354 Analysis of Books. 



ing ; and by which those words, which are the immutable instruments of 

 thought, are become the constant and widely-diffused nourishment of the 

 mind, and the preservers of its health and energy.' ' Individuals, influ- 

 enced by interested motives, or false views, may check for a time the pro- 

 gress of knowledge, moral causes may produce a momentary slumber of 

 the public spirit, the adoption of wild and dangerous theories by ambi- 

 tious or deluded men may throw a temporary opprobrium on literature ; 

 but the influence of true philosophy will never be despised, the germs of 

 improvement are sown in minds even where they are not perceived ; and, 

 sooner or later, the spring-time of their growth must arrive. In reason- 

 ing concerning the future hopes of the human species, we may look for- 

 ward with confidence to a state of society, in which the different orders 

 and classes of men will contribute more effectually to the support of 

 each other than they have hitherto done. This state indeed seems to be 

 approaching fast ; for, in consequence of the multiplication of the means 

 of instruction, the man of science and the manufacturer are daily becom- 

 ing more assimilated to each other. The artist, who formerly affected to 

 despise scientific principles, because he was incapable of perceiving the 

 advantages of them, is now so far enlightened as to favour the adoption of 

 new processes in his art, whenever they are evidently connected with a 

 diminution of labour ; and the increase of projectors, even to too great an 

 extent, demonstrates the enthusiasm of the public mind in its search after 

 improvement.' 



This lecture was printed^ at the request of a considerable portion 

 of the Society. 



'The sensation created by this first course of lectures at the Institution, 

 and the enthusiastic admiration which they obtained,' Mr. Purkiss says, 

 * is at this period scarcely to be imagined compliments, invitations, and 

 presents were showered upon him in abundance from all quarters ; his 

 society was courted by all, and all appeared proud of his acquaintance.' 



' It is admitted/ says his biographer, ' that his vanity was excited, and 

 his ambition raised, by such extraordinary demonstrations of devotion ; 

 that the bloom of his simplicity was dulled by the breath of adulation, and 

 that losing much of the native frankness which constituted the great 

 charm of his character, he unfortunately assumed the garb and airs of a 

 man of fashion ; let us not wonder if, under such circumstances, the inap- 

 propriate robe should not always have fallen in graceful draperies. 1 It has 

 been also urged, ' that the style of his lectures was far too florid and ima- 

 ginative for communicating the plain lessons of truth ; that he described 

 objects of natural history by inappropriate imagery, and that violent con- 

 ceits frequently usurped the place of philosophical definitions.' 



Dr. Paris has well defended him from this latter censure, by remind- 

 ing us of the class of persons to whom his lectures were addressed ; 

 and the writer of this abstract, then very young-, well remembers the 

 effective and impressive manner in which he led away his hearers 

 and took their prisoned senses captive. Nothing can be more true 

 than the remark, that ' the style which cannot be tolerated in a phi- 

 losophical essay may, under peculiar circumstances, be not only 

 admissible, but even expedient in a popular lecture/ In addition 

 to these morning lectures he gave, at the same, time, an evening 

 course on galvanic phenomena. In May, 1802, he was appointed 

 Professor of Chemistry to the Royal Institution. Davy seems him- 

 self to have been sensible that his audience required something more 



