APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



377 



perfect at the moment of its pro- 

 duction. His processes were all of 

 a finished nature ; executed by the 

 hand of a master, they required no 

 correction ; and though many of 

 them were performed in the very 

 infancy of chemical philosophy, 

 yet their accuracyand theirbeauty 

 have remained unimpaired amidst 

 the progress of discovery ; and their 

 merits have been illustrated by 

 discussion, and exalted by time. 

 In general, the most common mo- 

 tives which induce men to study 

 are, the love of distinction, of 

 glory, and the desire of power; 

 and we have no right to object to 

 motives of this kind ; but it ought 

 to be mentioned in estimating the 

 character of Mr. Cavendish, that 

 his grand stimulus to exertion was 

 evidently the love of truth and of 

 knowledge ; unambitious, unas- 

 suming, it was often with difficulty 

 that he was persuaded to bring 

 forward his important discoveries. 

 He disliked notoriety ; he was, as 

 it were, fearful of the voice of 

 fame. His labours are recorded 

 with the greatest dignity and sim- 

 plicity, and in the fewest possible 

 words, without parade or apology; 

 and it seemed as if in pubHcation 

 he was performing, not what was 

 a duty to himself, but what was a 

 duty to the public. His life was 

 devoted to science ; and his social 

 hours were past amongst a few 

 of his friends, principally members 

 of the Royal Society. He was re- 

 served to strangers ; but where he 

 was familiar, his conversation was 

 lively, and full of varied informa- 

 tion. Upon all subjects of science 

 hewaslurainousand profound; and 

 in discussion wonderfully acute. 

 Even to the very last week of his 

 life, when he was nearly 79, he re- 



tained his activity of body, and all 

 his energy andsagacity of intellect. 

 He was warmly interested in all 

 new subjects of science ; and seve- 

 ral times in the course of last year 

 witnessed or assisted in some ex- 

 periments that were carried on in 

 the laboratory of the Royal Insti- 

 tution. Since the death ofNewton 

 (said Mr. Davy, if he might be 

 permitted to give an opinion) Eng- 

 landhas sustained no scientific loss 

 so great as that of Cavendish. But 

 it is to be regretted less, since, like 

 his great predecessor, he died full 

 of years and of glory. His name 

 will be an object of more venera- 

 tion in future ages than in the pre- 

 sent moment ; though it was un- 

 known in the busy scenes of life, 

 or in the popular discussions of the 

 day, it will remain illustrious in 

 the annals of science, which are as 

 unperishable as that nature to 

 which they belong ; it will be an 

 immortal honour to his house, to 

 his age, and to his country !" 



APRIL. 



Mr. Charles Holman, surgeon, 

 of Milverton. While taking some 

 refreshment at the house of one of 

 his patients, a greyhound entered 

 the room, to which the deceased 

 offered a piece of bread ; in taking 

 it, the animal snapped at what 

 was offered him so eagerly, that 

 his teeth violently pressed the de- 

 ceased's fingers, but did not pe- 

 netrate them. Inflammationshortly 

 after ensued, to which a mortifi- 

 cation succeeded, and terminated 

 in his death. 



Lieutenant Darby, of his majes- 

 ty's ship Impetueux. He put an 

 end to his existence, by shooting 

 himself in the head with a pistol, 



