60 MEMOIR OF DE. DALTON, AND 



Again, from London, December 27th, 1809, when giving 

 another course of lectures, he writes to Mr. Jones, after some 

 pleasant gossip about his fellow-travellers : — 



" On Tuesday I spent greater part of the day (morning 

 they call it here) with Mr. Davy in the laboratory of the 

 Royal Institution. Sir I. Sebright, M.P., who is becoming 

 a student of chemistry, was present. We had a long discus- 

 sion. In the evening I walked three miles into the city, to 

 Pickford's, to look after my boxes ; I found them there, but 

 as they promised to send them next day I did not take them. 

 They disappointed me. On Wednesday I attended Mr. 

 Bond's lecture on astronomy, and prepared for mine the 

 next day. On Thursday, at two, I gave my first lecture. 

 Mr. Pearson, a former acquaintance, went home with me 

 after the lecture, and w^e had a long discussion on mechanics. 

 Mr. Davy had invited me to dine with the club of the Royal 

 Society, at the Crown and Anchor, at five o'clock, but I was 

 detained till near six ; I got there and called Davy out ; all 

 was over ; the cheese was come out. I went, therefore, to 

 the nearest eating-house I could find to seek a dinner ; look- 

 ing in at a window I saw a great heap of pewter plates and 

 some small oblong tables covered with cloths. I went in and 

 asked for a beefsteak ; *' no." What can I have? " boiled beef.'* 

 Bring some immediately. There was nothing eatable visible 

 in the room, but in three minutes I had placed before me a 

 large pewter plate covered completely with a slice of excel- 

 lent boiled beef swimming in gravy, two or three potatoes, 

 bread, mustard, and a pint of porter. Never got a better 

 dinner. It cost me ll^d. I should have paid 7s. at the 

 Crown and Anchor. I then went to the Royal Society and 

 heard a summary of Davy's paper on chemistry, and one of 

 Home's on the poison of the rattlesnake : Sir J. Banks in the 

 chair. Davy is coming very fast into my views on chemical 

 subjects. On Friday I was preparing for my second lecture. 

 I received a visit from Dr. Roget. On the evening I was 



