510 FHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I768. 



frost, are now necessary ; and both these animals are known to stand the severest 

 winters of the Highlands of Scotland, conceived to be in Virgil's time almost the 

 ultima Thule. On the whole Mr. B. infers, that there appears to have been a 

 general melioration of temperature in the air and the seasons, in many, perhaps 

 most parts of the earth. 



X. An Account of Rings consisting of all the Prismatic Colours, made by Elec- 

 trical Explosions on the Surface of Pieces of Metal. By Joseph Priestley,* 

 LL.D., F.R.S. p. 68. 



It was a discovery of Sir Isaac Newton, that the colours of bodies depend on 

 the thickness of the fine plates which compose their surfaces. He has showed 



* Dr. Priestley was born on March 13, 1733, at Field-head, in the parish of Birstall, in the west 

 riding of Yorkshire ; and he died at Northumberland in the state of Pennsylvania, in America, the 

 9th of February 1 804 ; consequently at near 7 1 years of age. His father was concerned in the cloth 

 manufacture, who intended his son Joseph also for trade, but was induced to change his mind by 

 the youth's early attachment to reading and literary pursuits. After a pretty extensive course of 

 classical studies, at 19 years of age he entered as a divinity student the academy of Da vent ry, under 

 Dr. Ashworth, as successor of that kept by Dr. Doddridge at Northampton. About 3 years after 

 Mr. P. was chosen as an assistant minister to the Independent congregation of Needham-market, in 

 Suffolk- After 3 years spent at this place, he accepted an invitation to be pastor of a small meeting 

 at Nantwich, in Cheshire, where he also opened a school for the education of young gentlemen ; 

 and here it was that he composed his English grammar, which was his first publication. Hence he 

 removed, 17G1, to join the academy at Warrington, as lecturer in the particular department of 

 belles-lettres; at which place his literary career may be said to have commenced; as hence a variety 

 of his publications soon commenced : as his Biographical and Historical Charts, his writings on sub- 

 jects of history and general politics, &c. And here, in 1767, was published his History of Electri- 

 city. The year after he accepted the office of pastor to a large congregation of dissenters at Leeds; 

 which was soon after followed by numerous theological publications. 



In 1770 Dr. P. quitted Leeds, for the situation of domestic librarian to the Earl of Shelburne, or 

 rather his literary and philosophical companion, in the hours that could be devoted to such pursuits. 



In 1772 appeared his ' History and Present State of Discoveries relating to Vision, Light, and 

 ■ Colours,' in 2 vols. 4to; which may be considered as a 2d part of a general history of the philoso- 

 phical sciences; and which indeed proved the last, as the encouragement of this work fell far short 

 of that of the History of Electricity. 



In 1775 came out his ' Examination of Dr. Reid on the Human IVIind; Dr. Beattie on the Nature 

 and Immutability of Truth; and Dr. Oswald's Appeal to Common Sense." In 1777, 'Disquisi- 

 tions relating to Matter and Spirit." And soon after, his correspondence with Dr. Price, relative to 

 the same points. In several volumes of the Philos. Trans., as well as in separate publications of his 

 owTi, are seen his numerous papers of discoveries relating to aeriform fluids, and other chemical sub- 

 jects; besides many others on theological subjects. 



Dr. P.'s engagement with Lord Shelburne having ceased iq 1780, he accepted the office of pastor 

 to a congregation at Birmingham ; whence soon after issued some of the most important of his 

 theological works: from which arose several controversies on such topics, with Dr. Horsley and 

 other learned men. Dr. P. remained at Birmingham till 1791, when his house and library were 

 burnt, with many others, in a popular commotion in that place. After some little time an inrita- 



