100 Chemical Philofophy, [Ohat. II. 



called the Newton of chemistry. Without the aid 

 of education or of wealth, his genius burst forth, 

 and slione with astonishing histre ; insomuch that 

 at the age of forty-four, when he died — an age at 

 which most other great men have but begun to at- 

 tract pubHc attention — he had finished a career of 

 discoveries whicli have no equal in the annals of 

 chemistry. He made new and ingenious analyses 

 of many bodies, the composition of which had 

 never before been accurately investigated. He 

 discovered vital or oxygenous air, about the same 

 time with Dr. Priestley, and without any know- 

 ledge of what had been done by that celebrated 

 philosopher. He discovered a number of new 

 acids, and exceedingly enlarged the lists of chemi- 

 cal substances. He made known a number of new 

 paints and dyes, and in various ways contributed 

 to the progress of arts and manufactures. In short, 

 he instituted such a variety of original and inter- 

 esting experiments, and threw so much light on 

 almost every branch of chemical science, that a 

 vplume might be filled with their history, and with 

 the praises of his ingenuity, diligence, enterprise^ 

 and success. 



Next in this honourable catalogue stands Dr. 

 Priestley, whose fame as the author of numberless 

 valuable experiments, and many important disco- 

 veries, is known in every part of the world where 

 philosophy is cultivated. His labours, particularly 

 in pneumatic chemistry, have been extensive, 

 various, and persevering, to a wonderful degree. 

 Among many other services rendered to this branch 

 of science, he discovered the 7iilroiis and oxygenous 

 airs; he lu'st exhibited acids iiud alkalies in the 



