2S0 Biographical Memoir of Henry Cavendish. 



It is also known that the same Walsh saw sparks in the elec- 

 tric eel of South America, a fish which possesses that property 

 in a much higher degree than our European torpedoes, and 

 which, according to M. Humboldt, is capable of stunning horses 

 by its shocks. 



We have also observations by Mr Cavendish on the height of 

 luminous meteors *, which might have led to the supposition, 

 now so well verified, of the falling of stones from the atmosphere. 

 He wrote a very learned memoir on the means of improving 

 meteorological instruments -f-, and made ingenious remarks on 

 the effects of frigorific mixtures, and their limits J. He even 

 occupied himself with the calendar of the Hindoos, and endea- 

 voured to compare their confused cycles with our mode of reckon- 

 ing time §, But the limits of a public discourse do not permit 

 us to enter into an analysis of all his writings ; we only mention 

 them, to add the example of Mr Cavendish to so many others, 

 which prove that great discoveries are reserved for men habitual- 

 ly given to contemplation. 



Toward the end of his life, he busied himself with regulating 

 more accurately the division of the great astronomical instru- 

 ments ; and it was assuredly carrying to the extreme the love of 

 accuracy, to be dissatisfied with the art which, of all others, has 

 carried 'that quality to the highest pitch. 



After this long enumeration of Mr Cavendish's labours, it 

 will readily be comprehended that a life so productive could not 

 have been an agitated one ; but what would not so readily occur, 

 was the extreme uniformity of his life, and the scrupulous exact- 

 ness with which he fulfilled the view which had induced him to 

 devote it to study. The most austere anchorites were not more 

 faithful to theirs. Among the numerous problems which he 

 solved, he placed in the first rank that of not losing a minute or 

 a word; and he found, in fact, so complete a solution of it, that 

 it will astonish those who are most economical of time and words. 

 His people knew from his signs whatever he wanted ; and, as he 

 scarcely ever asked any thing from them, this sort of dictionary 

 was but brief. He had only one dress at a time, which was renewed 



• Phil. Trans. 1790, p. 101. t Ibid. 1776, p. 375. 



+ Ibid. 1783, p. 303, and 1786, p. 241. § Ibid. 1792, p. 383. 



