Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. 5 



cipally of inferences hastily deduced from a few isolated 

 facts. Davy himself often regretted that they had ever been 

 published, as he fancied they had left a bad impression. 

 Strange it is, however, that although the theories contained 

 in them are but the rambling speculations of a youthful ima- 

 ginative mind, some of them were actually adopted by the 

 grave Dr. Beddoes. In 1800, he wrote his " Researches, 

 chemical and philosophical, chiefly concerning nitrous oxide 

 and its respiration." The discovery that nitrous oxide produces 

 the remarkable physiological effects of exciting symptoms 

 of inebriety, produced a great sensation, not only in Bristol, 

 but all over the world. Fortunately, the fame of Davy does 

 not rest upon such a deservedly fleeting and frail basis. 

 The value of the discovery was exaggerated beyond all 

 bounds ; according to some authorities the very nature of 

 man was prospectively altered ; he was to breathe a new at- 

 mosphere. But when excitement has attained a high pitch 

 the succeeding stage is low and depressed. The discovery 

 is now almost forgot. The action of the gas in the manner 

 described by Davy, is actually considered by some as pro- 

 blematical. A remarkable instance of the ambiguous 

 nature of its effects was elicited by a distinguished chemist, 

 who administered a dose of nitrous oxide to an Irish 

 gentleman, who exhibited all the fantastic manipulations 

 described by Davy. The effect, therefore, appeared de- 

 cisive ; but unfortunately the philosopher, who was the 

 subject of the experiment, having requested, after re- 

 covering from his fit of gladness, that another dose should 

 be administered, a cargo of common air was served up 

 instead of the oxide ; the consequences were even more 

 violent than in the previous experiment. It is obvious, 

 therefore, that the imagination plays no' inconsiderable 

 part in this species of simulated mania, or at least, that it 

 is only on persons of lively imaginations that such effects 

 can be produced. 



Notwithstanding his labours in the Pneumatic Institution, 

 Davy continued to devote a considerable portion of his time 

 to essay writing upon miscellaneous subjects, and to sonnet 

 and poem writing. The fragments of some of these which 

 have been published, shew, that had his mind been more 

 closely devoted to the study of poetical refinements, he 



