SIR HUMPHREY DAVY. 165 



nected in some way with my being made useful to 

 my fellow-creatures* I have this conviction full on 

 my mind, that intellectual beings spring from the 

 same breath of infinite intelligence, and return to 

 it again, but by different courses. Like rivers 

 born amidst the clouds of he'aven, and lost in the 

 deep and eternal ocean, some in youth, rapid and 

 short-lived torrents ; some in manhood, powerful 

 and copious rivers ; and some in age, by a winding 

 and slow course, half lost in their career, and mak- 

 ing their exit by many sandy and shallow mouths." 



Davy was destined to go back to the Infinite 

 Intelligence in manhood, "a powerful and copious 

 river," however much he " fought against sickness 

 and fate." 



On February 23, 1829, he dictated a letter to his 

 brother John : " I am dying from a severe attack 

 of palsy, which has seized the whole body, with 

 the exception of the intellectual organ." He 

 added in his own hand, just legible, " Come as 

 quickly as possible." 



When the brother arrived, and was overcome 

 with grief, Sir Humphrey received him with a 

 cheerful smile, and bade him not to grieve, but 

 consider the event like a philosopher. He talked 

 more earnestly than ever, and his mind seemed all 

 aglow as with the brilliancy of a setting sun. 



At one time he was so near death, that he said 

 " he had gone through the whole process of dying, 

 and that when he awoke he had difficulty in con- 

 vincing himself that he was in his earthly exist- 



