596 HISTORY OF SCIENCE. 



training in school would offer regular habits and quiet self-restraint, 

 which would enhance the value of its intellectual discipline, while 

 the latter was much superior to that provided by other schools of 

 the kind. Dalton, however, was by no means a quick boy, and at- 

 tracted his master's attention only by his plodding industry. His 

 perseverance carried him through arithmetic and navigation before he 

 was twelve years of age, when the lad's abilities in a mathematical 

 direction appeared to a rich Friend of the neighbourhood worthy of 

 special encouragement and assistance. Young Dalton was, in fact, 

 soon emboldened to open a school in his native village, on his own 

 account, when he was scarcely thirteen years of age. At first his 

 school was carried on in an old barn, but afterwards in the Friends' 

 meeting-house. The scholars were of both sexes, and all ages between 

 four and seventeen. But while the rustic Quaker lad was imparting 

 the very rudiments of learning to these simple villagers, he continued 

 to assiduously advance himself in higher knowledge. His nights were 

 devoted to improving himself in classics, sciences, and mathematics. 

 In 1781 Dalton joined his elder brother to carry on at Kendal a school 

 where the elder brother had been previously engaged as assistant. 

 The instruction which the Dalton brothers had to give in this school 

 would appear to have been of the most elementary kind ; but we find 

 that already in his twentieth year John Dalton aimed at higher things 

 than were embraced in the actual school course. In October, 1787, 

 he issued a prospectus of public science lectures in Kendal. The 

 announcement was made in these terms : 



" Twelve Lectures on Natural Philosophy to be read at the school 

 (if a sufficient number of subscribers are procured) by John Dalton. 

 Subscribers to the whole, half a guinea, or one shilling for single nights. 

 N.B. Subscribers to the whole course will have the liberty of requiring 

 further explanation of subjects that may not be sufficiently discussed 

 or clearly perceived when under immediate consideration; also of 

 proposing doubts, objections, etc.; all of which will be illustrated and 

 obviated at suitable times to be mentioned at the commencement." 



The syllabus of subjects comprised mechanics, optics, pneumatics, 

 astronomy, and the use of the globes. The same course of lectures 

 was given again four years afterwards, when the fees Tor admission 

 were only one-half of those named in the former syllabus. From this 

 period it seems that the delivery of lectures at Manchester and else- 

 where became one of Dalton's regular avocations and an important 

 means of increasing his slender income. 



At Kendal, Dalton devoted no little attention to the natural history 

 of the district; but his favourite subject was meteorology. We find 

 him regularly recording his observations of the barometer, thermometer, 

 hygrometer, rain-gauge, etc. He constructs his own thermometers 

 and barometers, and even supplies these instruments to his friends for 

 the respective sums of five shillings and eighteen shillings. After 



