8 



JOSEPH PRIESTLEY 



Lord Shelburne, desiring a " literary companion," 

 had been brought into communication with 

 Priestley by the good offices of a friend of both, 

 Dr. Price ; and offered him the nominal post of 

 librarian, with a good house and appointments, 

 and an annuity in case of the termination of the 

 engagement. Priestley accepted the offer, and 

 remained with Lord Shelburne for seven years, 

 sometimes residing at Calne, sometimes travelling 

 abroad with the Earl. 



Why the connection terminated has never been 

 exactly known ; but it is certain that Lord 

 Shelburne behaved with the utmost consideration 

 and kindness towards Priestley ; that he fulfilled 

 his engagements to the letter; and that, at a 

 later period, he expressed a desire that Priestley 

 should return to his old footing in his house. 

 Probably enough, the politician, aspiring to the 

 highest offices in the State, may have found the 

 position of the protector of a man who was being 

 denounced all over the country as an infidel and 

 an atheist somewhat embarrassing. In fact, a 

 passage in Priestley's "Autobiography" on the 

 occasion of the publication of his " Disquisitions 

 relating to Matter and Spirit," which took place 

 in 1777, indicates pretty clearly the state of the 

 case : 



"(126) It being probable that this publication would be un- 

 popular, and might be the means of bringing odium on my 

 patron, several attempts were made by his friends, though none 



