1888. | NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 209 
to forward it to Mr. Galton the first convenient opportunity. 
It contains several new experiments, which must be thought of 
importance, especially with respect to the new French system 
with which, though universally adopted, I see more and more 
reason to be dissatisfied.” This paper was entitled: ‘‘ Experi- 
ments and Observations Relating to the Analysis of Atmo- 
spherical Air; also Further Experiments Relating to the Gen- 
eration of Air from Water,” and was read to the Society 
February 5th, 1796. 
Still later, we find evidence that the cordial friendship of 
Priestley with Boulton and Watt seems to have been unbroken, 
except as distance prevented personal contact. In 1801, the 
firm sent Priestley a present of a ‘‘ noble furnace and other ap- 
paratus for making large quantities of air,” and the doctor, in 
acknowledging the gift, wrote thus: ‘‘I send every good wish 
to yourselves and all the other members of the Lunar Society, 
the advantages of which I most feelingly find the want of.” 
(Letter of October 17th, 1801.) 
The latest reference to the Lunar Society in Priestley’s writ- 
ings is probably that in the introduction to his essay, entitled: 
‘‘The Doctrine of Phlogiston Established and that of the Com- 
position of Water Refuted,” published at Northumberland in 
1803. In this he comments on the almost universal acceptance 
of the new theory of combustion, and says: ‘‘ And now that Dr. 
Crawford is dead, I hardly know of any person, except my 
friends of the Lunar Society of Birmingham, who adhere to the 
doctrine of phlogiston.” 
Dr. Priestley is not the only one who records his attachment 
to this social organization and to its members individually. In 
his ‘‘ Memoirs,” Richard Lovell Edgworth writes: Our Society 
combined ‘‘men of very different characters, but all devoted to 
literature and science. This mutual intimacy has never been 
broken but by death, nor have any of the number failed to dis- 
tinguish themselves in science or literature. Some may think 
that I ought, with due modesty, to except myself. Mr. Keir, 
with his knowledge of the world and good sense; Dr. Small, 
with his benevolence and profound sagacity; Wedgwood,’ with 
his increasing industry, experimental variety, and calm investi- 
gation; Boulton, with his mobility, quick perception, and bold 
adventure; Watt, with his strong inventive faculty, undeviating 
steadiness, and bold resources; Darwin, with his imagination, 
science, and poetical excellence; and Day, with his unwearied 
research after truth, his integrity and eloquence—proved alto- 
gether such a society as few men have had the good fortune to. 
1 Miss Meteyard, the biographer of Wedgwood, says he was nota 
member of the Lunar Society, but a guest. 
