HISTORY OF THE ATOMIC THEOBY. 265 



there is no seeking out of talent, on which to confer oppor- 

 tunities of usefuhiess; and reward, which is an object less 

 desired by men of elevated minds, comes only after the 

 clamorous entreaties of friends. 



The Royal Society had paid no attention to him, because 

 constituted like many of the other public bodies of the 

 country, receiving its strength by the vigour of individuals 

 moving towards it, and so standing more in the condition of 

 a reservoir than of a fountain. Davy proposed, in 1810, to 

 nominate him, but he declined; probably the expense was 

 the hindrance. There certainly are cases in which such a 

 hindrance should not be permitted. In 1822, he was pro- 

 posed and elected without his consent being asked, lest a true 

 nolo episcopari should have again been uttered. It was in 

 the summer of the same year that he visited Paris, and there 

 had that distinguished reception and entertainment among its 

 scientific men, that he might have looked for here in vain. 

 His reception in Paris pleased him much ; he returned much 

 refreshed and invigorated in mind ; he formed high opinions 

 of many of the celebrated characters he met there, and the 

 visit was spoken of with pleasure to the end of his life. 



If the customs or laws of the Royal Society prevented 

 them from early electing him, they took the first opportunity 

 in their power of presenting him with the gold medal. In the 

 discourse* of Sir H. Davy, on that occasion, we have his 

 matured opinion on Dalton's position and discoveries. He 

 there says that the medal was given " for the development 

 of the chemical theory of definite proportions, usually called 

 the atomic theory, and for his various other labours and dis- 

 coveries in physical and chemical science." His speech at 

 this time must be taken as his matured opinion on the subject 

 of the atomic theory, whatever he may have in private said 

 or been reported to say. It continues: "To- Mr. Dalton 



• Page 1^5, "Six discounes delivered before the Royal Society," by Sir H. 

 Davy. 



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