqualified permission to become the biographer of her illustrious husband, but also the several documents which are published with acknowledgement in these memoirs. I still felt that Dr. Davy might desire to accomplish the task of recording the scientific services of his distinguished brother; and, had that been the case, I should most undoubtedly have retired, without the least hesitation or reluctance; but I was assured by those who were best calculated to form an opinion upon this point, for he was himself absent from England, — that motives of delicacy which it was easy to appreciate, would at once lead him to decline an undertaking embarrassed with so many personal considerations. The task, however, of collating the various works of Sir H. Davy, and of enriching them by notes derived from his own knowledge of the circumstances under which they were written, I do hope will be accomplished by one who is so well calculated to heighten the interest, and to increase the value of labours of such infinite importance to science, and to the best interests of mankind. The engraving which adorns the volume is from a painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence, presented to the Royal Society by Lady Davy; and I beg the Council of that learned body to accept my thanks for the permission they so readily granted for its being engraved. It is one of the happiest efforts of the distinguished Artist, and is the only portrait I have seen in which his features are happily animated with the expressions of the poet, and whose eye is bent to pursue the flights of his imagination through unexplored regions. I must also embrace this opportunity of publicly expressing my thanks to the Managers of the Royal Institution, who, in the most handsome manner, b immediately complied with my request to inspect their Journals, and to make such extracts from them, as I might consider necessary for the completion of my memoirs. To Mr. Davies Gilbert, I am under obligations which it is difficult for me to acknowledge in adequate terms, not only for the value of the materials with which he has furnished me, but for the kindness and urbanity with which they were communicated, and for the ready and powerful assistance which I have so constantly received from him during the progress of the work. To the other enlightened individuals from whom I have received support, I have acknowledged my obligations in the body of the work; and should I have inadvertently passed over any service without a becoming notice, I trust the extent of the labour and the circumstances under which it has been performed, will plead my apology. Dover Street, January 1, 1831. CONTENTS. Birth and family of Sir H. Davy.-Davy placed at a preparatory school.-His peculiarities when a boy.—Anecdotes.-He is admitted into the grammar-school at Penzance.-Finishes his education under Dr. Cardew at Truro.-Death of his father. He is apprenticed by his mother to Mr. John Bingham Borlase, a surgeon and apothecary.-He enters upon the study of Chemistry, and devotes more time to Philosophy than to Physic.-The influence of early impressions illus- trated. His poetical talent.-Specimens of his versification.-An Epic Poem composed by him at the age of twelve years.-His first original experiment in chemistry. He conceives a new theory of heat and light.-His ingenious experiment to demonstrate its truth.-He becomes known to Mr. Davies Gilbert, the founder of his future fortunes.—Mr. Gregory Watt arrives at Pen- zance, and lodges in the house of Mrs. Davy.-The visit of Dr. Beddoes and Professor Hailstone to Cornwall.—The correspondence between Dr. Beddoes and Mr. Davies Gilbert, relative to the Pneumatic Institution at Bristol, and the proposed appointment of Davy. His final departure Cursory thoughts on the advantages of Biography.-Plan and objects of the Pneumatic Insti- tution.-Davy contracts friendships during his residence at Bristol. His first visit to London.- His Letters to Mr. Davies Gilbert.-The publication of the West Country Contributions, by Dr. Beddoes.— Davy's Essays on Heat, Light, and Respiration. His interesting experiments on bonnet canes. He commences an enquiry into the nature of nitrous oxyd.-He publishes his chemical researches.-A critical examination of the work.-Testimony of Tobin, Clayfield, Sou- they, and others, respecting the powers of nitrous oxyd.-Davy breathes carburetted hydrogen gas, and nearly perishes from its effects. His new Galvanic experiments communicated in a Count Rumford negotiates with Mr. Underwood on the subject of Davy's appointment to the Royal Institution.-Terms of his engagement communicated in a letter to Mr. Gilbert.—Davy arrives, and takes possession of his apartments. He receives various mortifications. He is elected a member of the Tepidarian Society.-Is appointed Lecturer instead of assistant.-He makes a tour in Cornwall with Mr. Underwood.-Anecdotes.-His Poem on Spinosism.—His letter to Mr. Gilbert, communicating a galvanic discovery. He commences his first grand course of lectures.-His brilliant success.-A letter from Mr. Purkis.-Davy's style criticised. -His extraordinary method of experimenting.-Davy and Wollaston compared as experiment- alists. The style of Davy as a lecturer and a writer contrasted. Davy makes a tour with Mr. Purkis, through Wales.-Beautiful phenomenon observed from the summit of Arran Benllyn.-Letter to Mr. Gilbert.-Journal of the Institution.-Davy's papers on Eudiometry, and other subjects. His first communication to the Royal Society, on a new gal- vanic pile.—He is proposed as a Fellow, and elected into the Society. His paper on astringent vegetable substances, and on their operation in tanning leather.-His letter to Mr. Poole.—He is appointed Chemical Lecturer to the Board of Agriculture. He forms friendships with the Duke of Bedford, Mr. Coke, and many other celebrated agriculturists.-Attends the sheep-shearing at Holkham and Woburn.-Composes a Prologue to the "Honey-Moon." Sir Thomas Bernard allots Davy a piece of ground for Agricultural Experiments.-History of the Origin of the Royal Institution.-Its early labours.-Davy's Letters to Mr. Gilbert and to Mr. Poole.-Death of Mr. Gregory Watt.-Davy's Passion for Fishing, with Anecdotes.— He makes a Tour in Ireland: his Letters on the subject.-His Paper on the Analysis of the Wavel- lite. His Memoirs on a new method of analysing Minerals which contain a fixed Alkali.— Re- The History of Galvanism divided into six grand Epochs.-Davy extends the experiment of Nicholson and Carlisle.-His Pile of one metal and two fluids.-Dr. Wollaston advocates the doc- trine of oxidation being the primary cause of Voltaic Phenomena.-Davy's modification of that theory. His Bakerian Lecture of 1806.-He discovers the sources of the acid and alkaline mat- ter eliminated from water by Voltaic action.-On the nature of Electrical decomposition and transfer. On the relations between the Electrical energies of bodies, and their Chemical affini- ties.-General developement of the Electro-chemical Laws.-Illustrations, Applications, and Con- The unfair rivalry of Philosophers.-Bonaparte the Patron of Science. He liberates Dolomieu. -He founds a Prize for the encouragement of Electric researches.-His letter to the Minister of the Interior.-Proceedings of the Institute.-The Prize is conferred on Davy.-The Bakerian Lecture of 1807.-The Decomposition of the Fixed Alkalies-Potassium-Sodium.-The Ques- |