310° Triumph of Science. 
Science was of infinitely more importance than could at first view 
be supposed to the state, for no source of wealth or power was 
entirely independent of it: and no class of men were so well able 
to appreciate its advantages as the gentlemen whom he had the 
honour of addressing; for they not only derived from it the means 
of raising their subterraneous wealth, but likewise those of ren- 
dering it useful to the public. Jn various manner it was science 
that had made pit-coal such an instrument in the hands of the 
chemist and mechanic, so as to make the elements fire and water 
perform operations which formerly demanded human labour; and 
to convert the productions of the earth into a thousand new 
forms of beauty and use. Sir H. Davy said, that it was in pur- 
suing those methods of analogy and experiment by which the 
mystery had become a science, ‘that he had discovered the safety- 
lamp—that he had registered the whole progress of his researches 
in the Transactions of the Royal Society, in papers which that 
illustrious body had honoured by their biennial medal, and that 
in those papers he had acknowledged the slightest hints, or of- 
fers of assistance, that he had received, —He stated this, not 
from vain glory, but on account of certain calumnious insinua- 
tions which had arisen, not in the scientific world, for to that 
the whole progress of his scientific researches was well known, 
but in a colliery. He must ever treat these insinuations with 
contempt; and, after the indignation which had been expressed 
against them by the coal-owners in general, he could not have 
any anxiety on the subject, nor should he have referred to it at all, 
but that he had every reason to believe that the persons amongst 
whom these insinuations originated were extensively benefited 
by, and were constantly using, his invention. And that it was 
far from his expectation that such persons would have employed 
their respectable connexions in mean attempts to impeach the 
originality of a discovery which was given to them in a disinter- 
ested manner, and for which no return was required, but an 
honest acknowledgement of the benefit, founded upon truth and 
justice. “I (said Sir H. D.) do not envy them their feelings, 
particularly at the present moment. I do not wish to inquire 
into their motives ; I hope, however, that their conduct has been 
prompted by ignorance rather than malevolence, by misappre- 
hension rather than ingratitude. It was a new circumstance to 
me, that attempts to preserve human life, and Preps human 
misery, should create hostile feclings in persons who professed to 
have similar objectsin view. 1 have had some op} sosition, much 
labour, and more anxiety during the course of these researches ; 
but had the opposition, the labour, and the anxiety been a thou- 
sand times as great, the events of this day w ote have been more 
than a compensation.”—(Great plaudits). Sir Flumphry, im 
drinking the health of the company, offered as a sentiment— 
« Prosperity to the Coal Trade,” The 
