of the Centenary of the Birth of Dr. Priestley. 389 



which is equivalent to respiration in vegetation. I will, therefore, 

 take the liberty of adverting to that part of Dr. Priestley's character 

 which I think tends to illustrate his attainments as a chemist. 



I had the honour of being Dr. Priestley's pupil in early life ; I was 

 much in his laboratory, took notes for him, saw his method of pro- 

 ceeding ; and without having had the opportunity of seeing him as I 

 did, I think no one can be fully aware of his merits, his enthusiasm, 

 his originality, his quickness in meeting all difficulties that occurred, 

 and in taking advantage of all points which started up under his 

 notice. It has been said by some persons that his success in expe- 

 riments was accidental, that he tried everything, and in fact was 

 jumping about without aim or method. Now that was not the case : 

 he had the eye and the mind of a philosopher ; and the number of 

 his experiments serves to show his zeal, his industry, and his perse- 

 verance. 



It has been remarked this evening by a gentleman who has pre- 

 ceded me [Professor Gumming], that Dr. Priestley was not much cele- 

 brated for arrangement ; but in contrivance, in meeting obstacles, 

 in bringing out new facts by new combinations, he was unrivalled. 

 Let any person take up any contemporary author of his day, consider 

 what was known when he began his experiments, and compare it 

 with the state of the science when he left it ; and then he will be able 

 to judge of what Priestley did : without that comparison we cannot 

 be aware of the extent of his labours. He gave increasing motion 

 to the great machine of discovery, which has been working with ad- 

 ditional rapidity ever since ; and therefore it is that at this day his 

 discoveries appear in some degree, I may say, perhaps trifling, till 

 we recollect that they were the commencement of the career. But 

 why should I say this, when I reflect that he made such valuable 

 discoveries with respect to oxygen gas ; that he was the first person 

 who was fully aware of the fact, that the respiration of animals and 

 the combustion of inflammable matter were the effect of air ; that he 

 was the first person who procured, in a separate state, the muriatic 

 acid ; that he was the first person who applied electricity in opera- 

 tions with the gases; the first person who invented a method of 

 transferring gases. And when I reflect also that he discovered the 

 effect of air upon vegetation, the effect of air upon the blood and 

 upon vitality, I must say, that the experiments which at this day 

 we look upon as common, would be wonderful and astonishing forty 

 years* ago, when they were made by a man who began life without 

 fortune, who taught himself philosophy, and who commenced his 

 discoveries with only a few tumblers and glasses. 



Allow me to make one further observation. It must give us all 

 great pleasure to know, that not only in England but on the Conti- 

 nent also are his merits appreciated. About two years ago I had 

 the pleasure and satisfaction of hearing the lamented Cuvier lecture 

 in Paris ; and I am sure no person was more sensible than he was of 

 the value of Dr. Priestley's discoveries. I was astonished to find how 

 fully aware he seemed to be of all he had done ; and I was deeply 

 gratified to hear this master in science give to Priestley that praise 



