Sir Dumpfon? S)a\n? 309 



the University of Dublin had conferred upon him 

 tV.e honorary degree of LL.D., bc^ ying him 



1,^00 -uinc.is for two courses of lectures, and finally, 

 in 1812, he received the honour of knighthood from 

 the Prince Regent. On the day after he was knighted 

 Sir Humphry Davy delivered his farewell lecture at 

 the Royal Institution to an audience which crowded 

 the theatre in every part and included the cream of 

 London's intellect, beauty, and rank. Three days 

 later he was married to Mrs. Apreece, daughter and 

 heiress of Charles Keen, of Kelso, who had made a 

 large fortune as a sugar-planter in Antigua. As 

 Lady Davy not only exercised a great influence over 

 her husband, but was herself a person of considerable 

 note, I may be excused for giving some particulars 

 about her. 



Her first husband was Shuckburgh Ashby Apreece, 

 eldest son of the well-known Welsh baronet Sir Thomas 

 Hussey Apreece, one of the finest sportsmen in the 

 kingdom. His death left her a young and wealthy 

 widow. She made Edinburgh her home, and her house 

 soon became a centre of all that was brightest and 

 cleverest in the " Modern Athens." A bewitching little 

 woman she was, with her petite figure, sparkling black 

 eyes, glossy black hair, vivacious manners, and lively 

 talk. The sweet smile with which she knew how to light 

 up her pleasant face was more than any man could 

 withstand. Sir Walter Scott and Sydney Smith both 

 acknowledged its subtle power and confessed themselves 

 her slaves. Under the spell of that smile a venerable 

 professor of the University knelt down in Prince's Street 



