1810.) > 
Lavoisier. As the purity of atmospherical 
air had been a subject of controversy, Mr, 
Cavendish contrived essential improvements 
in the method of performing experiments 
with 3h eudiometer; by means of which he 
was the first who shewed that the proportion 
of pure in the atmosphere is nearly the 
Bathe in all open places. The other and 
much larger portion of our atmosphere he se- 
Baciously conjectured to be the basis of the 
acidof nitre ; an opinion that he soon brought 
to the test, by an ingenious,and laborious ex- 
periment, which completely proved its truth ; 
wlhience this air has now very generally gb- 
tained the name of nitrogen. So many and 
Such great discoveries spread his fame through- 
out Europe, and he was universally consi- 
dered as one of the first philosophers of the 
age. Among the labours of his latter days, 
is the nice and cifficult experiment by which 
he determined the mean density of the earth; 
an eiement of consequence in delicate caicu- 
Nations of ustronomy, as well as ip geological 
Inquiries. Even in the last year of his life, 
at the advanced age of 77, he proposed and 
described imotovements in the manner of di- 
Viding large astronomical! instruments; which, 
though not yet executed, promise very great 
advantages. Those pursuits, together with 
reading of various kids, by which he acqui- 
red a deep insight into almost every topic 
of general knowledge, formed the whole oc- 
Cupation of his life; and were, in fact, his 
Sole amusement, The love of truth was-suf- 
ficient to fillhismind. From his attachment 
to such occupations, and the constant resource 
he jound in them, together with a shyness 
and aiffigence natural to his disposition, his 
habits had, from early life, been secluded. 
His manners were mild, his mind firm, his 
Nature benevolent and complacent. He was 
Niberal, without being profuse; and charita- 
ble, without ostentation. He possessed great 
affluence, which was to him rather matter 
ot embarrassment than of gratification ; buf, 
however careless about its improvement, 
he was regular as to its management and di- 
rection. He was born October 10, 1731; 
@nd his remains were interred in the family- 
vault in All Saints, Derby.—On Sa:urday, 
March 17, Mr. Professor Davy, in his lecture 
at the Royal Institution, introduced the fol- 
lowing character of Mr. Cavendish.—*‘ About 
1766, Mr. Cavendish pubiished« his first pa- 
pers on the subject of air. He examined, 
with more accurete instruments than Black, 
the elastic fluid from the alkalies; and he 
ascertained that the same substance was pro- 
duced Jucing the combustion of charcoal. He 
perfected the pneumatic apparatus ; and soon 
discovered two new elastic Huids, inflammable 
air and muriatic acid air. Mr. Davy said, in 
the next lecture he should exhibit some ex- 
periments of our illustrious countryman of 
later date, and of still higher importance ; 
but he could not, on this occasion, pass by 
the circumstance of his recent loss without a 
Montury Maga, No. i198. 
Accohint of the late Henry Cavendish. 489 
digression, which might enable him to offer 
a feeble tribute of respect to the memory of 
so greata man. Of all the philosophers of 
the present age, Mr. Cavendish combined, in 
the highest degree, a depth and extent of 
mathematical knowledge with delicacy and 
precision in the methods of experimental re-s 
search. It might be said of him, what can 
perhaps hardly be said of any other person, 
that whatever he has done has been perfect at 
the moment of its production, His processes 
were all of a finished nature ; executed by the 
hand of a master, they required no correction g 
and though many of them were performed in 
the very infancy of chemical philosophy, yet- 
their accuracy and their beauty have remained 
unimpaired amidst the progress of discovery; 
and their merits have been illustrated by 
discussion, and exalted by time. in general,. 
the most commen motives which induce men 
to study are, the love of distinctton, of glory 
in the desire of power; and we have no right 
to ohjece to motives of this kind: but it ought. 
to be mentioned in estimating the character 
of Mr. Cavendish, that his grand stimulus to 
exertion was evidently the love of truth and. 
ot knowledge 5 unambitious, unassuming, ig 
was often with difficulty that he was persua= 
ded to bring forward his important discoveries. - 
He disliked notoriety; he was, ag it were, 
fearful of the voice of Fame. His labours 
are recorded wich the greatest dignity and. - 
simplicity, and in the fewest possible words, 
without parade or apology; and it seemed as. 
if in publication he was performing, not what 
was a duty to himself, but what was a duty 
to the public. His life was devoted to- 
science 3 and his social hours were passed 
amongst a few of his friends, principally 
members of the Royal Society. He was re- 
served to strangers; but where he was famie 
liar, his conversation was lively, and full of 
varied -information.” Upon all subjects of 
science he was luminous and profound; and 
in discussion wonderfully acute. Even to 
the very last week of his life, when he was 
nearly 79, he retained his activity of body, 
and all his energy and sagacity of intelle¢t. 
He was warmly interested in all new subjects 
of science; and several times in the course of 
last year witnessed or assisted in some experi« 
ments that were carried on tn the Laboratory 
of the Royal Institution, Since the death of 
Newton (said Mr. Davy, if he might be per- 
mitted te give an opinion), England has sus- 
tained no scientific loss so great as that of 
Cavendish. But. it is to be regretted less, 
since, like his great predecessor, he died full 
of years and of glory. His name will be an 
object of more veneration in future ages than 
‘in the present moment; though it was une 
known tn the busy scemes of life, or in the 
popular discussions of the day, it will remain 
illustrious in the annals of scleace, which 
are as unperishable as that nature to which 
they delong; it wils be an immortal honour 
to his house, to his age, and to his country !”” 
3D PROVINCIAL 
