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Biographical Memoirs of' Eminent Persons. 



[Aug. 



of the Associates of the Royal Academy. 

 In 1818, and 1819, he visited Italy, where 

 he analysed the colours used by the 

 ancients, examined the Herculaneum Slanu- 

 scripts, and invented a solvent, which has 

 proved partially successfid, to assist in the 

 difficult task of uiu-oUing them. 



On the 20th of October, 1818, (during 

 his absence from England,) Sir Humphrey 

 Davy was elevated to the dignity of a Baro- 

 net. About the time of his return, an 

 opening was made for his further advance- 

 ment, by the death of Sir Joseph Banks, on 

 the 19th of June, 1820. The Chair of 

 President of the Royal Society having thus 

 become vacant. Sir Humphrey Davy, and 

 Dr. Wollaston, (whose death also has re- 

 cently occurred) were looked up to as the 

 persons most proper to fill it. Dr. Wollas- 

 ton, however, refused to oppose his friend ; 

 and, though an attempt was made to seat 

 Lord Colchester, Sir Humphrey was elected, 

 by a majority of nearly two hundred to 

 thirteen. He continued to fill his high and 

 honourable office till about two years since, 

 when, finding a residence upon the Conti- 

 nent necessary for his health, he resigned, 

 and his old friend, Davies Gilbert, Esq. 

 M. P. was elected as his successor. 



Sir Humphrey Davy remained abroad, 

 but without obtaining the permanent ad- 

 vantage he souglit. His death had long 

 been regarded as an inevitable event at no 

 distant i)eriod. Accompanied by Lady 

 Davy, he arrived at Geneva on the 29th of 

 May. He was then in a state of great 

 suffering, but no immediate danger was 

 apprehended. During the night, however, 

 he was attacked with apoplexy, and he ex- 

 pired at three o'clock on the morning of the 

 30th. The instant that the news was 

 known his afflicted widow received offers of 

 services from the most distinguished indi- 

 viduals of the place, particularly ]Mr. A. de 

 Condolle, the eminent botanist, and Mr. 

 Sismondi, the historian. Mr. Condolle 

 tooTc charge of all the details of the inter- 

 ment ; and the government of the canton, 

 the academy of Geneva, the consistory of 

 the Genevian Church, and the Societies of 

 Arts and Natural Philosophy and History, 

 together with nearly all the English resi- 

 dent there, accom])anied the remains to the 

 burying ground, where the English service 

 was performed by the Rev. John IMagees, 

 of Queen's College, and the Rev. IMr. 



Burgess. In the procession were many of 

 the most eminent manufacturers of the city, 

 and a large body of mechanics. 



Sir Humphrey is the author of Chemical 

 and Philosophical Researches ; Electro- 

 Chemical Researches ; Elements of Chemi- 

 cal Philosophy ; Elements of Agricultural 

 Chemistry ; several pamphlets of impor- 

 tance, and a variety of scientific papers in 

 the Philosophical Transactions, and in the 

 Journals of Nicholson and Tilloch. 



William Stevenson, Esa. 



William Stevenson, Esq., of the Record 

 Office in the Treasury, a gentleman of con- 

 siderable eminence in the literary and sci- 

 entific world, was born about the year 1772. 

 He was the author of an elaborate and useful 

 work, entitled " Historical Sketch of the 

 Progress of Discovery, Navigation, and 

 Commerce." This production, published 

 in the year 1824, contains, in addition to 

 much other valuable information, a cata- 

 loffue ralsoniiec of books of Voyages and 

 Travels, omitting only such as the compiler 

 had ascertained to be inaccurate or unim- 

 portant. Having devoted much of his time 

 to agricultural pursuits, he wrote the Agri- 

 cultural Survey of Surrey. He was also the 

 author of the article on Chivalry in Dr. 

 Brewster's Encyclopedia ; and of the Life of 

 Caxton, published by the Society for the 

 Diffusion of Knowledge. During the latter 

 part of his life, until the commencement of a 

 severe indisposition, he was occupied, on the 

 suggestion of INIr. Brougham, and under the 

 auspices of the Society for the Diffusion of 

 Knowledge, in preparing for the press a 

 series of treatises, intended for the edifica- 

 tion and improvement of the agricultural 

 classes. It is understood that these treatises 

 have been left in a state nearly, if not quite, 

 ready for publication. 



Sir. Stevenson had for some time laboured 

 under repeated attacks of illness. On the 

 20th of March, however, he was apparently 

 so much recovered, that his friends enter, 

 tained the hope of his speedy restoration ; 

 but, two days afterwards, when sitting at tea 

 with his family, he suddenly became unable 

 to raise the cup to his mouth, sank bank in 

 his chair, and never spoke again. Mr, 

 Stevenson was a man of profound research, 

 of extensive knowledge, of scrupulous inte- 

 grity ; and he was universally respected. 



MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



The present year has assuredly exhibited specimens of the most troublesome, vexatious, 

 and expensive seasons to the farmer, within the longest recollection ; and this equally in 

 respect to the variable and anomalous state of the weather, and of the markets for almost all 

 kinds of produce. Complaints, in consequence, of the deepest tcnour, and to an accumulated 

 extent, are reiterated in the late letters from every part of the country. It is repeated that, 

 in many parts, particularly of tlie poor land districts, the tenantry arc beginning to give 

 way, and that Sheriffs' otKccrs have been employed in too many parts. All the wheat 

 of tenants of this unfortunate description has been already turned into money ; and much 



