I JOSEPH PRIESTLEY 9 



though none by himself, to dissuade me from persisting in 

 it. But being, as I thought, engaged in the cause of im- 

 portant truth, I proceeded witliout regard to any conse- 

 quences, assuring them that this publication should not be 

 injurious to his lordship." 



It is not unreasonable to suppose that his 

 lordship, as a keen, practical man of the world, 

 did not derive much satisfaction from this assur- 

 ance. The " evident marks of dissatisfaction " 

 which Priestley says he first perceived in his 

 patron in 1778, may well have arisen from the 

 peer's not unnatural uneasiness as to what his 

 domesticated, but not tamed, philosopher might 

 write next, and what storm might thereby be 

 brought down on his own head; and it speaks 

 very highly for Lord Shelburne's delicacy that, in 

 the midst of such perplexities, he made not the 

 least attempt to interfere with Priestley's freedom 

 of action. In 1780, however, he intimated to Dr. 

 Price that he should be glad to establish Priestley 

 on his Irish estates: the sugegstion was interpreted, 

 as Lord Shelburne probably intended it should be, 

 and Priestley left him, the annuity of £150 a year, 

 which had been promised in view of such a con- 

 tingency, being punctually paid. 



After leaving Calne, Priestley spent some little 

 time in London, and then, having settled in Bir- 

 mingham at the desire of his brother-in-law, he 

 was soon invited to become the minister of a large 

 congregation. This settlement Priestley consid- 



