Biographical Memoir ofDr Priestley. ^1 



ter surrounds himself with warHke apparatus, arms himself with 

 learning and metaphysics, attacks every sect, shakes every dog- 

 ma, and shocks the consciences of all by the keenness with 

 which he seems to aim at their subjection. 



It is against the man of heaven, the minister of peace, that 

 earthly weapons are employed : it is he who is accused of ex- 

 citing hatred, of provoking vengeance, of disturbing society. 

 The profane philosopher, on the cdntrary, is respected by all : 

 every one admits that he only professes to defend truth by rea- 

 son ; that he only employs his discoveries for the good of so- 

 ciety ; that he uses only mildness and modesty in his writings. 



Obliged as I am to describe to you Priestley as he was, it is 

 necessary for me to trace him in his two characters, — to speak 

 of the theologian, the metaphysician, and politician, as well 

 as of the natural philosopher. I shall not, however, mistake 

 what my office more particularly requires, nor forget that it was 

 the natural philosopher who was associated with the National 

 Institute, and that you ought principally to expect here the ex- 

 position of his scientific discoveries. 



It is, besides, probable, that this is that part of his character 

 which will most interest Europe and posterity. He has some- 

 where said, that, for a lasting reputation, scientific labours are 

 as much superior ta all others, as the laws of nature are supe- 

 rior to the organization of societies, and that none of the states- 

 men who have held the reins of government in Great Britain 

 can bear to be compared with the names of Bacon, Newton, and 

 Boyle ; — an exaggerated maxim, perhaps, yet one which it 

 would have been well had he always kept before his mind ; but 

 he is not the first celebrated man whose judgment has been un- 

 able to subdue his propensities. 



It is here, however, of importance to remark, that his para- 

 doxical opinions had no influence upon his conduct, and that, if 

 we except the misfortunes which overwhelmed him in his old age, 

 and of which he was the innocent victim, the events of his life 

 were uniform and simple. The catalogue of his works alone 

 would indicate as much ; and when it is known that he produced 

 more than a hundred volumes, it will not be expected to find in 

 him a man of much general intercourse with society, or that his 

 history can be any thing more than an analysis of his writiilgs. 



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