I JOSEPH PRIESTLEY 



by himself, to dissuade me from persisting in it. But being, as 

 I thought, engaged in the cause of important truth, I proceeded 

 without regard to any consequences, assuring them that this 

 publication should not be injurious to his lordship." 



It is not unreasonable to suppose that his 

 lordship, as a keen, practical man of the world, 

 did not derive much satisfaction from this assur- 

 ance. The " evident marks of dissatisfaction " 

 which Priestley says he first perceived in his 

 patron in 1778, may well have arisen from the 

 peer's not unnatural uneasiness as to what his 

 domesticated, but not tamed, philosopher might 

 write next, and what storm might thereby be 

 brought down on his own head ; and it speaks 

 very highly for Lord Shelburne's delicacy that, in 

 the midst of such perplexities, he made not the 

 least attempt to interfere with Priestley's freedom 

 of action. In 1780, however, he intimated to 

 Dr. Price that he should be glad to establish 

 Priestley on his Irish estates : the suggestion was 

 interpreted, as Lord Shelburne probably intended 

 it should be, and Priestley left him, the annuity 

 of 150 a year, which had been promised in view 

 of such a contingency, being punctually paid. 



After leaving Calne, Priestley spent some little 

 time in London, and then, having settled in Bir- 

 mingham at the desire of his brother-in-law, he 

 was soon invited to become the minister of a large 

 congregation. This settlement Priestley con- 

 sidered, at the time, to be " the happiest event of 



