Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

became an inmate with him. The domestic tuition of Lord Shelburne's sons was already committed to a man of merit, and they received from Dr Priestley no other instruction than that of some courses of experimental philosophy. During this period his family resided at Calne, in Wiltshire, adjacent to Bow-wood, the country-seat of Lord Shelburne. Dr Priestley frequently accompanied his noble patron to London, and mixed at his house with several of the eminent characters of the time, by whom he was treated with the respect due to his talents and virtues. He also attended his lordship in a visit to Paris, where he saw many of the most celebrated men of science and letters in that country, and astonished them by his assertion of a firm belief in revealed religion, which they thought no man of sense could hesitate in rejecting as an idle fable.

Whilst he was enjoying the advantages of this situation, in every assistance from books and a noble apparatus for the pursuit of experimental inquiry, he also appeared in the height of his fame as an acute metaphysician. In 1775 he published his Examination of Dr Reid on the Human Mind; Dr Beattie on the Nature and Immutability of Truth; and Dr Oswald's Appeal to Common Sense.' The purpose of this volume was to refute the new doctrine of common sense employed as the criterion of truth by the metaphysicians of Scotland, and to prepare the way for the reception of the Hartleian theory of the human mind, which he was then engaged in presenting under a more popular and intelligible form. In his publication of Hartley's theory he had expressed some doubts as to the common hypothesis that man possesses a soul, or immaterial substance, totally distinct from his body. For this opinion he had undergone obloquy as a favourer of Atheism; but he did not scruple, in 1777, to publish 'Disquisitions relating to Matter and Spirit,' in which he gave a history of the philosophical doctrine concerning the soul, and openly supported the material system, which makes it homogeneous with the body. Perhaps, of all Dr Priestley's deviations from received opinions, this has subjected him to the greatest odium, and has most startled the true friends of reason and free inquiry, on account of its supposed consequences. The natural proofs of a future state appear to be so much invalidated by the rejection of a separate principle, the seat of thought, which may escape from the perishing body to which it is temporarily united, that he seemed to have been employed in demolishing one of the great pillars upon which religion is founded. It is enough here to observe, that in Dr Priestley's mind, the deficiency of these natural proofs only operated as an additional argument in favour of revelation; the necessity of which, to support the most important point of human belief, was thereby rendered more strikingly apparent. It may be added, that as he materialized spirit, so he in some measure spiritualized matter, by assigning to it penetrability and other subtle qualities. At this time he also appeared in great force as the champion of the doctrine of philosophical necessity.

' Dr Priestley's system of materialism has failed in much abler hands than his. That the human soul is an immaterial principle distinct from matter, and from the organized system, through which it acts, is the only theory that will account at all satisfactorily for the phenomena of mind.

[blocks in formation]

Such was the wonderful compass and versatility of his mind, that at this very period he was carrying on that course of discovery concerning aeriform bodies, which has rendered his name so illustrious among philosophical chemists. In the 'Philosophical transactions' for 1773, we find a paper containing 'Observations on different Kinds of Air,' by Dr Priestley; which obtained the honorary prize of Copley's medals. These were reprinted, with many important additions, in the first volume of his Experiments and Observations on different Kinds of Air,' 8vo. 1774. A second volume of this work was published in 1775, and a third in 1777. To give the slightest view of the original matter in these volumes, would occupy more time and space than this sketch permits; but it may with justice be affirmed, that they added a greater mass of fact to the history of aëriform fluids than the united labours of all others employed upon the same subject. Some of the most striking of his discoveries were those of nitrous, and dephlogisticated, or pure air, of the restoration of vitiated air by vegetation,—of the influence of light on vegetables,—and of the effects of respiration upon the blood. In these volumes he did not attempt theory or systematic arrangement, thinking that the knowledge of facts was not sufficiently advanced for that purpose. But the name of Priestley was by these publications spread through all the enlightened countries of Europe, and honours from scientific bodies in various parts were accumulated upon him. The votaries of physical science now, doubtless, flattered themselves, that the ardour of his powerful mind was durably fixed upon the advancement of natural philosophy and chemistry; but an intimation at the close of the last volume, of his intention to intermit those pursuits in order to engage in other speculative topics, sufficiently proved to all who knew him, that experimental inquiries could occupy only a secondary place in his mind. These other and more favourite topics were the mataphysical theories which have been already mentioned, and the theological discussions which he resumed with fresh zeal and industry. The continuation of his 'Institutes of Religion; his Letters to a Philosophical Unbeliever;' his Harmony of the Evangelists;' and various tracts on moral and religious topics, marked his return to his former studies.

