1801. 2&i. 23.] PROFESSOR DAVY. 319 



scientific subjects as may engage your attention, or from 

 publishing in any other manner the results of your re- 

 searches. 



As you are fully informed with respect to the nature and 

 objects of the Royal Institution and are acquainted with 

 the respectable character of those distinguished persons 

 with whom I have the honour to act in the management of 

 its concerns, you cannot, I think, entertain the smallest 

 doubt of their constant protection and of their readiness on 

 all occasions to do fall justice to the zeal and abilities you 

 may display in the situation in which they have placed 

 you. 



It is with much esteem and a sincere desire that the 

 talents which at so early a period of life you discovered 

 may be cultivated with care, and always employed with 

 success, that I am, dear Sir, your most obedient Servant, 



RUMFORD. 



On March 8 Davy wrote to Davies Gilbert : 



I cannot think of quitting the Pneumatic Institution 

 without giving you information of it in a letter ; indeed, I 

 believe I should have done this some time ago had not the 

 hurry of business and the fever of emotion produced by the 

 prospect of novel changes in futurity destroyed to a certain 

 extent my powers of consistent action. 



You, my dear sir, have behaved to me with great kindness, 

 and the little ability I possess you have very much contri- 

 buted to develope ; I should therefore accuse myself of in- 

 gratitude were I to neglect to ask your approbation of the 

 measures I have adopted with regard to the changje of my 

 situation and the enlargement of my views in life. 



In consequence of an invitation from Count Rumford, 

 given to me with some proposals relative to the Royal 

 Institution, I visited London in the middle of February, 

 where, after several conferences with that gentleman, I was 



