Sir Humphry Davy. 247 



We can hardly trace the progress of a man through life, whose 

 actions were all great and whose enterprises were all successful, with- 

 out seeming to indulge too much in the spirit of eulogy ; but it is 

 certainly true of here and there a mind, JYihil tetigit, quod non 

 ornavit. We pretend not to know any thing of the private history of 

 Sir Humphry Davy, but we have for a number of years contem- 

 plated his character through the medium of his works, and we are 

 free to say that we regard it as constituted of a very unusual assem- 

 blage of great and noble qualities. Quickness of perception and "pa- 

 tient thought"* — inventive genius and strong reasoning powers — per- 

 severance to complete what ingenuity has begun, and an eloquent 

 tongue to utter, what a profound and brilliant mind has conceived : 

 these qualities were all interwoven, in fine proportions, to form its bright 

 and varied tissue. And, although we must not presume, from his works 

 alone, to make a complete analysis of his moral qualities, yet it is im- 

 possible not to recognize in his history, as derived from these sources, 

 many incidental marks of an amiable temper and refined feelings, allied 

 with heroic courage. Pursuits which have early engrossed the pow- 

 ers of genius, and opened its pathway to fame, sometimes create, ar- 

 tificially, a disrelish for other objects, and a tendency to undervalue 

 their importance. But the personage we are contemplating, was ev- 

 idently incapable of any such exclusive feelings. The noble progeny 

 of genius or intellect, wherever found, a spirit like his would at once 

 acknowledge as its kindred. Accordingly, his Discourses before the 

 Royal Society exhibit striking proofs of liberal and generous feelings, 

 towards all the votaries of science. We have been so strongly im- 

 pressed on this point, that we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of 

 making one or two extracts from these Discourses, in illustration of 

 it. Our first extract shall be taken from the discourse delivered on 

 the occasion of presenting the Society's medal to M. Ai'ago, of 

 France, for his discoveries in magnetism. 



' Far be from us that narrow policy which would contract the minds 

 of individuals, and injure the interests of nations, by cold and exclu- 

 sive selfishness ; which would raise the greatness of one people, by 

 lowering the standard of that of another. As in commerce, so in sci- 

 ence, no country can become worthily pre-eminent, except in profit- 

 ing by the wants, resources, and wealth of its neighbors. Every new 



* The motto of Newton. 



