HISTOBY OP THE ATOMIC THEOEY. 28 1 



side of the city. The grave is enclosed by a strong rail, en- 

 closing a space about twenty feet square, and contains a very 

 plain and simple, but large, massive, and imposing covering of 

 polished red granite, with the inscription in large letters, 

 John Dalton, and in smaller letters the date of his birth 

 and death. 



This tombstone, consisting of a solid granite pediment and 

 overhanging slab, was not made till some years after Dalton's 

 death, when a subscription was raised, amounting to £5,312, in 

 order to carry out some of his original intentions, as well as to 

 connect his name with some public benefaction, as a most 

 fitting memorial. Dalton had originally set aside two thousand 

 pounds for a " professorship of chenriistry at Oxford, for the 

 advancement of that science by lectures, in which the atomic 

 theory as propounded by me, together with the subsequent 

 discoveries and elucidations thereof, shall be introduced and 

 explained." The desire to repair the losses sustained by Mr. 

 Johns; to show a mark of respect and gratitude to Mr. 

 Peter Clare, who had been so aflfectionate as a friend ; and to 

 Mr. Neild, at whose table he had been welcomed regularly 

 for many years, seems to have caused him to alter his will, 

 and to attend rather to persons than to institutions. 



His will included the names of many who were near and 

 dear to him and needed assistance. 



With great respect for the affection shown in Dalton's will 

 to his friends and relatives, the sum mentioned was sub- 

 scribed to carry out in part his original intention. Since his 

 death Owens College had been founded in Manchester. For 

 this there have been provided two Dalton chemical scholar- 

 ships, of fifty pounds for two years ; two Dalton mathematical 

 scholarships, of fifty pounds, also continuing two years ; Dalton 

 prizes from ten to twenty-five pounds, and a Dalton natural 

 history prize of fifteen pounds.* A thousand pounds of the 



• As ndrertiscd for 1850. 

 20 



