212 Biographical Memoir qf'Dr Priestley. 



In early life he had the misfortune to lose his father, who was 

 a tradesman, and who left him in great poverty ; but a rich and 

 pious aunt toc4c him uuder her charge, and afforded him the 

 means of studying languages and theology. After being for 

 some time a pastor of the Presbyterians of some small districts, 

 he obtained a situation in a school at Warton, connected with 

 the same sect. He afterwards resumed the pastoral functions 

 among the dissenters of l!eeds, a city in the neighbourhood 

 of the place of his birth. His writings in natural philosophy, 

 and his first researches into the nature of the gases, having 

 brought him into notice. Lord Shelburne, secretary of state, 

 afterwards Marquis of Lansdowne, appointed him as his libra- 

 rian, and took him as a travelling companion into France, 

 and several other countries. At the end of seven years, he 

 left the house of this nobleman, to settle at Birmingham as a 

 minister, and instructor of youth. In this situation he remained 

 during eleven years, until the time of the persecutions which 

 constrained him to leave that city, and which immediately after 

 determined him to retire to the United States. Such is the 

 brief, and yet complete record of the events of his private life. 

 The account of his works is of more importance, and must be 

 given at greater length. 



Those which he first published were devoted to instruction. 

 His earliest production was an English grammar *, which is still 

 used in many schools in Great Britain. His historical and bio- 

 graphical maps, presenting to the eye, in a convenient form, the 

 rise and fall of each state, with the age of those celebrated men 

 who flourished in it, deserve to be generally introduced -f-. His 

 lectures on history indicate all the views, all the varied know- 

 ledge which it is requisite to possess, in order to study witl 

 advantage the revolutions of nations. Those on oratory an< 

 criticism are considered as excellently adapted to be put int 

 the hands of the young X. It was also in the same didactic mai 

 ner that he wrote his first works in natural philosophy, his His 



• Printed in 1762 and 1768. He added to it in 1772, Observations for tl 

 use of those who are advancing in the language, and Lectures on the Theoi 

 of Language and Universal Grammar. 



t New Map of History ; and Map of Biography, 1765. 



X Course of Lectures on Oratory and Criticism, 1777 ; 4to. 



