168 Biographical Account of 



had a comfortable message from him, that my brother that 

 morning was rather better, accompanied with a direction to 

 his lodging ; and in a few minutes I was by his bed side. 

 Never shall I forget the manner in which he received me ; 

 the joy which lighted up his pale and emaciated counte- 

 nance ; his cheerful looks and extreme kindness ; and his 

 endeavours to sooth a grief which I had not the power of 

 controlling on finding him so ill, or rather at hearing him 

 speak as if a dying man who had only a few hours to live, 

 and who wished to use every moment of such precious 

 time. With a most cheerful voice, a smile on his counte- 

 nance, and most warm pressure of the hand, he bade me 

 not be grieved, but consider the event as a philosopher." 

 During their stay at Rome, Lady Davy arrived from 

 England, bringing with her a copy of the second edition of 

 " Salmonia," which gave him very great pleasure. His 

 strength gradually improved under the lovely Italian 

 climate, and by the 30th of April he was able to quit Rome 

 for Geneva, for the purpose of removing from the increasing 

 heat to a cooler climate. The party advanced by Florence 

 to Genoa, where they arrived on the 12th of May. On the 

 28th they arrived at Geneva. Here he appeared to have 

 improved, for on his arrival at the inn of La Couronne he 

 merely reclined on a sofa, and occasionally walked to the 

 window and looked out upon the lake, and ** expressed a 

 longing wish to throw a fly, as he had been before in the 

 habit of doing, on his favourite Rhine. Here he learned 

 the death of his old friend Dr. Thomas Young." Dr. Davy 

 says, " I was not present when Lady Davy made the com- 

 munication to him, but when I returned I saw him affected, 

 and he told me how deeply he had been affected by it even 

 to profusion of tears, and in a manner that was almost 

 unaccountable. In a short time he recovered his composure, 

 and conversed on indifferent matters. At five o'clock he 

 dined at table and made a tolerable dinner. After dinner 

 he was read to according to his custom. At nine o'clock 

 he prepared to go to bed. In undressing he struck his 

 elbow against the projecting arm of the sofa on which he 

 sat. The effect was very extraordinary — he was suddenly 

 seized with a universal tremor — he experienced an intense 

 pain in the part struck — and a sensation he said as if he 



