382 
EDITORIAL. 
No  one  could  be  more  said  to  keep  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  for  he 
dined  at  one.  took  tea  at  five,  finishing  the  labors  of  the  day  at  nine.  This 
patriarchal  existence  was  varied  every  Thursday  by  a  game  at  bowls, 
which  he  pursued  with  an  amusing  ardor ;  but  the  main  characteristic  of 
the  man  was  that  transparent  honesty,  which  made  him  as  scrupulously 
exacting  in  his  requirements  from  others  as  he  was  upright  in  his  own  con- 
duct towards  them.  Thus  he  refused  a  certificate  of  attendance,  until  he 
had  repeated  in  full  the  missing  lecture  for  the  applicant's  sole  advantage. 
Such  traits  of  character,  as  well  as  his  curious  aversion  to  books  and  gene- 
ral literature,  belong  to  the  pleasant  recollections  of  the  past.  Let  us  not, 
however  led  away  by  the  prettiness  of  circumstance,  for  a  moment  lose 
sight  of  Dalton's  real  ciaim  to  honor,  namely,  his  discoveries  in  science. 
A^popular  sketch  necessarily  shuts  out  the  exhibition  of  those  careful, 
minute,  deeply-studied  investigations,  to  which  all  original  philosophers 
owe  their  reputation. 
Those  who  wish  to  penetrate  a  little  beneath  the  surface,  cannot  do  bet- 
ter than  consult  the  concise,  intelligible  Essay  on  the  Atomic  Theory,  by 
Dr.  Henry,  given  in  the  middle  of  the  work.  As  Dalton's  claim  to  priority 
of  thought  has  been  occasionally  denied,  it  is  well  to  see  what  were  the 
views  entertained  on  the  subject  previous  to  his  time,  how  far  he  availed 
himself  of  the  anticipations  of  others,  and  to  what  extent  he  may  be 
credited  with  working  out  for  himself  the  great  doctrine  on  which  his  life 
was  engaged. 
Time  was  more  favorable  to  Daltonthan  to  another  great  mathematician 
— Hutton — who  has  recorded  his  opinion  in  his  autobiography  that  it  pro- 
duces nothing  but  rags  and  children.  The  quiet  Friend  fared  better  in 
his  generation ;  the  Royal  Society  elected  him  a  fellow,  Oxford  gave  him 
her  honors,  Chantrey  a  statue,  and  the  Government  a  pension,  whilst  his 
countrymen  regarded  him,  even  in  his  lifetime,  as  a  sort  of  patron  saint. 
Now  that  the  grave  has  claimed  him  he  may  rest  in  peace,  without  the 
fear  of  his  reputation  being  snatched  away  by  the  spell  of  the  euphonious 
name  of  Higgins. 
A  man  who  spent  the  energies  of  a  whole  career  on  the  elucidation  of 
one  sole  object  could  not  be  said  to  have  blundered  on  the  atomic  theory, 
any  more  than  the  enthusiast  who  should  walk  on  a  pilgrimage  from  here 
to  Manchester  could  be  said  to  stumble  on  the  high-road. 
Self-taught,  Dalton  succeeded  in  spite  of  himself,  for  his  philosophical 
instruments  were  of  the  rudest  description,  and  his  hands  were  not  equal 
to  his  head ;  but  for  original,  deep  thought,  united  to  a  child  like  simpli- 
city, he  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 
Dalton,  like  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  (to  whom  he  bore  a  strong  mental  and 
personal  resemblance),  disbelieved  in  genius,  a  misconception  incident  to 
real  greatness,  but  one  most  readily  pardoned  in  the  case  of  those  whose 
life  is  the  best  refutation  of  the  theory.  It  is  true  indeed,  that  the  marvel- 
lous influence  of  steady  perseverance  can  be  alone  estimated  by  those 
who  practice  it,  yet  still  there  is  a  barrier  which  nothing  but  directing 
and  creative  power  can  pass. 
Untiring  industry  will  rescue  the  dullest  mind  from  mediocrity  ;  but 
there  is  an  Excelsior  which  it  cannot  reach.  Many  a  mountain  shepherd 
has  watched  the  changes  of  the  atmosphere  far  more  than  Dalton,  but  un- 
like him,  in  vain ;  whilst  many  another  inconsequent  observer  might  have 
viewed  the  falling  of  an  apple  from  the  first  one  that  tempted  Eve,  and 
been  no  wiser." 
