covery was made, surpassing all the wonders attributed to alchemy. Three basins were arranged in a straight line, each containing water, and to the middle basin some neutral salt was added. The three were connected by moistened syphons of asbestos: the opposite piles of a Voltaic battery were then applied to the extreme vessels; and in a short time the neutral salt disappeared from the middle basin, and its constituent parts were found separated; the acid attracted to the positive pile of the battery, the alkali to the negative. This astonishing result, followed up by other experiments, led to the conclusion that chemical energies may be increased, diminished, or even inverted, by the superinduction of electric powers homogeneous with or dissimilar from their own. This metastasis in the hands of physiological inquirers promises to conduct them to discoveries of the utmost importance in the functions of life. I fatter myself that it is now actually in such hands.

"The principle of varying or modifying chemical energies by those of electricity has been applied by the invention, in a manner the most philosophical, and on a scale the most extensive.

"The copper sheathing of ships and vessels had been found to corrode in the short period of a single voyage, being converted into an oxide through the medium of some acid, or at least of a decompounded substance, occupying the negative extremity of the electric scale. The copper must therefore be positive in respect to the body decomposed or attracted. A reference was made by the Government to the Royal Society, with the hope of discovering some remedy for this most serious evil. Grounded on a perfect knowledge of chemical and of electric powers, it immediately occurred to the illustrious discoverer of their relations one to the other, that if a substance more positive than copper, and in contact with it, could be exposed to the corroding action, that the copper would, by induction, be rendered less positive, and therefore indisposed to combine with any other negative body.

Experiments the most satisfactory were then made on a small scale; and in conse

quence of their success, plates of zinc, and afterwards of iron, were applied to ships' bows; and the copper has been fully and completely protected. The theory and the experiments have been confirmed in the most ample manner. A defect has indeed occurred in practice, from the over success of protection. The induction of negative powers to the copper has gone too far; they have caused it to act on the compounds in an opposite direction, by attracting to itself the earths and alkalies, thus affording attachments to the marine vegetables which the copper was intended to prevent. This appears to me, however, susceptible of a

cure. I am sufficiently advanced in years to remember the American-revolution war. Ships were then first sheathed with copper: they were preserved clean from weeds, nor was the copper corroded: but the ships were fastened together by iron bolts, and these, to the utter astonishment of every one, decayed; and the ships became unable to sustain the ordinary straining in gales of wind. For some time the effect could not be traced to its cause, for galvanism was then unknown; but at last bolts made of bronze were substituted for those of iron, and immediately the copper failed. When the theory has therefore been modified by experience on the principle of these empiric trials during the American war, I cannot hesitate in predicting complete practical success, with full glory to the illustrious individual who deduced the practice from theory, and with ample advantage to all those who may then bring the practice into beneficial use.

"Sir Humphry Davy having last year communicated a paper to the Society in continuation of his former inductions and generalization on chemical and electric energies, there cannot be a doubt but that the only obstacle against his then receiving a Royal medal, on the first occasion that the Society had it to bestow, was his occupying this chair. That obstacle, unhappily for science, no longer exists; and the Royal Society take this earliest opportunity of testifying their high estimation of these talents and of these labours which all Europe admires. We trust and hope, although our late President has been induced by medical advice to retire from the agitation of active public stations, that his most valuable life will be long spared; and that energies of mind may still be displayed to this Society and to the civilized world, equal to those which have heretofore rendered immortal the name of Davy."

Sir Humphry Davy was in every respect an accomplished scholar, and was well acquainted with foreign languages. He always retained a strong taste for literary pleasures; and his philosophical works are written in a perspicuous and popular style, by which means he has contributed more to the diffusion of scientific knowledge than any other writer of his time. His three principal works are, "Chemical and Philosophical Researches," ments of Chemical Philosophy," and "Elements of Agricultural Chemistry," and the two last are excellently adapted for elementary study. His numerous pamphlets and contributions to the Transactions of the Royal Society have the same rare merit of conveying experimental knowledge in the

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most attractive form, and thus reducing abstract theory to the practice and purposes of life and society. The results of his investigations and experiments were not therefore pent up in the laboratory or lecture-room where they were made, but by this valuable mode of communication, they have realized, what ought to be the highest aim of science, the improvement of the condition and comforts of every class of his fellow creatures. Thus, beautiful theories were illustrated by inventions of immediate utility, as in the safety. lamp for mitigating the dangers to which miners are exposed in their labours, and the application of a newlydiscovered principle in preserving the life of the adventurous mariner. Yet splendid as were Sir Humphry's talents, and important as have been their application, he received the honours and homage of the scientific world with that becoming modesty which universally characterizes great genius.

