434 Professor Tijndall [May 3, 10, aud 17, 



made, but incontinently broke it up whenever he found it could be 

 made subservient to further ends. 



The Journal of the Eoyal Institution was established at this time, 

 and published under Rumford's direction. No private advertisements 

 were to appear in it, but it was to be sold for ^d. when its contents 

 amounted to eight pages, and for 6d. when they amounted to sixteen. 

 The experiments and experimental lectures of Davy were then attracting 

 attention. Rumours of the young chemist reached Rumford through 

 Mr. Underwood and Mr. James Thompson. At Rumford's request, 

 Davy came to London. His life at the moment was purely a land of 

 promise, but Rumford had the sagacity to see the promise, and the 

 wisdom to act upon his insight. Nor was his judgment rapidly 

 formed ; for several interviews, doubtless meant to test the youth, 

 preceded his announcement to Davy, on the IGth of February, 1801, 

 the resolution of the managers, " That Mr. Humi)hry Davy be 

 engaged in the service of the Royal Institution, in the capacity of 

 Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry, Director of the Chemical Laboratory, 

 and Assistant Editor of the Journals of the Institution ; and that he 

 be allowed to occupy a room in the house, and be furnished with coals 

 and candles, and that he be paid a salary of one hundred guineas per 

 annum." Rumford, moreover, held out to Davy the prospect, if he 

 devoted himself entirely and permanently to the Institution, of 

 becoming, in the course of two or three years, full Professor of 

 Chemistry, with a salary of 300?. per annum, " provided," he adds, 

 " that within that period you shall have given proofs of your fitness to 

 hold that distinguished situation." This j)romise of the professorship 

 in two or three years was ominous for Dr. Garnett, between whom and 

 the managers differences soon arose which led to his withdrawal from 

 the Institution. 



Davy began his duties on Wednesday, the 11th of March, 1801. 

 He was allowed the room adjoining that occupied by Dr. Garnett, to 

 whom he was to refund the expenses incurred in furnishing the room. 

 The committee of expenditure paid to Dr. Garnett 20Z. 2s. od. for a 

 new Brussels carpet, and 17/. 6s. for tw^elve chairs, the carpet and 

 chairs being transferred to the room occupied by the managers. 

 " Count Rumford reported further that he had purchased cheaper a 

 second-hand carpet for Mr. Davy's room, together with such other 

 articles as appeared to him necessary to render the room habitable, 

 and among the rest a new sofa-bed, which, in order that it may serve 

 as a model for imitation, has been made comjdete in all its parts." 



The name of a man who has no superior in its annals now appears 

 for the first time in connection with the Institution. Here also the 

 sagacity of Rumford was justified by events. At the suggestion of 

 Sir Joseph Banks he had an interview with Dr. Thomas Young, 

 destined to become so illustrious as the decipherer of the Egyptian 

 hieroglyphics, and, by his discovery of Interference, the founder of 

 the undulatory theory of light. It was proposed to him, by Rumford, 

 to accept an engagement as Professor of Natural Philosoj)hy in the 



