210 Biographical Memoir of Henry Cavendish, 



that there is no temerity in predicting, that he will shed as much 

 lustre on his house as he received from it ; and that his re- 

 searches, which perhaps excited the pity and dislike of some of 

 his relatives, will make his name be transmitted to a period to 

 which his rank and ancestry could scarcely have borne it. The 

 history of thirty centuries, in fact, teaches us very clearly, that 

 great and useful truths are, after all, the only lasting heritage 

 that men can leave. 



Men of this order do not, indeed, require the meed of 

 praise ; but it is necessary to point them out as examples ; and 

 such will be our object in retracing the life, or rather in present- 

 ing an abridged account of the labours, of Henry Cavendish, 

 Esquire, Member of the Royal Society of London, and Foreign 

 Associate of the Institute of France. We say an abridged 

 account of his labours ; for he was so happy or so wise, that 

 scarcely any thing else is known of him; and in his liistory 

 there are no other incidents than discoveries. In the following 

 memoir, let not, therefore^ that kind of interest be sought for 

 which arises from singular or varied adventures ; but, at the 

 same time, let not the uniformity of his life lead us to regard 

 it with indifference. To be able at once to enlighten his cotem- 

 poraries, and gain their love ; to possess genius, and to disarm 

 by criticism its virulence ; to be rich and honoured, without 

 exciting envy ; to retain his powers unimpaired, after the most 

 assiduous labours, — are qualities so rare, as to render it curious 

 to know their details, and study their causes. 



Mr Cavendish was born at London, on the 10th October 

 1731. His father, Lord Charles Cavendish, was a member of 

 the Royal Society, and administrator of the British Museum. 



His family, descended from one of the companions of William 

 the Conqueror, is among the most illustrious in Great Britain ; 

 it is more than two centuries since it was inscribed in the list of 

 the peerage ; and William III. in 1694, gave the title of Duke 

 of Devonshire to its head. 



It has been remarked, that in England there are more people 

 of rank who devote themselves to science and literature, than 

 in any other country ; and the reason is this, because, from the 

 form of government in that country, birth, and even riches, can 