Apart from the scientific value of Sir Humphry's labours and researches, they are pervaded by a tone and temper, and an enthusiastic love of nature, which are as admirably expressed as their influence is excellent. We trace no mixture of science and scepticism, and in vain shall we look for the spawn of infidel doctrine. The same excellent feeling breathes throughout "Salmonia, or Days of Fly-fishing," a volume published last year, and one of the most delightful labours of leisure ever seen. Not a few of the most beautiful phenomena of Nature are here lucidly explained, yet the pages have none of the varnish of philosophical unbelief, or finite reasoning. The work is arranged in a series of conversations, and we are told in the preface, that "these pages formed the occupation of the author during several months of severe and dangerous illness, when he was wholly incapable of attending to more useful studies, or of following more serious pursuits. They formed his amusement in many hours, which otherwise would have been unoccupied and tedious." "The conversational and discursive style were chosen as best suited to the state of the health of the author, who was incapable of considerable efforts and long continued exertion." The volume is dedicated to Dr. Babington, "in remembrance of some delightful days passed in his society, and in gratitude

for an uninterrupted friendship of a quarter of a century:" and the likeness of one of the characters in the conversations to that estimable physician above-named, has been considered well drawn, and easily recognisable by those who enjoy his acquaintance.

Sir Humphry spent nearly the whole of last summer in fowling and fishing in the neighbourhood of Laybach, and it has been related by a gentleman who accompanied him on a shooting excursion, that the relative weight of the various parts of each bird, the quantity of digested and undigested food, &c. was carefully noted down by the observant naturalist. It is believed that he was preparing for a large work on natural history.

The great philosopher closed his mortal career at Geneva. He had arrived in that city only the day before, having performed his journey from Rome by easy stages, without feeling any particular inconvenience, and without any circumstances which denoted so near an approach to the last debt of nature. Sir Humphry had

been for some months a resident at Rome, where he had had a serious and alarming attack of a paralytic nature, but from which he was apparently, though slowly, recovering; but his most sanguine friends hardly ventured to hope that his valuable life would be much longer preserved. Lady Davy had joined him in Rome, on hearing of his alarming state, as had also his brother, Dr. John Davy, physician to the forces in Malta.

The event was no sooner known than his afflicted widow received the condolences and affectionate offers of services from the most distinguished individuals of this place; amongst whom were Mr. A. de Condolle, the eminent botanist, and Mr. Sismondi, the historian; both equally beloved for their amiable character, and illus trious throughout Europe for their works. Mr. de Condolle took charge of all the details of the interment; and the government of the Canton, the academy of Geneva, the consistory of the Genevan Church, and the societies of arts, and of natural philosophy and history, together with nearly all the English residents, accompanied the remains to the burying-ground, where the English service was performed by the Rev. John Magers, of Queen's College, and the Rev. Mr. Burgess. The

members of the Academy took their place in the funeral procession; and the invitations to the Syndicate, and to the learned bodies who accompanied it, were made by that body. The whole was conducted with much appropriate order and decency; and whilst every attention and respect were paid to the memory of an individual, who has done his ample share of good to mankind during his life, and whose name will be handed down to posterity amongst those who have most eminently contributed to spread the bounds of science, nothing was attempted, to step beyond the limits of that unostentatious simplicity which the deceased had frequently declared to be his wish, whenever his mortal remains should be conveyed to their last home.

The procession, which followed the corporate bodies, and the countrymmen of the deceased, was joined by many of the most eminent manufacturers of the city, and a large body of mechanics, who were anxious to pay this tribute of regard and of gratitude for one, whom they deservedly looked upon as a great benefactor to the arts, and promoter of the sciences, by the application_of which they earned their livelihood.

Sir Humphry having died without issue, his Baronetcy has become extinct. The "allusive" arms assigned to him by the heralds, (and which are engraved above his portrait,) are, Sable, a chevron engrailed Erminois between two annulets in chief Or, and in base a flame Proper, encompassed by a chain Sable, issuant from a civic wreath Or. Crest out of a civic wreath Or, an elephant's head Sable, ear Or, tusks Argent, the proboscis attached by a line to a ducal coronet around the neck Or. Motto, Igne constricto vita secura.

