Biographical Memoir of Sir Humphry Davy. 25 



labours, with which he continued to be occupied nearly to the 

 time of his death *. 



The progress and destination of the human species, and the 

 fate of thousands of worlds, of which astronomers have per- 

 ceived but a small proportion, are the subjects of a dialogue, in 

 which the poet is not less conspicuous than the philosopher, and 

 in which, among fictions, a great power of reasoning is applied to 

 questions of the most serious nature. One would have said, that 

 once escaped from the laboratory he had resumed the tranquil 

 reveries and sublime thoughts which had formed the dehght of 

 his youth : it was in some measure the work of a dying Plato. 



In the same way he had amused himself, during a previous 

 indisposition, by giving in a series of dialogues all the information 

 his experience as a fisher had supplied on the natural history 

 of the trout and salmon ; and the curious observations which 

 his work on this subject^con tains, will render it always of import- 

 ance in the science of ichthyology -f*. 



But it must be confessed, that however ingenious these writ- 

 ings may appear, science has to regret that his mind was diverted 

 by them from its appropriate pursuits. The state of his health, 

 however, rendered it necessary, for he became so weak, that at 

 times an entire forgetfulness of all chemical researches was the 

 only means of alleviating his distress. 



He had not always the power of diverting his attention by in- 

 tellectual exercises. Fishing, or some other occupation equally 

 insignificant, filled up a portion of his time. In traversing with 

 such rapidity so wide a field of science, he had likewise accelera- 

 ted the course of his life, and his early triumphs were obtained 

 at the price of premature infirmity. A third journey to Italy, 

 and a residence of some duration at Florence and Rome, had 

 not the effect on his present state of health that was anticipated. 



Reduced to a state of considerable weakness, he was anxious 

 to see his native country. Lady Davy and his brother Dr John 

 Davy, who acted as his medical attendant, watched over him 

 during the journey with the most tender solicitude. The sight 

 of the fine prospects through which he passed, seemed for a 



• Consolations in Travel, or the last days of a Philosopher. 8va London, 

 1830. 



■f- Salmonia, or days of fly-fishing, in a series of conversations. 12mo. 

 London, 1823. 



