So much of my paper has been given to pure egotism, that I have but little room left to say any thing concerning the state of science, and the public mind in town; unfortunately, there is little to say. I have heard of no important discoveries. In politics, nothing seems capable of exciting permanent interest. The stroke of poverty, though severely felt, has been a torpedo, benumbing all energy, and not irritating and awakening it, as might have been expected. Here, at the Pneumatic Institution, the nitrous oxide has evidently been of use. Dr. Beddoes is proceeding in the execution of his great popular physiological work, which, if it equals the plan he holds out, ought to supersede every work of the kind. I have been pursuing Galvanism with labour, and some success. I have been able to produce galvanic power from simple plates, by effecting on them different oxidating and deoxidating processes; but on this point I cannot enlarge in the small remaining space of paper. Your remark concerning _negative_ Galvanism, and deoxidation, is curious, and will most probably hold good. It will give me much pleasure to see your mathematical Paper[36] in the Philosophical Transactions, but it will be, unfortunately, to me the pleasure of _blind_ sympathy, though derived from the consciousness that you ought to be acting upon, and instructing the world at large. It will give me sincere pleasure to hear from you, when you are at leisure. After the 11th I shall be in town--my direction, Royal Institution, Albemarle Street. I am, my dear friend, with respect and affection, Yours, HUMPHRY DAVY. [35] In England, politics so constantly mix themselves up with all our institutions, while science unfortunately finds so few disciples and patrons in the ranks of aristocracy, that every new society is viewed with jealousy and party spirit. Johnson says, in his Life of Addison--"It has been suggested that the Royal Society was instituted soon after the Restoration, to divert the attention of the people from public discontent."--P. [36] He alludes to some calculations connected with light, and the imponderable fluids. The first notice of Davy's name, in the Minute Book of the Royal Institution, occurs in the Report adopted at a Meeting of the Managers, on Monday the 16th of February 1801. "Resolved--That Mr. Humphry Davy be engaged in the service of the Royal Institution, in the capacities of Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry, Director of the Laboratory, and Assistant Editor of the Journals of the Institution, and that he be allowed to occupy a room in the house, and be furnished with coals and candles; and that he be paid a salary of one hundred guineas per annum."