248 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. IV. 



gether the most comprehensive system of natural phi- 

 losophy and of what the French call physics that has 

 ever been published in this country ; equally remark- 

 able for precision and accuracy in the enunciation of 

 the vast multitude of propositions and facts which they 

 contain, for the boldness with which they enter upon 

 the discussion of the most abstruse and difficult sub- 

 jects, and for the addition or suggestion of new matter 

 or new views in almost every department of philosophy.' 



In the autumn of 1810 he wrote to Sir Joseph Banks 

 an account of ' an agricultural micrometer for measur- 

 ing the fineness of wool.' See Appendix II. 



On January 24, 1811, he was elected one of the 

 physicians of St. Greorge's Hospital. The contest, he 

 says, was almost unparalleled. ' The Cabbells were 

 very naturally confident of triumphant success ;. parlia- 

 mentary influence and the natural wish to serve a man 

 who is likely to be Lord Chancellor made Sir S. Eomilly's 

 nephew, Dr. Eoget, very formidable.' ' Mrs. Young has 

 emerged from death to life by the event of this con- 

 test.' Before and after this time he wrote frequently 

 for the ' Quarterly Eeview,' to which he contributed 

 eighteen articles. Perhaps the most celebrated was 

 on the ' Herculanean Manuscripts,' of which eighteen 

 hundred were discovered. 'It is a consolation to 

 know,' said a friend, ' that Brougham, who took advan- 

 tage of the growing circulation of the 'Edinburgh 

 Keview' to desseminate his vile abuse of you, and 

 JefFery, who permitted him to do so, should be con- 

 demned to hear your praises on all sides, and to feel 