The following works, of which Sir Humphry Davy is the author, attest the debt which the world owes to his great mind and meritorious exertions :

Chemical and Philosophical Researches, chiefly concerning Nitrous Oxide and its Respiration. 1800, 8vo.

A Syllabus of a Course of Lectures on Chemistry at the Royal Institution. 1802,

8vo.

A Discourse, introductory to a Course of Lectures on Chemistry. 1802, 8vo.

Electro-Chemical Researches on the Decomposition of the Earths; with Observations on the Metals obtained from the Al

The Bakerian Lecture; an Account of some new analytical researches on the nature of certain Bodies, particularly the Alkalies, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Carbonaceous Matter, and the Acids hitherto undecompounded; with some general Observations on Chemical Theory. 1809.

New Analytical Researches on the nature of certain Bodies; being an Appendix to the Bakerian Lecture for 1808.

The Bakerian Lecture for 1809, in some new Electro-Chemical researches on various objects, particularly the Metallic Bodies from the Alkalies and the Earths, and on some Combinations of Hydrogen. 1810.

Researches on the Oxymuriatic Acid, its nature and Combinations, and on the Elements of the Muriatic Acid; with some

Experiments on Sulphur and Phosphorus, made in the Laboratory of the Royal Institution. Ibid.

The Bakerian Lecture, on some of the Combinations of Oxymuriatic Gas and Oxygen, and on the chemical relations of these principles to Inflammable Bodies. 1811. Also another paper in the same volume in continuation of the subject.

On some Combinations of Phosphorus and Sulphur, and on some other subjects of Chemical Inquiry. 1812.

Two papers on a new Detonating Compound. 1813.

Some experiments and observations on the Substances produced in different Chemical Processes on Fluor Spar. Ibid.

An Account of some new experiments on the Fluoric Compounds; with some observations on other objects of Chemical Inquiry. 1814.

Some experiments and observations on a new substance, which becomes a violet-coloured Gas by Heat. Ibid.

Further Experiments and Observations on Iodine. Ibid.

Some Experiments on the Combustion of the Diamond, and other Carbonaceous substances. Ibid.

Some Experiments and Observations on the Colours used in Painting by the Ancients. 1815.

Some Experiments on a Solid Compound of Iodine and Oxygen, and on its Chemical Agencies. Ibid.

On the Action of Acids on the Salts usually called Hyperoxymuriates, and on the Gases produced from them. Ibid.

On the Fire-Damp of Coal Mines, and on Methods of Lighting the Mines so as to prevent Explosion; an Account of an Invention for giving Light in explosive Mixtures of Fire-Damp in Coal-Mines, by consuming the Fire-Damp; and further Experiments on the Combustion of explosive Mixtures confined by Wire Gauze; with some Observations on Flame. 1816.

Some Researches on Flame; and some new Experiments and Observations on the Combustion of Gaseous Mixtures; with an Account of a Method of preserving continued Light in Mixtures of Inflammable Gases, and Air without Flame. 1817.

On the Fallacy of the Experiments in which Water is said to have been formed by the Decomposition of Chlorine.

1818.

New Experiments on some of the Combinations of Phosphorus. Ibid.

Observations on the Formation of Mists in particular Situations. 1819.

On the Magnetic Phenomena produced by Electricity.

Observations and Experiments on the Papyri found in the Ruins of Herculaneum. Researches on the Magnetic Phenomena produced by Electricity, with some new Experiments on the properties of Electrified

Bodies, in their relation to their conducting Powers and Temperature.

On the Electrical Phenomena exhibited in Vacuo.

On the state of Water and Aëriform Matter in Cavities found in certain Crystals. On a new Phenomenon of Electro-magnetism.

On the Condensation of Muriatic Gas into the Liquid Form.

On the Application of Liquids formed by the Condensation of Gases as Mechanical Agents-with Appendix.

Experiments and Observations on the Application of Electrical Combinations to the Preservation of the Copper Sheathing of Ships.

The Bakerian Lecture on the relations of Electrical and Chemical Changes. 1826. On the Phænomenon of Volcanos. 1828. An account of some Experiments on the Torpedo.

To Nicholson's Journal he communicated:

An Account of some Experiments made with the Galvanic Apparatus of Signor Volta. 1801.

Note respecting the absorption of Nitrous Gas, by solutions of green sulphate and muriate of iron.

1802.