1815} Smithson Tennant, Esq. 5 
The attention of the chemical world was at this time principally 
engaged by the great controversy respecting the antiphlogistie 
theory, which experienced much opposition in England. It may 
perhaps be worth mentioning that Mr. Tennant entirely satisfied 
himself as to the truth of this doctrine, when at Cambridge, at a 
very early period, and long before it obtained a general reception 
it this country. 
But while engaged in these scientific pursuits, he was at the 
saine time a very general reader of all the most interesting worksia 
polite literature, history, metaphysics, and especially in political 
economy, which was one of his favourite studies, and on which 
he had already made many just and original observations. Yet, 
although he was thus incessantly employed, there was a sin- 
galar air of carelessness and indifference in his habits and mode of 
life; and his manners, appearance, and conversation, were the 
. Mhost remote froin those of a professed student. His College rooms 
exhibited a strange disorderly appearance of books, papers, and 
implements of chemistry, piled up in heaps, or thrown in confusion 
together. He bad no fixed hours or established habits of private 
study; but his time seemed to be at the disposal of his friends 5 
and he was always ready either for books or philosophical experi+ 
ments, or for the pleasures of literary society, as inclination or 
accident might determine. But the disadvantages arising from 
these irregular habits were much more than counterbalanced by 
extraordinary powers of memory and understanding ; and especially 
by a faculty, for which he was remarkable, of reading with great 
fapidity, and of collecting from books, by a slight and cursory in- 
spection, whatever was most interesting and valuable in their con- 
tents. . 
It was during Mr. Tennant’s residence at Cambridge that his 
principal friendships were formed ; and the recollection of those 
who best knew him, will dwell upon this happy period of his life 
with a fond and melancholy pleasure. His health was then vigorous, 
his spirits were constant and unwearied, and his talents for society 
Ss yet more striking and brilliant than in his after years. He 
was distinguished, even at that early period, by an extent of infor- 
mation, and maturity of judgment, which might have seemed to 
be the results of a long life of study and reflection ; and these ex- 
traordinary attainments derived an additional interest, and peculiar 
grace, from the simplicity of his manners, the playfulness of his 
wit, and the careless, fascinating beauties of his conversation ! 
The summer of 1784 was employed by Mr. Tennant in travel- . 
ling into Denmark and Sweden, purtly to examine the great mines 
for which the latter country is remarkable, but principally for the 
purpose of visiting the celebrated Scheele, for whom be ad con- 
ceived a high admiration. He was much gratified by what he saw 
of this very eminent person ; and was particularly struck with the 
simplicity of the apparatus by which his great experiments had been 
performed, On return to England he had a great pleasure in 
