Str Humphry Davy. 247 
We can hardly trace the progress of a man through life, whose 
actions were all great and whose enterprises were all successful, with- 
out seeming to indulge too much im the spirit of eulogy ; but it is 
certainly true of here and there a mind, Nihil tetigit, quod non 
ornavit. We pretend not to know any thing of the private history of 
Sir Humphry Davy, but we have for a number of years contem- 
plated his character through the medium of his works, and we are 
free to say that we regard it as constituted of a very unusual assem- 
blage of great and noble qualities. Quickness of perception and “ pa- 
_ tient thought”*—inventive genius and strong reasoning powers—per- 
severance to complete what ingenuity has begun, and an eloquent 
tongue to utter, what a profound and brilliant mind has conceived: 
these qualities were all interwoven, in fine proportions, to form its bright 
and varied tissue. And, although we must not presume, from his works 
alone, to make a complete analysis of his moral qualities, yet it is im- 
possible not to recognize in his history, as derived from these sources, 
many incidental marks of an amiable temper and refined feelings, allied 
with heroic courage. Pursuits which have early engrossed the pow- 
ers of genius, and opened its pathway to fame, sometimes create, ar- 
tificially, a disrelish for other objects, and a tendency to undervalue 
their importance. But the personage we are contemplating, was ev- 
idently incapable of any such exclusive feelings. The noble progeny 
of genius or intellect, wherever found, a spirit like his would at once 
acknowledge as its kindred. Accordingly, his Discourses before the 
Royal Society exhibit striking proofs of liberal and generous eetae> 
towards all the votaries of science. We have been so 
pressed on this point, that we cannot deny ourselves the act sof 
making one or two extracts from these Discourses, in illustration of 
it. Our first extract shall be taken from the discourse delivered on 
the occasion of presenting the Society’s medal to M. Arago, of 
France, for his discoveries in magnetism. 
“Far be coi us that narrow policy which would contract the minds 
of. individuals, and injure the interests of nations, by cold and exclu- 
sive Saltaire: which would raise the greatness of one people, by 
lowering the standard of that of another. As in commerce, SO in sci- 
ence, no country can become worthily pre-eminent, except in profit- 
ing by the wants, resources, and wealth of its neighbors. Every new 
*The motto of Newton. 
