CAVENDISH. 31 



in which Cavendish was largely interested. People hoped that 

 the philosophic millionaire would come down for a good round 

 sum ; but he did not contribute one penny, notwithstanding 

 the various hints thrown out in the proper direction. If this 

 be construed into penuriousness, contrast it with the follow- 

 ing: A scientific gentleman having fallen into pecuniary 

 embarrassments, some friends managed to procure for him 

 the situation of temporary librarian to Cavendish, whose books 

 were as much confused as the pecuniary matters of the libra- 

 rian. The task was executed satisfactorily, and the gentleman 

 took his departure, having received the stipulated salary, but 

 nothing more. A short time subsequently, Cavendish hap- 

 pened to be present at a dinner of the Royal Society, and 

 some friends of the quondam librarian thought it a good op- 

 portunity for turning the conversation on the subject of their 

 protege. His name accordingly was brought up. 



' Ah ! how is he? what is he about?' inquired Cavendish. 



*Poor fellow! he is in the country, very badly off,' was 

 the reply. 



6 1 am very sorry, very,' said Cavendish. 



c We were hoping that you would have done something 

 for him,' the friends ventured to remark. 



^1 I I? whatcottWIdof 



'We were hoping that you would have settled a small 

 annuity upon him.' 



A dawn of light seemed to have irradiated the brain of 

 Cavendish ; the thought, apparently so obvious, had only then 

 occurred to him for the first time. ' True,' replied he hur- 

 riedly ; 'would a cheque for fifteen thousand pounds be of use f 



Would a cheque for 15,000/. be of use ? what a question ! 

 The cheque was drawn, and the needy man of science made 

 comfortable for life. 



If the subject of our memoir did not possess that active, 

 searching, and, what is equally important, that discriminating 

 benevolence which seeks out the hidden recesses of misery, 



