32 Biographical Memoranda of Edward Hussey Delaval. 



meaning on different occasions, that without reference to my 

 own text, I should scarcely know myself what I mean. 



If Mr. Delaval had livetl, I think he would have made jireciselv' 

 the same observation on Dr. Bancroft's attack upon his Treatise 

 on Colours. I am of o])inion, that if Dr. Bancroft would in a 

 future edition of his work, give a detail of many important im- 

 provements made within the last thirty years or more in the 

 j^ractice of dying and printing, which seem to have escaped his 

 notice, or of which he has not yet acquired a knowledge, he 

 would render more service to the public than by his tlieories. 



As Dr. Bancroft in his publications has connnented very freelv 

 on the Theories and Opinions of Sir Milmphrv Davy, Sir Isaac 

 Newton, Mr. Delaval, and many other English and foreign 

 philosophers, I hojie my present observations will not be deemed 

 any seeming incivility towards him, but be considered as the 

 frank effusion of a zeal for truth, an earnest wish to benefit the 

 public, and a justice due to Mr. Delaval. 



To enter into minute accounts of Mr. Delaval's experiments 

 and theory would trespass too far upon your useful pages ; but 

 it is certain that whoever will attentively peruse Mr. Delaval's 

 publications above mentioned, will find a series of very correct ex- 

 periments, and a fund of most valuable information on the sub- 

 jects they treat upon, and be pleased with the modesty and 

 candour with which they are related. 



An uninterrupted intimacy of forty years which I enjoyed 

 with Mr. Delaval, continued to furnish me till his decease, con- 

 stantly with fresh proofs of his strength of mind and great abi- 

 lities. The various brilliant artificial gems made by Mr. De- 

 laval, the curious samples of his mode of abstracting the fluor 

 from glass, which remain in the family, and the neat Gothic house 

 in Parliament Place, in which he resided till his death, the in- 

 ^terior of which is elegantly formed of artificial stone under hife 

 immediate direction, in order to be perfectly secure from fire, 

 will long remain durable testimonies of his knowledge as a che- 

 mist, and of his taste as a gentleman. 



I remain, with much respect and esteem. 

 Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



.Tohn Street, x\delpl)i, ChaRLES TaYLOR. 



Jauiiar^ 5, I8I0. 



IX. A Copy 



