The Life of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. LL.D., Volume 1 (of 2)Paris, John Ayrton
Science
The Life of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. LL.D., Volume 1 (of 2)
Paris, John Ayrton
Chemists -- England -- Biography; Davy, Humphry, Sir, 1778-1829
I paid your subscription to Arthur Young for the Smithfield Club.
Pray, at all times, command me to do any thing I can for you in
London:--you cannot teaze me; and though I am a very idle fellow,
yet I can always work if the stimulus be the desire of serving such
a friend as yourself.
I am giving my course of lectures on Geology to very crowded
audiences. I take a great interest in the subject; and I hope the
information given will be useful.
There has been no news lately from Coleridge; the last accounts
state that he was well in the autumn, and in Sicily. On that poetic
ground, we may hope and trust that his genius will call forth some
new creations, and that he may bring back to us some garlands of
never-dying verse. I have written to urge him strongly to give a
course of lectures on Poetry at the Royal Institution, where his
feeling would strongly impress, and his eloquence greatly delight.
I am, my dear Poole, most affectionately Yours,
H. DAVY.
On the 20th of May, in this year, Mr. Hatchett reported to the
Managers of the Institution--"that Mr. Davy proposed making a
journey into Wales and Ireland this summer, having in view to
collect specimens for enriching the mineralogical cabinets;" in
consequence of which it was Resolved--"That the sum of one hundred
pounds be entrusted to Mr. Davy to purchase minerals, and to defray
the incidental charges; and that the boy of the Laboratory,
William Reeve,[51] be ordered to attend him on his tour, and that
the steward be directed to defray his expenses."
[51] There are some circumstances of interest connected with the
history of this young man. He possessed much chemical talent; but
during his residence in Ireland he was converted to the Catholic
religion, and is at this time a Catholic priest in some part of
the Continent.
From the following letters, it would appear that, having
accomplished his purpose of visiting Ireland, he made a rapid
journey into Cornwall for the sake of seeing his mother and sisters.
TO DAVIES GIDDY, ESQ.
Okehampton, September 1805.
MY DEAR SIR,
I am accompanying my friend Mr. Bernard in a tour through the West
of England, and I hope we shall reach Penzance in two or three days.
Mr. Bernard wishes much for the honour of your acquaintance, and I
trust you will permit me to have the pleasure of making you known
to him. Much kindness and long knowledge of him, may have made me
partial to that gentleman, and may perhaps influence me when I say,
that there is not a more patriotic, good, and public-spirited man
in Great Britain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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