284 MEMOIR OF DR, DALTON, AND 



whereas the contrary was the case, the works of the former not 

 having been heard of, but some of the latter. We are not 

 justified in making such speculations without some foundation. 

 This "character" referred to, written by Davy, and to be 

 seen in Dr. Henry's life of Dalton, might probably have been 

 modified before he gave it to the public, had he lived to do 

 so. He certainly had a right to jot down his own speculations 

 in private. 



Dalton has been called a coarse experimenter. He taught 

 himself and never advanced with the times, but there are many 

 varieties of gifts, and we have not always found that the 

 finest experimenter has been the greatest discoverer. The 

 mind in reality makes the experiment first. Experiments are 

 not made on things distant from our knowledge, but on those 

 which approach nearest to it ; a theory is therefore formed, 

 arising from previous knowledge, or a question is asked with- 

 out a theory, exactly at the turning point where a finger post 

 is for a moment wanted. The mind always travels the road or 

 by-road of theory, although wavering at the meeting of new 

 roads. Now Dalton when he saw that the road must be in a 

 certain direction, did not care to keep by it at every step, and 

 so surveyed a great extent of territory. It was done with the 

 quick decision and instinct of the hunter over wild ground. 

 One only laments that on the first sight of new lands there 

 was not the poet to burst out into song. It is this want of 

 poetry, this constant plodding workmanship of the intellect, 

 that has obtained so few admirers for Dalton, and has allowed 

 men, whose fame might readily be got from a very few of his 

 memoirs, to take a position in science and society, which 

 ought to have been far inferior. Even scientific men have 

 yielded to the feeling, and, like the world of fashion, have 

 admired the gayest. But, after all, how few are the scientific 

 men whose diction gives life to their discoveries. Life is 

 scarcely apparent till after much nursing. 



