160 PRIESTLY. 



apparatus and experiments, and homes were provided for his family 

 in the neighbourhood both of Lord Shelbourne's town and country 

 residence. Priestly remained with the Earl of Shelbourne for six or 

 seven years, at the end of which period, in 1780, he settled at Bir- 

 mingham and became minister of a dissenting body there. While 

 residing at Birmingham he engaged fiercely in polemical writings 

 and discussions, particularly with Gibbon and Bishop Horseley. He 

 also displayed a warm interest in the cause of America at the time 

 of the quarrel with the mother-country, and likewise took an active 

 and not very temperate part in the controversy to which the French 

 Revolution gave rise; and, having published a 'Reply' to Burke's 

 famous pamphlet, he was in 1791 made a citizen of the French Re- 

 public. This gave considerable offence to the inhabitants of Bir- 

 mingham, an ironical and somewhat bitter pamphlet against the 

 high church party still further excited their feelings against him ; 

 and a dinner which was given on the 14th of July, to celebrate 

 the anniversary of the attack upon the Bastile, became the signal 

 for a general riot. The tavern where the party were assembled was 

 attacked, and, although Dr. Priestly was not present, his house and 

 chapel "were immediately afterwards assailed, he and his family 

 escaped, but his house, library, and manuscripts were burnt. Al- 

 though his losses were made up to him partially by an action at law 

 and partially by a subscription among his friends, Priestly felt that 

 he could no longer live at Birmingham, he therefore removed to 

 London and succeeded his friend Dr. Price as principal of the Hack- 

 ney Academy. He, however, still found himself highly unpopular 

 and shunned even by his former associates in silence. This deter- 

 mined Priestly to leave England, and in the spring of 1794 he with- 

 drew with his family to America and settled at Northumberland, in 

 Pensylvania, where he purchased 300 acres of land. Here he re- 

 mained the rest of his life, occupied in cultivating his laud, in occa- 

 sional preaching, and in scientific studies. He continued writing 

 and publishing until his death, in February 1804, in the 72nd year 

 of his age. He expired very quietly, and so easily that having put 

 his hand to his face those who were sitting close to him did not 

 immediately perceive his death. Brougham's Lives of Philosophers. 

 London and Glasgow, 1855. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Eighth 

 Edition. 



