1813. Mi. 35.] SIR HUMPHRY DAVY. 387 



of which cost an eye and a finger to the author. He 

 gives no details as to the mode of combining them. I 

 have tried in my little apparatus with ammonia cooled 

 very low and chlorine, but without success.' 



On October 24 he writes, ' On Wednesday we are to 

 have a meeting at the Institution, to try to make this 

 compound of azote and chlorine.' 



On November 5 a letter was read at the Royal 

 Society from Davy to Sir Joseph Banks on this com- 

 pound, which had been formed by exposing chlorine to 

 a solution of nitrate of ammonia. During his investi- 

 gation the substance exploded in a tube, and he 

 received a severe wound in the eye. 



On November 1 6 he wrote to his brother, ' It is not 

 safe to experiment upon a globule larger than a pin's 

 head. I have been severely wounded by a piece 

 scarcely bigger.' 



In January 1813 he had another severe attack of 

 inflammation in the wounded eye, and it was not 

 perfectly well till April. 



On April 4 he wrote to his brother, c I am now 

 quite recovered, and Jane is very well, and we have 

 both enjoyed the last month in London. I have been 

 hard at work (on fluorine). We have now a triad of 

 supporters of combustion. 



' I have just finished printing my * Agricultural 

 Lectures.' 



Soon after he again wrote to his brother : 



I communicated to you in a former letter my plans as far 

 as they were matured. I have neither given up the Institu- 

 tion nor am I going to France, and, wherever I am, I shall 



c c 2 