The term of his engagement with Lord Shelburne having expired, Dr Priestley, with a pension for life of £150 per annum, was at liberty to choose a new situation. He gave the preference to the neighbourhood of the populous town of Birmingham, chiefly induced by the advantages it afforded, from the nature of its manufactures to the pursuits of chemical experiments. It was also the residence of several men of science; among whom the names of Watt, Withering, Bolton, and

"Few persons, I believe," he says in his autobiography, "have met with so much unexpected good success as myself, in the course of my philosophical pursuits. My narrative will show that the first hints, at least, of almost everything that I have discovered of much importance, have occurred to me in this way; in looking for one thing, I have generally found another, and sometimes a thing of much more value than that which I was in quest of. But none of these expected discoveries appear to me to have been so extraordinary as that I am about to relate, viz. the spontaneous emission of dephlogisticated air from water containing green vegetating matter; and it may serve to admonish all persons who are engaged in similar pursuits, not to overlook any circumstance relating to an experiment, but to keep their eyes open to every new appearance, and to give due attention to it, however inconsiderable it may seem."

Keir, are well known to the public. With these he was soon upon terms of friendly reciprocation of knowledge and mutual aid in research : and their Lunarian Club presented a constellation of talent which would not easily have been assembled even in the metropolis.

[ocr errors]

He had not long occupied his new habitation, before he was invited to undertake the office of pastor to a congregation of Unitarian dissenters in Birmingham, upon which he entered towards the close of 1780. Some of the most important of his theological works soon issued from the Birmingham press. Of these were his Letters to Bishop Newcome, on the Duration of Christ's Ministry;' and his History of the Corruptions of Christianity;' afterwards followed by his History of Early Opinions.' Controversies upon theological topics multiplied around him, to all of which he paid the attention they seemed to require. The warm disputes which took place on occasion of the applications of the dissenters for relief from the disabilities and penalties of the corporation and test acts, supplied a new subject of contest, into which he could not forbear to enter, both as a friend to toleration in general, and as one of the body aggrieved. His hostility to the establishment became more decided, and he appealed to the people on the points of difference, in his Familiar Letters to the Inhabitants of Birmingham,' written with much force, but with his usual disregard of caution.

Little has hitherto been said of the political exertions of Dr Priestley, which, indeed, form no conspicuous part of his literary life. He had displayed his attachment to freedom by his Essay on the First Principles of Government,' and by an anonymous pamphlet on the state of public liberty in this country; and had shown a warm interest in the cause of America at the time of its unfortunate quarrel with the mother country. The French Revolution was an event which could scarcely fail of being contemplated by him with satisfaction. His sanguine hopes saw in it the dawn of light and liberty over Europe; and he particularly expected from it the eventual downfall of all establishments inimical to the spread of truth. Such expectations he was at no pains to conceal; and as parties now began to take their decided stations, and to be inspired with all the usual rancour of opponents in civil contests, he was naturally rendered a prominent mark of party hatred. In this state of mutual exasperation, the celebration of the anniversary of the destruction of the Bastille, by a public dinner, on July 14th, 1791, at which Dr Priestley was not present, gave the signal of those savage riots which have thrown lasting disgrace on the town of Birmingham, and in some degree on the national character. Amid the conflagration of houses of worship and private dwellings, Dr Priestley was the great object of popular rage; his house, library, manuscripts, and apparatus, were made a prey to the flames; he was hunted like a proclaimed criminal, and experienced not only the furious outrages of a mob, but the most unhandsome treatment from some who ought to have sustained the parts of gentlemen, and friends of peace and order. It would be painful to dwell upon these scenes; suffice it to say, that he was driven for ever from his favourite residence; that his losses were very inadequately compensated; and that he passed some time as a wanderer, till an invitation to succeed Dr Price, in a congregation at Hackney, gave him a new settlement. This was rendered more interesting to him by a

[ocr errors]

2

Such was the wonderful compass and versatility of his mind, that at this very period he was carrying on that course of discovery concerning aëriform bodies, which has rendered his name so illustrious among philosophical chemists. In the 'Philosophical transactions' for 1773, we find a paper containing 'Observations on different Kinds of Air,' by Dr Priestley; which obtained the honorary prize of Copley's medals. These were reprinted, with many important additions, in the first volume of his Experiments and Observations on different Kinds of Air,' 8vo. 1774. A second volume of this work was published in 1775, and a third in 1777. To give the slightest view of the original matter in these volumes, would occupy more time and space than this sketch permits; but it may with justice be affirmed, that they added a greater mass of fact to the history of aëriform fluids than the united labours of all others employed upon the same subject. Some of the most striking of his discoveries were those of nitrous, and dephlogisticated, or pure air,—of the restoration of vitiated air by vegetation,-of the influence of light on vegetables,—and of the effects of respiration upon the blood. In these volumes he did not attempt theory or systematic arrangement, thinking that the knowledge of facts was not sufficiently advanced for that purpose. But the name of Priestley was by these publications spread through all the enlightened countries of Europe, and honours from scientific bodies in various parts were accumulated upon him. The votaries of physical science now, doubtless, flattered themselves, that the ardour of his powerful mind was durably fixed upon the advancement of natural philosophy and chemistry; but an intimation at the close of the last volume, of his intention to intermit those pursuits in order to engage in other speculative topics, sufficiently proved to all who knew him, that experimental inquiries could occupy only a secondary place in his mind. These other and more favourite topics were the mataphysical theories which have been already mentioned, and the theological discussions which he resumed with fresh zeal and industry. The continuation of his 'Institutes of Religion;' his 'Letters to a Philosophical Unbeliever;' his 'Harmony of the Evangelists;' and various tracts on moral and religious topics, marked his return to his former studies.

