V. 



JOSEPH PKIESTLEY. 



IF the man to perpetuate whose memory we have 

 this day raised a statue had been asked on what part 

 of his busy life's work he set the highest value, he would 

 undoubtedly have pointed to his voluminous contribu- 

 tions to theology. In season and out of season, he was 

 the steadfast champion of that hypothesis respecting the 

 Divine nature which is termed Unitarianism by its 

 friends and Socinianism by its foes. Regardless of odds, 

 he was ready to do battle with all comers in that cause ; 

 and if no adversaries entered the lists, he would sally 

 forth to seek them. 



To this, his highest ideal of duty, Joseph Priestley 

 sacrificed the vulgar prizes of life, which, assuredly, were 

 within easy reach of a man of his singular energy and 

 varied abilities. For this object, he put aside, as of sec- 

 ondary importance, those scientific investigations which 

 he loved so well, and in which he showed himself so 

 competent to enlarge the boundaries of natural knowl- 

 edge and to win fame. In this cause, he not only cheer- 

 fully suffered obloquy from the bigoted and the unthink- 

 ing, and came within sight of martyrdom ; but bore with 



