1812. MT. 34.] PKOFESSOK DAVY. 373 



Opposing the view that oxygen gas contained light 

 combined with it, and gave light out in oxidation, he 

 contrasted slowly oxidised iron with an iron turning 

 burnt in oxygen. 



' When the laws which govern in chemical science are 

 fully known, there is no doubt it will become a much 

 more simple science. It cannot fail to be so, since 

 then it will be complete. Already it is one of the 

 most useful of the whole circle to man, and when in 

 its utmost state of improvement it will be one of the 

 most sublime. It will, I have no doubt, connect 

 mechanical and chemical sciences together; it will 

 concentrate them into one and in that one comprehend 

 the whole universe. 



' The first step to truth is the confession of ignorance. 

 No man could have made the immortal discoveries of 

 Newton unless he had first thrown up the ridiculous 

 doctrines of Des Cartes. To attend to our errors and 

 own them, to sacrifice all selfishness to the science, 

 not to support errors for the sake of vanity, ought to 

 be the leading precepts of a philosopher. He should 

 turn his endeavour to the advancement of science and 

 not to the increase of his reputation. Let him fix steps 

 for others to rise on, and he does more real good to 

 science than if he had spent years in controversy on an 

 equivocal point. Let him turn his thoughts to general 

 views and try to contain the whole science in his grasp ; 

 lie will then be calculated to arrange it, improve it, and 

 reform it and place it in that order which tends so 

 materially to its advancement.' 



His lecture on Chlorine was given on Saturday, March 



