. SIR HUMPH RE Y DA I'Y. 5 5 



that has been described, and aided only by the scantiest and 

 rudest apparatus. When still a lad, however, he was fortunate 

 in making the acquaintance of Mr. Gregory Watt, the son of 

 the celebrated James Watt. This gentleman, having come to 

 reside at Penzance for the recovery of his health, lodged with 

 Mrs. Davy, and soon discovered the talent of her son. The 

 scientific knowledge of Mr. Watt gave an accurate direction 

 to the studies of the young chemist, and excited him to 

 a systematic perseverance in his favourite pursuit Chance 

 attracted to him the notice of Mr. Davies Giddy (afterwards 

 Mr. Gilbert, and President of the Royal Society), which 

 the discovery of his merits soon improved into patronage 

 and friendship. The boy, we are told, was leaning on 

 the gate of his father's house when Mr. Gilbert passed 

 accompanied by some friends, one of whom remarked 

 that there was young Davy, who was so much attached to 

 chemistry. The mention of chemistry immediately fixed Mr. 

 Gilbert's attention ; he entered into conversation with the young 

 man, and, speedily becoming convinced of his extraordinary 

 talents and acquirements, offered him the use of his library, and 

 whatever other assistance he might require for the pursuit of his 

 studies. Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Watt soon after this introduced 

 Davy to the celebrated Dr. Beddoes, who had just established 

 at Bristol what he called his Pneumatic Institution, for investi- 

 gating the medical properties of the different gases. Davy, 

 who was now in his nineteenth year, had for some time been 

 thinking of proceeding to Edinburgh in order to pursue a regular 

 course of medical education ; but Dr. Beddoes, who had been 

 greatly struck by different proofs he had given of his talents, 

 and especially by an essay in which he expounded an original 

 theory of light and heat, having offered him the super- 



