SIB HUMPHREY DAVY. 161 



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

 to the encouragement of science. Emperor Alex- 

 ander of Russia 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 

 live 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 my 

 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 



11 