The term of his engagement with Lord Shelburne having expired, Dr Priestley, with a pension for life of £150 per annum, was at liberty to choose a new situation. He gave the preference to the neighbourhood of the populous town of Birmingham, chiefly induced by the advantages it afforded, from the nature of its manufactures to the pursuits of chemical experiments. It was also the residence of several men of science; among whom the names of Watt, Withering, Bolton, and

"Few persons, I believe," he says in his autobiography, "have met with so much unexpected good success as myself, in the course of my philosophical pursuits. My narrative will show that the first hints, at least, of almost everything that I have discovered of much importance, have occurred to me in this way; in looking for one thing, I have generally found another, and sometimes a thing of much more value than that which I was in quest of. But none of these expected discoveries appear to me to have been so extraordinary as that I am about to relate, viz. the spontaneous emission of dephlogisticated air from water containing green vegetating matter; and it may serve to admonish all persons who are engaged in similar pursuits, not to overlook any circumstance relating to an experiment, but to keep their eyes open to every new appearance, and to give due attention to it, however inconsiderable it may seem."

Keir, are well known to the public. With these he was soon upon terms of friendly reciprocation of knowledge and mutual aid in research: and their Lunarian Club presented a constellation of talent which would not easily have been assembled even in the metropolis.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

He had not long occupied his new habitation, before he was invited to undertake the office of pastor to a congregation of Unitarian dissenters in Birmingham, upon which he entered towards the close of 1780. Some of the most important of his theological works soon issued from the Birmingham press. Of these were his Letters to Bishop Newcome, on the Duration of Christ's Ministry;' and his History of the Corruptions of Christianity;' afterwards followed by his 'History of Early Opinions.' Controversies upon theological topics multiplied around him, to all of which he paid the attention they seemed to require. The warm disputes which took place on occasion of the applications of the dissenters for relief from the disabilities and penalties of the corporation and test acts, supplied a new subject of contest, into which he could not forbear to enter, both as a friend to toleration in general, and as one of the body aggrieved. His hostility to the establishment became more decided, and he appealed to the people on the points of difference, in his Familiar Letters to the Inhabitants of Birmingham,' written with much force, but with his usual disregard of caution.

·

Little has hitherto been said of the political exertions of Dr Priestley, which, indeed, form no conspicuous part of his literary life. He had displayed his attachment to freedom by his Essay on the First Principles of Government,' and by an anonymous pamphlet on the state of public liberty in this country; and had shown a warm interest in the cause of America at the time of its unfortunate quarrel with the mother country. The French Revolution was an event which could scarcely fail of being contemplated by him with satisfaction. His sanguine hopes saw in it the dawn of light and liberty over Europe; and he particularly expected from it the eventual downfall of all establishments inimical to the spread of truth. Such expectations he was at no pains to conceal; and as parties now began to take their decided stations, and to be inspired with all the usual rancour of opponents in civil contests, he was naturally rendered a prominent mark of party hatred. In this state of mutual exasperation, the celebration of the anniversary of the destruction of the Bastille, by a public dinner, on July 14th, 1791, at which Dr Priestley was not present, gave the signal of those savage riots which have thrown lasting disgrace on the town of Birmingham, and in some degree on the national character. Amid the conflagration of houses of worship and private dwellings, Dr Priestley was the great object of popular rage; his house, library, manuscripts, and apparatus, were made a prey to the flames; he was hunted like a proclaimed criminal, and experienced not only the furious outrages of a mob, but the most unhandsome treatment from some who ought to have sustained the parts of gentlemen, and friends of peace and order. It would be painful to dwell upon these scenes; suffice it to say, that he was driven for ever from his favourite residence; that his losses were very inadequately compensated; and that he passed some time as a wanderer, till an invitation to succeed Dr Price, in a congregation at Hackney, gave him a new settlement. This was rendered more interesting to him by a

« AnteriorContinuar »