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: PNEUMATIC INSTITUTION. 439 
aside, endeavoured to upset, deserves to be registered in 
the history of science as a great discovery, whatever 
opinion we may entertain of it at the present day, owing 
to knowledge that has become common.* 
The art of bleaching by means of chlorine, that beau- 
tiful invention of Berthollet’s, was introduced into Eng- 
land by James Watt, after the journey he made to Paris 
about the end of 1786. He constructed all the requisite 
apparatus, directed its establishment, presided at the first 
trials; and then confided to Mr. Macgregor, his father- 
in-law, the management of the new art. Notwithstanding 
the solicitations of the illustrious engineer, our celebrated 
countryman had obstinately refused{ to become a partner 
in an enterprise which offered no unfavourable chance, 
and the profits of which, it seemed, must become very 
great. 
Scarcely had they discovered, during the second half 
of the last century, the numerous gaseous substances, 
which now act so important a part in the explanation of 
chemical phenomena, when they thought of rendering 
them useful in medicine. Dr. Beddoes followed up this 
idea with sagacity and perseverance. Private subscrip- 
tions even enabled him to establish a Pneumatic Institu- 
* Lord Brougham was present at the public meeting, where, in the 
name of the Academy of Sciences I paid this tribute of gratitude and 
admiration to Watt’s memory. On his return to England he collected 
some valuable documents, and again studied the historical question to 
which I have devoted so much space, with the superiority of percep- 
tion which is familiar to him, with the scrupulousness, in some meas- 
ure justiciary, which might be expected from a former Lord Chancellor 
of Great Britain. I owe to a degree of kindness, of which I feel the 
full value, the advantage of being able to offer the public the hitherto 
unpublished researches of my illustrious co-academician. See the end 
of this éloge. 
+ This expression is correct, however fabulous it may now appear. 
