400 THE EOYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. VI. 



worse, he told Dr. Davy he was sure he should die. 4 He 

 took leave of me most tenderly, kissed my cheek, and 

 bade Grod bless me. I believed that now indeed I was 

 about to lose him and that I should never again hear 

 his voice of kindness. During the night when I went to 

 him he still breathed. The following morning, when I 

 drew back his curtains, he expressed great astonishment 

 at being alive. He said that he had gone through the 

 whole process of dying, and that when he awoke he had 

 difficulty in convincing himself by experiments that he 

 was in his earthly existence. He added that his being 

 alive was quite miraculous, and that he now began to 

 think his recovery not impossible, and that it might be 

 intended by Divine Providence that his life should be 

 prolonged for purposes of usefulness. 



' From this day he pretty rapidly improved ; as he 

 mended the sentiment of gratitude to Divine Providence 

 was overflowing. On April 20 he wrote his last note 

 at the end of a letter of Dr. Davy's. 



' My DEAR SISTER, I am very ill, but, thanks to my 

 dearest John, still alive. Grod bless you all ! H. DAVY.' 

 ' He would have said more, but his feeble hand failed 

 him.' 



On April 30 he was able to leave Eome for Switzer- 

 land. He stayed a week at Grenoa and on May 28 he 

 reached Greneva, and there first heard of the death of 

 Dr. Young, ' which affected him in a manner almost 

 unaccountable.' He dined early and was read to after- 

 wards ; at half-past nine he wished to be left alone, c and 

 I took leave of him,' says Dr. Davy, for the night. At 

 half-past two his servant called me. He was insensible, 

 and in a few minutes he expired.' 



