Biographical Memoir of Sir John Leslie. 27 



on the Goniometer ; and the last, of Observations on the Theory 

 of Compression, applied to discover the internal constitution of 

 otir Earth. Tlie characteristic boldness and the poetical dress 

 of his speculations are abundantly displayed even in these small 

 productions. In the first of them, he endeavours to shew that 

 the moon is a phosphorescent substance, like the Bolognian 

 stone ; and he anticipates a period when " she will no longer 

 cheer our nights by her soft and silvery beams ; when she will 

 become dim and wane, and seem almost blotted from the blue 

 vault of heaven. To our most distant posterity," he adds, " this 

 prospect is indeed gloomy ; but other changes will rise to reno- 

 vate and embellish the spectacle of the universe." In the last, 

 he carries his reasonings to the startling conclusion, that the crust 

 of the planet on which we tread includes " an immense concavity, 

 not dark and dreary, as poets have fabled, but containing light 

 in its most concentrated state, shining with intense refulgence and 

 overpowering splendour !" 



Early in the year 1832, which unhappily proved to be that 

 of his death, he was, on the recommendation, we believe, of Lord 

 Brougham, then Lord High Chancellor, created a Knight of 

 the Guelphic Order. This honour was also conferred on several 

 other distinguished men of science, about the same time. In a 

 letter mentioning the occurrence, he says, " my holiday title is 

 now of course Sir John ; but I shall always retain an affection 

 for my old distinction of Professor." He had but few other 

 titular distinctions of anv sort ; for he was far from setting any 

 value on tho.se arising from fellowship with Scientific Bodies. 

 He was a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, but not 

 of that of London, The only distinction of this kind that he in 

 the least degree prized was his being elected a Corresponding 

 Member of the Royal Institute of France. This took place, with 

 honour, in 18i20 ; the choice, if we recollect rightly, having fallen 

 upon him, in preference to others then proposed, by a majority 

 of thirty-three out of thirty-seven vote.«. 



For a few years before the fatal one above mentioned, his oc- 

 cupations had been agreeably diversified, by his attention to the 

 improvement of a small estate, called Coatcs, situate near his na- 

 tive place, of which he made a purchase. Here, the house and 

 garden being every way commodious and suitable, and surround- 

 ed with scenes endeared by his earliest recollections, he loved to 



