third paper read before the Royal Society.—Voltaic influence of patches of rust.—A small quantity of fluid sufficient to complete the circuit.—He receives from the Royal Society the Royal Medal.—The Progress of Voltaic discovery reviewed.—The principle is of extensive application.—The Author's researches into the cause of the solution of Lead in spring water.—An account of the numerous trials of Protectors.—Failure of the plan.—Report of the French on the state of the protected frigate, La Constance.—Dr. Revere's new plan of Protection 208

CHAPTER XIV.

The failure of the Ship protectors a source of great vexation to Davy.—His Letters to Mr. Poole.—He becomes unwell.—He publishes his Discourses before the Royal Society.—Critical Remarks and Quotations.—He goes abroad in search of health.—His Letter to Mr. Poole from Ravenna.—He resigns the Presidency of the Royal Society.—Mr. Gilbert elected pro tempore.—Davy returns to England, and visits his friend Mr. Poole.—Salmonia, or Days of Fly-fishing.—An Analysis of the Work, with various extracts to illustrate its character 283

CHAPTER XV.

Sir H. Davy's Paper on the Phenomena of Volcanoes.—His experiments on Vesuvius.—Theory of Volcanic action.—His reception abroad.—Anecdotes.—His last Letter to Mr. Poole from Rome.—His paper on the Electricity of the Torpedo.—Consolations in Travel, or the Last Days of a Philosopher.—Analysis of the work.—Reflections suggested by its style and composition.—Davy and Wollaston compared.—His last illness.—Arrival at Geneva.—His Death 341

A General Review of the History of Chemical Science, and of the Revolutions produced in its Doctrines by the Discoveries of Sir Humphry Davy 415

Appendix—Will of Sir Humphry Davy 457

THE LIFE
OF
SIR HUMPHRY DAVY,
BART. &c. &c.

CHAPTER X.

Mr. Faraday's introduction to Sir H. Davy.—A renewed correspondence on the subject of the Gunpowder Manufactory.—Davy obtains permission from Napoleon to visit the Continent.—He embarks in a Cartel from Plymouth.—Is arrested at Morlaix.—Arrives at Paris.—Visits the Louvre.—His extraordinary conduct upon that occasion.—Inspects the Colossal Elephant, and is introduced to M. Alavair, its architect.—The discovery of the dungeons of the Bastile.—Davy's interesting letter to M. Alavair.—He attends a meeting of the Institute.—Is visited by all the principal savans of Paris.—The adventure which befell Lady Davy in the Thuilleries' Garden.—Anniversary dinner of the Philomatic Society.—The junior Chemists of France invite Davy to a splendid entertainment.—How far Davy is entitled to be considered the discoverer of the true nature of Iodine.—Napoleon's unlucky experiment with the Voltaic battery.—Davy is presented to the Empress Josephine.—An account of the Court ceremony at Malmaison.—Remarks on the conduct of Davy during his visit to Paris.—He quits the capital of France, and proceeds, by way of Lyons, to Montpellier.—Is assisted in experiments on sea-weed by M. Berard.—Crosses the Alps.—Arrives at Genoa.—Institutes experiments on the Torpedo.—Visits Florence, and accomplishes the combustion of the diamond, by the great lens in the cabinet of Natural History.—Experiments on Iodine.—He examines the colours used by the Ancients.—Visits all the celebrated Philosophers of Italy and Switzerland, with whom he works in their laboratories.—Returns to England.

It is said of Bergman, that he considered the greatest of his discoveries to have been the discovery of Scheele.[1] Amongst the numerous services conferred upon Science by Sir Humphry Davy, we must not pass unnoticed that kind and generous patronage which first raised Mr. Faraday from obscurity, and gave to the chemical world a philosopher capable of pursuing that brilliant path of enquiry which the genius of his master had so successfully explored.

The circumstances which first led Mr. Faraday to the study of chemistry, and by which he became connected with the Royal Institution, were communicated to me, by himself, in the following letter.