30 LOEWENFELD, Contributions to the History of Science. 



Priestley is one of the most interesting figures in the 

 history of science. To many features of his life's story- 

 parallels can be found in Dalton's life, but in character 

 these two great men were as different as possible. Joseph 

 Priestley was born on the 13th March (old style), 1733, at 

 Fieldhead, near Leeds. His father was a maker and 

 dresser of woollen cloth, living in very straitened circum- 

 stances. Dalton's father was also a handloom weaver. 



In 1742 Priestle}^ was adopted by his father's sister. 

 He entered the ministry in 1755, obtaining a post at 

 Needham Market, in Suffolk, which carried with it the 

 munificent remuneration of ^^30 per annum. In 1758 he 

 accepted a post as minister at Nantwich. He tried with 

 little success to increase his means by lectures on the use 

 of globes. We see him here, like Dalton, as a lecturer on 

 science at a village school. He remained three years in 

 Nantwich. Also, like Dalton, he wrote an English 

 Grammar."-^ In 1761 he was appointed a tutor at War- 



-- Vide: 'Memoirs of Dr. Joseph Priesllej-, written liy liimself,' etc. 

 Two volumes. London, 1806-7. A 'Centenary Edition' was published in 

 1904. (II. R. Allenson, London.) Further, 'Joseph Priestley,' by T. E. 

 Thorpe. London, 1906. Rutt's ' Life and Letters of Joseph Priestley.' 

 Two volumes. London, 1832, and 'Scientific Correspondence of Joseph 

 Priestley,' by H. C. Bolton. Privately printed. New York, 1892. 

 Finally, the excellent article on Priestley in ' The National Dictionary of 

 Biography.' Volume 46. 



-" Dal'.on's 'Elements of English Grammar, or a New System of 

 Grammatical Instruction' (London and Manchester), iSoi, foreshadows not 

 only by the wording of its title ' The New System of Chemical Philosophy,' 

 it shows a clear line of thought and a truly scientific inclination for uniting 

 otherwise divergent sul)jects. Though dedicated to the revolutionary Home 

 Tooke, it is as dry as possible. Not many samples from authors are given, 

 but the book is certainly a witness that more reading was done by Dalton 

 than is usually supposed. Sir Henry Roscoe mentions ('John Dalton,' 

 London, 1901, p. 188) the great chemist's statement, 'I could carry all 

 the books I ever had on my head.' This has certainly to be understood 

 cum grano salts, as is shown by the catalogue of the sale of Dalton's pro- 

 perty, after his death, by auction, which includes a respectable library. 



