482 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



consisted in the acceptance of a system of dogmatic theology. Hence 

 his hearers fell off at Needham, from their dislike of his theological 

 opinions. He attempted a school, but the scheme failed because of his 

 unpopularity. Several pulpit vacancies occurred in his vicinity, but 

 he was treated with contempt and thought unworthy to fill any of 

 them. Even the dissenting clergy in the neighborhood considered it a 

 degradation to associate with him, and durst not ask him to preach, not 

 from any dislike to his opinions, for several of them thought as freely 

 as he did, but because the genteeler part of their audiences always 

 absented themselves when he appeared in the pulpit. A good many 

 years afterward, when his reputation was high, he preached in the 

 same place, and multitudes flocked to hear the very same sermons 

 which they had formerly listened to w^ith contempt ! Leaving Need- 

 ham, he went to Nantwich, where he preached for three years ; and, by 

 teaching twelve hours a day much of the time, was able to purchase a 

 few books and some philosophical instruments, as a small air-pump, 

 an electrical machine, etc. These he taught his eldest scholars to keep 

 in order and manage ; and by entertaining their parents and friends 

 w^ith experiments, in which the scholars were generally the operators, 

 and sometimes the lecturers too, he considerably extended the reputa- 

 tion of his school. At this time he wrote a grammar, which is said 

 to have been an excellent w^ork ; but the favorable reception of Dr. 

 Louth's grammar, published about the same time, prevented its gen- 

 eral circulation. He practised flute-playing, and, although not a pro- 

 ficient, he found it serviceable as a recreation, and recommended 

 music to all studious persons for this purpose. 



From Nantwich he went to Warrington in 1761, where he spent 

 six years in teaching. He here entered zealously upon the prosecution 

 of his systematic studies and his researches. He wrote a variety of 

 works, prominent among which was his history of electricity. In re- 

 lation to the origin of this work he remarks : " On going to London ^ I 

 met Dr. Franklin, and was led to attend to the subject of experimental 

 philosophy more than I had done before ; and having composed all the 

 lectures I had occasion to deliver, and finding myself at liberty for 

 any undertaking, I mentioned to Dr. Franklin an idea that had oc- 

 curred to me of writing the history of discoveries in electricity, which 

 was his favorite study. This I told him might be a useful work, and 

 that I would willingly undertake it, provided I could be furnished with 

 the books necessary for the purpose. This he readily undertook, and, 

 my other friends assisting him, I set about the work without having 

 the least idea of doing any thing more than writing a distinct and 

 methodical account of all that had been done by others. Having, 

 however, a pretty good machine, I was led, in the course of my writing 



^ He always spent one month in every year in London, which was of great use to 

 him. He generally made additions to his library and his chemical apparatus. A new 

 turn was given to his ideas, and new and useful acquaintances were made. 



