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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



perhaps, no American more familiar 

 with its history, or better qualified to 

 present it. He labored under the diffi- 

 culty of all the speakers, that his sub- 

 ject was too extensive to be treated in 

 the time at command, and we hope that 

 this difliculty will be amply repaired 

 when his essay is printed, for a good 

 history of the growth of American 

 chemistry is much needed. The effect 

 of the centennial contributions to the 

 historic literature of the subject cannot 

 fail to be favorable to the increasing 

 cultivation of the science, both in its 

 theoretical and practical aspects. 



A feature of the occasion of peculiar 

 interest was the collection of various 

 memorials of Dr. Priestley, convenient- 

 ly arranged in a large room for general 

 inspection. There were many vestiges 

 of the apparatus he used in his chemi- 

 cal investigations, and of his micro- 

 scopical and electrical instruments. 

 There were also copies of his numer- 

 ous works in various languages, and 

 several portraits and engravings, illus- 

 trative of the events and circumstances 

 of his life. These relics were of great 

 interest, and were examined with much 

 curiosity by those who bad made the 

 pilgrimage to the scene of his closing 

 labors. 



The house which Dr. Priestley built, 

 and in which he died, was also visited, 

 and found to be in a good state of pres- 

 ervation. It is an ample wooden struct- 

 ure, plain, but thoroughly finished. At- 

 tached to it on one side was his labora- 

 tory — a large apartment, with a chim- 

 ney in one corner for the escape of 

 chemical exhalations. The situation 

 of the dwelling was once fine, the spa- 

 cious grounds sloping down to the Sus- 

 quehanna, and being covered with trees. 

 But there is now a canal in front, and a 

 railroad at the back-door, which render 

 it ineligible for a residence; and the 

 pilgrims were informed, by a conspic- 

 uous sign, that it was "for sale." It 

 seems there has been a rumor that the 

 house was haunted, but this was stren- 



uously denied on the part of those who 

 were interested in disposing of it. 



The descendants of Dr. Priestley, 

 to the sixth generation, are to be found 

 in IlTorthumberland, and, as we might 

 naturally expect, the family has been 

 prominent in the history of the town. 

 Dr. Joseph Priestley, a leading phy- 

 sician of the place, and his brother, 

 Marks B. Priestley, great-grandsons of 

 the old doctor, are prominent citizens, 

 and their doors were thrown open 

 with a cordial hospitality to the stran- 

 gers who had come together to honor 

 their illustrious ancestor. Other citi- 

 zens, moreover, gave a kindly and gen- 

 erous welcome to the visitors, and did 

 all in their power to make the occasion 

 as pleasant as it must ever be memo- 

 rable to all who participated in it. 



RECENT PROGRESS IN THE HIGHER 

 EDJJOATION. 



It cannot be otherwise than gratify- 

 ing to all the friends of improvement in 

 the higher culture of the country to 

 have noted the recent indications of a 

 rapidly deepening popular interest in 

 the subject. That an intelligent public 

 such as ours should entertain a pro- 

 found concern for its common schools, 

 and strive incessantly for their amend- 

 ment, is nothing more than might be 

 expected; but, that vast multitudes of 

 people should be stirred with intense 

 solicitude about the result of the latest 

 reform in collegiate education is no less 

 remarkable than encouraging. It has 

 been reproachfully said that people 

 brought up under a popular form of 

 government, with equal rights, claims, 

 and privileges, will become so steeped 

 in democratic sentiment as to have lit- 

 tle care for that high and thorough 

 training which but a small and select 

 portion of the community can attain, 

 and for which it is the main oflSce of 

 universities to provide. But we have 

 now before us indubitable proof that 

 crowds of people of all sorts and grades 



