464 DAVY. 



from the Regent the honour of knighthood. About 

 the same time he married Mrs. Apreece, a lady whose 

 ample fortune was by far the least valuable part of her 

 accomplishments a person of great virtue, admirable 

 talents, and extensive information. Of this marriage 

 there has been no issue. In October, 1813, he published 

 his ' Elements of Chemical Philosophy,' a hasty and 

 even somewhat crude work, but abounding, as what- 

 ever he wrote was sure to abound, in important and 

 ingenious observations. The following year appeared 

 his 'Elements of Agricultural Chemistry,' of which 

 the same general character may be given. In 1816 

 he was created a baronet. 



Napoleon had, during the war, given him permis- 

 sion to visit the extinguished volcanoes in Dauvergne, 

 and to pass through France towards Naples, Vesuvius 

 being then in a state of eruption. His reception at 

 Paris was very warm, but unfortunately he failed to 

 retain the affection of his colleagues in the Institute. 

 Their complaint against him for having interfered, as 

 they termed it, with their recent discovery of iodine, 

 on which, having obtained a specimen, he chose, 

 naturally enough, to make experiments, appears incom- 

 parably absurd. He had never complained of their in- 

 terference, during his illness in 1807, with the process 

 of deoxygenation by means of galvanic action ; on the 

 contrary, he had availed himself thankfully of the 

 lights shed by their ingenuity on his process, and had 

 immediately after made new discoveries, at which they 

 had failed to arrive. It may be more true that his 

 manners were unpleasing ; and, as ever happens when 

 a great man is also a shy one, he was charged with 

 being supercilious and cold. They who knew him 



