Cursory thoughts on the advantages of Biography.--Plan and objects of the Pneumatic Institution.--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, Southey, 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 Letter to Mr. Gilbert 56 CHAPTER III. 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 experimentalists.--The style of Davy as a lecturer and a writer contrasted 114 CHAPTER IV. 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 galvanic 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" 150 CHAPTER V.