ANNALS 



OF 



MECHANICAL PHILOSOPHY, CHEMISTRY, 

 AGRICULTURE, 



AND 



THE ARTS. 



JANUARY, 1813. 



Article I. 



A Biographical Account of the Honour alle Heni^y Cavendish ^ 

 By Thomas Thomson, M. D. F.R.S. 



The Hon. Henry Cavendish was born in London, on tlie 

 10th of October, 1731. His father was Lord Charles Cavendish, 

 a cadet of the family of Devonshire, one of the oldest liouses 

 in England. During his father's lifetime he was kept rather in 

 narrow circumstances. His father allowed him an annuity of 

 500/., and fitted up his stables for his accommodation, where he 

 lived for many years. It was during this period that he acquired 

 those habits of economy, and those singular oddities of 

 character, which he exhibited ever afterwards in so striking a 

 manner. At his father's death he was left a very considerable 

 fortune ; and an aunt, v;ho died at a later period^ bequeathed 

 him a very handsome addition. In consequence of the habits of 

 economy which he had acquired it was not in his power to 

 spend the greater part of his annual income. This occasioned 

 a yearly increase to his capital, till at last it accumulated so 

 much without any care on his part, that at the period of his 

 death he left behind him nearly 1,300,000/., and was the 

 greatest proprietor in the Bank of England. On one occasion, 

 his money in the hands of his bankers accumulated to the 

 amount of 70;000/. These gentlemen, thinking it improper 



