214 A Tribute to the Memory of 
small volume, a series of Memoirs, communi- 
cated by M. Lavoisier to the Paris Academy of 
Sciences, when the views of that philosopher, 
respecting the anti-phlogistic theory of che- 
mistry, were more fully unfolded. In under- 
taking the translation of these works, he was 
influenced by a desire to place within the 
reach of English readers, among whom the 
knowledge of the French language was then 
confined to comparatively few, the pleasure 
and conviction which he had himself derived 
from these beautiful models of philosophical 
enquiry. . 
Notwithstanding the large share of profes- 
sional employment, to which Mr. Henry had 
now attained, he still continued to engage fre- 
quently in experimental pursuits, the results 
of which, at this time, were communicated to 
the world, chiefly through the publications of 
his friends Dr. Priestley and Dr. Percival. Of 
these, the most important were some Experi- 
ments on the Influence of Fixed Air on Vege- 
tation, by which he endeavoured to shew that 
though fixed air is injurious, when unmixed, 
to the vegetation of plants, yet that when 
mingled in small proportion with common air, 
it is favourable to their growth and vigour. 
The facts, established by this enquiry, were 
communicated to Dr. Priestley ; and it is cre- 
