The experiments to which allusions have been frequently made during the present chapter, favourably as they were received, might have shared the fate of many other discoveries which did not admit of an immediate and obvious application to the purposes of common life; for statistical value is a necessary passport to popular favour. Fortunately, however, for Davy, before the vivid impression produced by his new work had lost the glow of novelty, Count Rumford was anxiously seeking for some rising philosopher, who might contribute his energies towards the support, and farther increase, of the chemical fame of the recently established "INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN." It is not surprising that his attention should have been readily directed to one whose genius had been so lately displayed, and whose views regarding Caloric[33] were in such exact conformity with his own opinions. [33] Mr. Gilbert no sooner discovered the tendency of Davy's opinions respecting the immateriality of Caloric, than he urged him to communicate them to Count Rumford, but he considered himself pledged to Dr. Beddoes, and his Essays were accordingly printed in the West Country Contributions. Count Rumford, it may be observed, maintained that Caloric, like _Phlogiston_, was merely a creature of the chemist's imagination, and had no real existence. He considered heat as nothing more than the motions of the constituent particles of bodies amongst themselves,--an hypothesis which has no claims to novelty, being perhaps one of the most ancient on record.--See his paper on Heat, _Phil. Trans._ for 1804. As the philosophical public must feel a lively interest in every incident connected with a transaction so important to the interests of science, as that by which Davy was placed in the chemical chair of the Institution, I am fortunate in being able, through the kindness of his two friends, Mr. Thomson and Mr. Underwood, to present a clear and satisfactory statement of all its circumstances and details. 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.