The First Spectrum Analysis. 133 



while she played the piano. When not more than 

 sixteen years of age he was so remarkable for steadi- 

 ness and acquirements that he was engaged more as 

 a companion than tutor to young Hudson Gurney, 

 who was nearly of his own age. One spring morn- 

 ing Young came to breakfast in a bright green coat, 

 and said in explanation of his somewhat eccentric 

 costume for one who had been a Quaker, that it was 

 suitable to the season. One day, on returning from 

 their ride Gurney, leaped his horse over the stable- 

 yard gate. Young, trying to do the same, was thrown; 

 he got up, mounted, and made a second attempt with 

 no better success ; the third time he kept his seat, 

 then quietly dismounting, he said, " What one man 



can do, another may." 



* 



One bright morning Dr. Wollaston came to pay 

 us a visit in Hanover Square, saying, " I have dis- 

 covered seven dark lines crossing the solar spectrum, 

 which I wish to show you ;" then, closing the window- 

 shutters so as to leave only a narrow line of light, 

 he put a small glass prism into my hand, telling me 

 how to hold it. I saw them distinctly. I was 

 among the first, if not the very first, to whom he 

 showed these lines, which were the origin of the most 

 wonderful series of cosmical discoveries, and have 

 proved that many of the substances of our globe are 



