1 4 MEMOIR OF DR. DALTON, AND 



that he is a man of simple mind, who had never seen a large 

 city, to whom the parade of the world and the unfortunate 

 pride of successful science was known only from books, and 

 we need not wonder that he expected on announcing the 

 truths he had learned to an ignorant rural population, a 

 crowd eager to hear them. Independent investigation had 

 not yet contracted his field of interest, so to speak, for we 

 find this effect produced of necessity in the mind which has 

 for a long time travelled alone over an unmapped district. 

 He is now 21 years of age, and gives the following pro- 

 gramme of lectures. 



Oct. 26th, 1787. 



" Twelve lectures on Natural Philosophy to be read at the 

 school (if a sufficient number of subscribers are procured) by 

 John Dalton. To begin on Tuesday evening the 13th Nov'^- 

 next, at 6 o'cl., and to continue every Tuesday and Thursday 

 at the same hour till compleated. 



Subscribers to the whole ^ a guinea; or one shilling for 

 single nights. 



N.B. Subscribers to the whole course will have the liberty 

 of requiring further explanation of subjects that may not be 

 sufficiently discussed or clearly perceived when under imme- 

 diate consideration; also of proposing doubts, objections, etc.; 

 all which will be illustrated and obviated at suitable times to 

 be mentioned at the commencement. 



A Syllabus of the Lectures. 

 First & Second. Mechanics. 



Introduction. Rules of Philosophizing on Matter and its 

 Properties with the diiferent opinions of the most famous 

 Philosophers on this head. 



The laws of motion. Mechanic powers. Vibration of 

 pendulums. 



Third, Fourth, & Fifth. Optics. 



Preliminary discourse. Of the nature and properties of 

 light. Of simple vision. Doctrine of colours. Of reflected 



