226 Scientific Labors and Character of 
the new Institution, especially when kindled by the magic powers of 
young Davy... | 
In the year 1802, the new professor was invited to delivera course 
of lectures on Agricultural Chemistry to the Board of Agriculture. 
‘This association consisted of a number of intelligent and wealthy land- 
ed proprietors, led by Sir John Sinclair, one of the most public spir- 
ited, and. enterprising men of the realm. In their efforts to. improve 
‘the art of agriculture, they very wisely adopted the following meas- 
ures... In the first place, by circulars addressed to gentlemen of the 
first intelligence on matters of this kind in every county in the king- 
dom, they endeavored to.ascertain the state of facts, or the»state 
of, agriculture as it actually existed ; and, secondly, upon the knowl 
edge. of these facts, to found their plans for improving the art. Ac 
cordingly, after collecting these materials, they proceeded to com- 
bine the light of science with the light of experience. It was under 
these favorable auspices, that Professor Davy was called on to lend 
his extraordinary powers to the improvement of the art of husbandry. 
“\o Itgives us'a very favorable opinion of the character of Davy that, 
tattered as he was in the lecture room of the Royal Institution, by 
the admiration of courtiers and the nobility of the great metropolis, 
and honored as he was throughout the scientific world, with encomi- 
ums which were enough to turn the brain of any ordinary young 
man, he-could still condescend to carry his observations and experi+ 
_ ments into the tannery and the farm yard, and unite’ his labors with 
those of the humblest of our race. This bénévolent zeal to render 
himself useful to his féllow men, displayed itself on ‘many other oc- 
¢asions ; and the benefits which thus accrued from his labors to 1U- 
merous classes of society, were strikingly acknowledged in the hom- 
age that was paid to his memory by different orders of artisans, who 
Joined themselves to the funeral procession at Geneva.* In descend- 
ing from his lofty elevation to make experiments upon different spe- 
cies of manures for the benefit of the farmer, he imitated the eminent 
Surgeon, who performs the humblest and most. disagreeable offices to 
relieve the distress or to'save the life of his patient.  ‘* Every man 
ated with’ the. common principles of human nature, (says Dr. 
lume of this Journal, p. 157. — 
