352 Analysis of Books. 



after the respiration has been restored, and the circulation re-esta 

 blished, at which death may take place, when we are the least pre- 

 pared to expect it. In the ' Researches ' no allusion is made to the 

 theory or nomenclature of ' Essays on Heat and Light.' Soon after 

 their publication, he says, in a communication to Mr. Nicholson, 

 * I beg to be considered as a sceptic with respect to my own parti- 

 cular theory of the combinations of light, and shall in future use the 

 common nomenclature.' ' It is remarkable that in several passages 

 of the " Researches " he advocates the theory of the atmospheric 

 air being* a chemical compound of oxygen and nitrogen ; whereas 

 in later years, he was among the first to insist upon its being simply 

 a mechanical mixture of these gases.' 



His health having suffered from close application and the delete- 

 rious nature of his experiments, he retired to his native place, where 

 he soon recovered ; and we find him in the vigorous pursuit of his 

 experiments in October, 1800, when he first announces to his friend 

 Mr. Gilbert, ' those new facts in voltaic electricity/ which may be 

 said to have paved the way to his grand discoveries in that branch of 

 science. He says 



* In pursuing experiments on galvanism during the last two months, I 

 have met with unexpected and unhoped-for success. Some of the new 

 facts on this subject promise to afford instruments capable of destroying 

 the mysterious veil which nature has thrown over the operations and pro- 

 perties of etherial fluids. Galvanism I have found to be a process purely 

 chemical, and to depend wholly on the oxidation of metallic surfaces, 

 having different degrees of electric conducting power,' &c. 



His* Researches' excited general admiration in the philosophic 

 world, which was increased by the circumstance of a work so replete 

 with ingenious novelty and chemical discovery proceeding from the 

 pen of so young a man ; and the publication may be considered as 

 the immediate cause of an event which proved in its result not less 

 important in its influence on his future fortunes than it has been on 

 the interests of science. The Royal Institution had been then re- 

 cently established for the advancement of science and the useful arts, 

 in the establishment and direction of which Count Rumford took an 

 active part. The fame of the young philosopher naturally attracted 

 his attraction. Mr. Underwood, a gentleman attached to science 

 and devoted to the interests of the Institution, was among the first 

 to urge the expediency of inviting him to London as a public lec- 

 turer, and the Count, having received full powers from the Managers 

 to negotiate on the subject, communicated with Mr. Underwood, 

 who referred him to Mr. James Thompson, Davy's intimate friend, 

 who wrote to Davy, with an earnest recommendation that he should 

 come to town arid conclude the arrangement. Davy answered the 

 letter in person, was introduced to the Managers, received in the 

 most flattering manner, and engaged as Assistant Lecturer in Che- 

 mistry, Director of the Laboratory, and Assistant Editor of the Jour- 

 nals of the Institution. He arrived at the Institution, and entered 



