HISTORY OP THE ATOMIC THEORY. 1 67 



CHAPTER VIII. 



DR. BRYAN HIGGINS AND WILLIAM HIGGINS. 



Dr. Bryan Higgins was the earliest chemist who seems to 

 have dealt with the elements of matter, in a chemical, as well 

 as physical sense, with an attempt to obtain information as to 

 the primary elements and their atomic constitution, although 

 he gives no certain results. I find at the laboratory of Owcds 

 College, among the books forming part of the library of the 

 late Dr. William Henry, a little pamphlet, proposing a course 

 of lectures, to be commenced on the 13th November, 1775. 



The proposals are said to have been formerly published ; it 

 is not said how long before. I shall give considerable extracts. 



Page 1. " Doctor Higgins, of Greek-street, Soho, en- 

 couraged by the literary noblemen, and gentlemen who have 

 subscribed to his courses of philosophic and practical chemistry, 

 addresses the following proposals to the patrons of natural 

 philosophy and useful arts. 



" That fifty philosophic and literary gentlemen do concur 

 in promoting experimental inquiries into the elements of 

 matter and laws of nature, and such other subjects as are 

 most important in natural philosophy, chemistry, and arts. 



Page 3. '* That in these discourses he shall introduce the 

 natural phenomena, the illustrative observations and experi- 

 ments of philosophers, chemists, and artists ; and particularly 

 his notions and experiments concerning the primary elements 

 and the properties of matter. 



Page 9. ** Introductory discourse on matter in general, 

 called gross matter; on the varieties and distinctions of gross 

 matter; on the primary elements of matter. 



