94 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



the occasion of the publication of his "Disquisitions relating to Mat- 

 ter and Spirit," which took place in 1777, indicates pretty clearly the 

 state of the case : 



"(126.) It being probable that tbis publication would be unpopular, and 

 might be the means of bringing odium on my patron, several attempts were 

 made by his friends, though none by himself, to dissuade me from persisting in 

 it. But being, as I thought, engaged in the cause of important truth, I pro- 

 ceeded "without regard to any consequences, assuring them that this publication 

 should not be injurious to his lordship." 



It is not unreasonable to suppose that his lordship, as a keen, prac- 

 tical man of the world, did not derive much satisfaction from this 

 assurance. The "evident marks of dissatisfaction," which Priestley 

 says he first perceived in his patron in 1*778, may well have arisen 

 from the peer's not unnatural uneasiness as to what his domesticated 

 but not tamed philosopher might write next, and what storm might 

 thereby be brought down on his own head; and it speaks very highly 

 for Lord Shelburne's delicacy that, in the midst of such perplexities, 

 he made not the least attempt to interfere with Priestley's freedom 

 of action. In 1780, however, he intimated to Dr. Price that he should 

 be glad to establish Priestley on his Irish estates ; the suggestion was 

 interpreted as Lord Shelburne probably intended it should be, and 

 Priestley left him, the annuity of 150 a year, which had been prom- 

 ised in view of such a contingency, being punctually paid. 



After leaving Calne, Priestley spent some little time in London, 

 and then, having settled in Birmingham, at the desire of his brother- 

 in-law, he was soon invited to become the minister of a large congre- 

 gation. This settlement Priestley considered at the time to be " the 

 happiest event of his life." And well he might think so, for it gave 

 him competence and leisure; placed him within reach of the best 

 makers of apparatus of the day ; made him a member of that remark- 

 able " Lunar Society " at whose meetings he could exchange thoughts 

 with such men as Watt, Wedgewood, Darwin, and Boulton ; and 

 threw open to him the pleasant house of the Galtons of Barr, where 

 these men, and others of less note, formed a society of exceptional 

 charm and intelligence. 1 



1 See " The life of Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck." Mrs. Schimmelpenninck {nee 

 Galton) remembered Priestley very well, and her description of him is worth quotation : 

 " A man of admirable simplicity, gentleness, and kindness of heart, united with great 

 acuteness of intellect. I can never forget the impression produced on me by the serene 

 expression of his countenance. He, indeed, seemed present with God by recollection, 

 and with man by cheerfulness. I remember that, in the assembly of these distinguished 

 men, among whom Mr. Boulton, by his noble manner, his fine countenance (which much 

 resembled that of Louis XIV.), and princely munificence, stood preeminently as the 

 great Maecenas ; even as a child I used to feel, when Dr. Priestley entered after him, 

 that the glory of the one was terrestrial, that of the other, celestial ; and utterly far as 

 I am removed from a belief in the sufficiency of Dr. Priestley's theological creed, I can- 

 not but here record this evidence of the eternal power of any portion of the truth held 

 in its vitality." 



