3S6 Addresses delivered at the Commemoj-ation 



I see before me the man who has extracted electricity from the mag- 

 netic spark, surely he, of all others, is capable of doing justice to the 

 character of Dr. Priestley ; from him, and from persons inspired by 

 his genius, we may expect to acquire knowledge in that particular 

 branch of science, which we may term in a more elevated sense 

 pneumatic chemistry, equal to that which we have acquired through 

 the labours of Dr. Priestley and those who have followed him in the 

 department of physical inquiry to which we at present apply that 

 designation. 



One point in the character of Dr. Priestley I wish to have the 

 pleasure of noticing, because I feel myself called upon to vindicate 

 him in this respect. Some persons speak of him merely as an ex- 

 perimenter, who tried results in a variety of shapes, and by accident 

 attained some happy discoveries. But the persons I now address 

 must be well aware that these results are only seen by persons of 

 keen observation, — by persons who are able to appreciate what they 

 observe. If facts have remained unnoticed before by common eyes, 

 surely the man deserves credit who is not only able to see, but to 

 point out to others the value of what he observes. 



There is another point to be considered in the character of Dr. 

 Priestley. It was probably owing to this acuteness of perception 

 and intellect that he was less capable of systematizing the results of 

 his researches than some men are ; for our faculties are so limited, 

 that different orders of them are required to make discoveries and to 

 systematize those discoveries when made. In my own opinion the 

 character of a discoverer stands far higher than that of a systematizer: 

 and surely it can be no diminution to the transcendant talents of 

 Dr. Priestley as an inventor, that he had not the subordinate cha- 

 racter of a methodizer of the facts which he discovered. 



It is not my intention to enter upon the merits of Dr. Priestley ; 

 but on one point I will make an observation. We recollect those 

 disgraceful proceedings by which he was driven from this country ; 

 and I congratulate myself that such a circumstance, if it were not a 

 matter of history, could now scarcely be credited. I see before me 

 men of different religious, and of different political sentiments ; but 

 we none of us think that we compromise either our religious or po- 

 litical opinions by endeavouring to do honour to a man who was an 

 honour to his age and to his country. 



It only remains for me, in the name of the University of Cam- 

 bridge, of which I am on this occasion the unworthy representative, 

 to return you my sincere thanks for the honour you have done us. 



On the part of the Royal Society and its President, His Royal 

 Highness the Duke of Sussex, J. W. Lubbock, Esq., Treasurer and 

 Vice President of that body, addressed the meeting as follows : — 



I am very sorry that it devolves on so humble an individual as 

 myself to return thanks to you, in the absence of His Royal Highness 

 the President, for the honour now conferred on the Royal Society. 

 Every one, I am sure, regrets that His Royal Highness has lately 

 suffered so much from illness ; and were he not still indisposed, I 



