400 LIFE OF DALTON : 



Dalton's connection with the French Academy was not 

 limited to his first honour in it. In 1830, on the death of 

 Sir H. Davy, he was elected to fill his place as one of the 

 eight Foreign Associates of the Academy ; a distinction, from 

 its rarity, fitly regarded as among the highest which science 

 can bestow. It is remarkable that until 1822 he was not 

 elected a Fellow of the Eoyal Society. The absence of all 

 ambition or effort on his part must be received as the cause 

 of this delay. In 1826 his high merits as a discoverer were 

 fully recognised by the Society in the award to him of the 

 first of the royal prizes given after their institution. 



Honours indeed now began to fall more thickly upon him. 

 The establishment of the British Association in 1831, the 

 annual meetings of which Dalton repeatedly attended, was in 

 some part concerned in this effect. Though his discoveries 

 were at this time fully established and familiar to the scien- 

 tific world, the seclusion of his life had permitted few to 

 know him personally ; and the Quaker philosopher, now well 

 advanced in years, stood among his brethren in science 

 at these meetings, a new object of attention and interest. 

 The simplicity of his demeanour, from which age had taken 

 off its earlier uncouthness, won upon the feelings of all ; and 

 even at later meetings of the Association, when the novelty 

 had worn off, Dalton was ever regarded with affectionate 

 veneration. 



In 1832, at the meeting of the Association at Oxford, the 

 honorary degree of D.C.L. was conferred upon him, in con- 

 junction with Faraday, Brewster, and Robert Brown. The 

 same honour he received at Edinburgh two years later. In 

 1833 under Lord Grey's government,- a pension of 1501. 

 a year was settled upon him, providing a happy release from 

 the burden of elementary teaching. About the same time 

 the people of Manchester subscribed 2,000. for the statue of 

 a man who thus honoured their town ; and its execution was 



