50 BIOGRAPHIES OF SCIENTIFIC MEN 



at the advent of the French Revolution ; when abuses of 

 every description would be swept away, and the beginning 

 of happy days for the human race. Priestley was at 

 loggerheads with the Birmingham clergy on account of 

 his opinions on theological matters, and with laymen he 

 made enemies owing to his contemptuous allusions to 

 King George III. and the royal family. 



About this time Priestley was elected one of the eight 

 foreign associates of the Acad6mie des Sciences de Paris 

 (the blue ribbon of science), and was, therefore, brought 

 into correspondence with many savants who supported the 

 Revolution in its early stages, and this fact only helped to 

 add fuel to the fire that was even then smouldering. 



Priestley was sorely hurt by the publication of Burke's 

 book, and replied by publishing his Letters to Mr Burke, 

 in which he maintained that the old aristocratic system, 

 embracing both civil and ecclesiastical matters, was be- 

 ginning to totter at its foundation due to the salutary 

 effect of the French Revolution. This exasperated the men 

 of Birmingham, who were loyal to Church and King. They 

 became furious, and all sorts of terms of vituperation 

 were hurled at Priestley : he was " a chaos in miniature, 

 not worth God's notice." A verse to the national anthem 

 is well worth quoting here : 



Gunpowder Priestley would 

 Deluge the throne with blood, 

 And lay the great and good 

 Low in the dust. 



