JSO HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY. 



little that was original in the new doctrines. But if they were sc. 

 obvious, what are we to say of eminent chemists, as Black and Caven- 

 dish, who hesitated when they were presented, or Kirwan and Priestley, 

 who rejected them ? This at least shows that it required some pecu- 

 liar insight to see the evidence of these truths. To say that most of 

 the materials of Lavoisier's theory existed before him, is only to say 

 that his great merit was, that which must always be the great merit of 

 a new theory, his generalization. The effect which the publication of 

 his doctrines produced, shows us that he was the first person who, 

 possessing clearly the idea of quantitative composition, applied it stead- 

 ily to a great range of well-ascertained facts. This is, as we have often 

 had to observe, precisely the universal description of an inductive dis- 

 coverer. It has been objected, in like manner, to the originality of 

 Newton's discoveries, that they were contained in those of Kepler. 

 They were so, but they needed a Newton to find them there. The 

 originality of the theory of oxygen is proved by the conflict, short as 

 it was, which accompanied its promulgation ; its importance is shown 

 by the changes which it soon occasioned in every part of the science. 

 Thus Lavoisier, far more fortunate than most of those who had, in 

 earlier ages, produced revolutions in science, saw his theory accepted 

 by all the most eminent men of his time, and established over a great 

 part of Europe within a few years from its first promulgation. In the 

 common course of events, it might have been expected that the later 

 years of his life would have been spent amid the admiration and reve- 

 rence which naturally wait upon the patriarch of a new system of ac- 

 knowledged truths. But the times in which he lived allowed no such 

 euthanasia to eminence of any kind. The democracy which overthrew 

 the ancient political institutions of France, and swept away the nobles 

 of the land, was not, as might have been expected, enthusiastic in its 

 admiration of a great revolution in science, and forward to offer its 

 homage to the genuine nobility of a great discoverer. Lavoisier w:is 

 thrown into prison on some wretched charge of having, in the dis- 

 cnarge of a public office which he had held, adulterated certain tobac- 

 co ; but in reality, for the purpose of confiscating his property. 14 In 

 his imprisonment, his philosophy was his resource; and he employed 

 himself in the preparation of his papers for printing. When he was 

 brought before the revolutionary tribunal, he begged for a respite of a 

 fow days, in order to complete some researches, the results of which 



14 Bioy. Univ (Cvwier.; 



