34 A CHEMICAL TKIAD. 



musicians, with small intellects and hearts, and large imagi- 

 nations, to whom the world is so willing to bend the knee. 

 Cavendish did not stand aloof from other men in a proud 

 or supercilious spirit, refusing to count them as fellows. He 

 felt himself separated from them hy a great gulf, which neither 

 they nor he could bridge over, and across which it was vain 

 to extend hands or exchange greetings. A sense of isola- 

 tion from his brethren made him shrink from their society 

 and avoid their presence ; but he did so as one conscious of 

 an infirmity, not boasting of an excellence. He was like a 

 deaf-mute sitting apart from a circle, whose looks and ges- 

 tures show that they are uttering and listening to music and 

 eloquence, in producing or welcoming which he can be no 

 sharer. He dwelt apart, and, bidding the world farewell, 

 took the self-imposed vows of a scientific anchorite, and, like 

 the monks of old, shut himself up within his cell. It was a 

 kingdom sufficient for him, and from its narrow window he 

 saw as much of the universe as he cared to see. It had a 

 throne also, and from it he dispensed royal gifts to his bre- 

 thren. He was one of the unthanked benefactors of his race, 

 who was patiently teaching and serving mankind, whilst they 

 were shrinking from his coldness, or mocking his peculiarities. 

 He could not sing for them a sweet song, or create a " thing 

 of beauty," which should be a " joy for ever," or touch their 

 hearts, or fire their spirits, or deepen their reverence or their 

 fervour. He was not a poet, a priest, or a prophet; but 

 only a cold clear intelligence, laying down pure white light, 

 which brightened everything on which it fell, but warmed 

 nothing a star of at least the second, if not of the first, 

 magnitude in the intellectual firmament.' How mournful to 

 think that a man with so many excellences stood aloof from 

 that generous and ennobling faith which would have quick- 

 ened his dormant affections, and superadded to his intellectual 

 eminence the attractiveness of Christian love ! 



