SIR HUMPHREY DAVY. 161 



by his widow, to be sold, and the proceeds applied 

 to the encouragement of science. Emperor Alex- 

 ander of Eussia sent him a splendid silver-gilt vase, 

 with a personal letter ; his own sovereign conferred 

 a baronetcy upon him. 



When Davy was urged by some friends to take 

 out a patent upon the safety -lamp, and thus make 

 five or ten thousand a year for himself, he said, " I 

 never thought of such a thing : my sole object was 

 to serve the cause of humanity ; and if I have suc- 

 ceeded, I am amply rewarded in the gratifying re- 

 flection of having done so. I have enough for all 

 my views and purposes ; more wealth could not 

 increase either my fame or my happiness. It might 

 undoubtedly enable me to put four horses to rny 

 carriage ; but what would it avail me to have it 

 said that Sir Humphrey drives his carriage and 

 four ? " 



He said later of his discovery of the safety-lamp : 

 " I value it more than anything I ever did : it was 

 the result of a great deal of investigation and labor ; 

 but if my directions be attended to, it will save the 

 lives of thousands of poor men. I was never more 

 affected than by a written address which I received 

 from the working colliers when I was in the North, 

 thanking me on behalf of themselves and their 

 families for the preservation of their lives." 



Sir Humphrey used to say : " Whoever wishes to 

 enjoy peace, and is gifted with great talents, must 

 labor for posterity. In doing this he enjoys all the 

 pleasures of intellectual labor, and all the desire 



