4 Meldrum, Development of the Atomic Theory. 



any interest in the theory, much less any enthusiasm for it. 

 In a course of lectures which he gave in Manchester in 

 1805, he included an account of the theory.^ But it was 

 not taken up there for years, not even by William Henry. 

 There is not the slightest sign that Dalton would not 

 have welcomed workers on the subject. But the atoms 

 were counted an airy or recondite speculation. Dalton's 

 atomic weight data caused no thrill of excitement, aroused 

 no eager curiosity, no consuming wish to join in his work. 



In North Britain Dalton had a different reception. 

 Early in the year 1807 he gave a course of lectures, twice 

 in Edinburgh and once in Glasgow. In Edinburgh 

 he says " a class of eighty appeared for me in a few days." 

 At the conclusion "several of the gentlemen who had 

 attended the course represented to me that many had been 

 disappointed in not having been informed in time of my 

 intention to deliver a course, and that a number of those 

 who had attended a first course would be disposed to 

 attend a second." ^ This reception afforded Dalton pre- 

 cisely the encouragement of which he stood in need. "On 

 these occasions," he said, " he was honoured with the 

 attention of gentlemen, universally acknowledged to be of 

 the first respectability for their scientific attainments : 

 most of them were pleased to express their desire to see 

 the publication of the doctrine in its present form, as 

 soon as convenient. Upon the author's return to Man- 

 chester he began to prepare for the press."*^ 



■* Two unpublished papers, read before the Manchester Society in 1804, 

 probably included accounts of the theory. The titles are respectively " A 

 Review and Illustration of some Principles in Mr. Dalton's course of 

 lectures on Natural Philosophy at the Royal Institution in January, 1S04," 

 and, " On the Elements of Chemical Philosophy." 



« Angus Smith, " Memoir of Dalton," p. 58. 



« "New System ol Chemical Philosophy," 1808, Preface. 



