426 PRIESTLEY. 



vinistic divine present. By accident his name was men- 

 tioned, and the lady then introduced him. But he of 

 the Genevan school drew back, saying, " Dr. Joseph 

 Priestley ?" and then added in the American tongue, 

 *' I cannot be cordial." Whereupon the Doctor, with 

 his usual placid demeanour, said that he and the lady 

 might be allowed to converse until their host should 

 return. By degrees the conversation became general ; 

 the repudiator was won over by curiosity first, then by 

 gratification; he remained till a late hour hanging 

 upon Priestley's lips ; he took his departure at length, 

 and told the host as he quitted the house, that never 

 had he passed so delightful an evening, though he ad- 

 mitted that he had begun it " by behaving like a fool 

 and a brute." One such anecdote (and there are many 

 current) is of more force to describe its subject than a 

 hundred laboured panegyrics. 



After the loss of his wife and his younger and 

 favourite son, he continued with unabated zeal to 

 pursue his theological studies, and published several 

 works, both controversial and historical, beside 

 leaving some which have been given to the world 

 since his decease. He endeavoured, too, as far as he 

 could, to propagate the tenets of Unitarianism, and to 

 collect and extend a congregation at Philadelphia 

 attached to that doctrine. At one time, in the sum- 

 mer of 1797, entertaining hopes of peace in Europe, 

 he had resolved to visit France, where he might 

 communicate personally with his English friends ; and 

 he even thought of making a purchase in that country 

 on which he might reside during a part of each year. 

 So nearly did he contemplate this removal, that we 



