ferior to Anaxagoras: the former wished to conceal science under a veil of mysticism, the latter worshipped her in public; the one in penury, in solitude, in exile, appears to him more admirable than the other, enjoying all the luxuries of the court of either Dionysius.

Undazzled and unseduced by the flattering reception his labours have experienced on the Continent, the subject of this memoir assigns to England the meed of praise, in respect to modern science, and from the exalted state which it has attained here, is justly inferred the superiority of our national character. He attributes peculiar advantages to the Reformation, which, by producing a spirit of enquiry, tended to ennoble the minds and purify the morals of the people, while the spirit of civil liberty, engendered by the Revolution, has given expansion to their views, and dignity to their conduct.

Mr. Davy, although a bold and original experimenter, exhibits equal caution and moderation in the mode in which he philosophizes, whether in his writings or his lectures. Unspoiled by applause, and at once copious and minute, he discovers great felicity in seizing, examining, confirming, or rejecting the loose hints of either his contemporaries or his precursors.

To such of our readers in general as have not as yet seen him, we beg leave to observe, that the Professor exactly resembles other men, affecting nothing rude, vulgar, or extravagant, either in his person or address, and to the ladies, in particu

lar, it would be unpardonable to omit, that he is still unmarried. He possesses great animal spirits, is gay, conversable, destitute of the jargon of science, the common refuge of little minds, has a pleasing face, a good address, a person rather slender, and is from thirty-two to thirty-four years of age.

With so many pretensions to fame, let not the Professor hope to be able to disarm envy, or to put malice to silence: merit like his is the food on which the vilest passions are the most eager to prey. We for our own part, entertain some fears lest the liberality of his sentiments should give offence to narrow minds, in the upper circles, and his generous and noble notions conjure up a host of ignorant, but powerful, enemies. Recollecting, however, that he has taken his station on the "vantage ground," formerly occupied by a Franklin and a Priestley, let him continue to soar above all personal considerations, and proceeding in the race of fame, remember how much we have yet to expect from a man, who in the blossom of life, has already achieved discoveries more valuable than any that have met the public eye since the epoch when Newton communicated his theory of light and colours, and explained and illustrated the laws of nature to a nation, that has be come distinguished by the splendor of his name.

APPENDIX.

I.—DR. BURGESS, BISHOP OF ST. DAVID's.
Vol. X. for 1809-10. (See page 1.)

THIS worthy prelate has not only declined every idea of a translation to a richer see, on the ground "that such removals are utterly inconsistent with episcopal duties," but has actually laid the foundation of a Provincial College, to qualify young clergymen of the establishment, for the Welch church. To attain this object, his lordship has appropriated a tenth of his revenues, during life, and all his beneficed clergy have added their contributions, to a meritorious institution, which has, for its objects:

1. The purchasing, printing, and distributing of moral and religious tracts;

2. Clerical education and exhibitions ;

3. Building and establishing a clerical seminary; and 4. The relief of superannuated curates.

11.-EARL OF DUNDONALD.

Vol. X. for 1809-10. (See page 275.)

The Hon. Basil Cochrane, a younger brother of this nobleman, returned from India about two years since, with a splendid fortune, and has lately erected baths on a new plan and construction, at his town-house in Portman-square. We understand it to be his earnest desire, that similar ones may be adapted to medical purposes, and most cordially wish him all manner of success in bis beneficent intentions.

III.-REAR-ADMIRAL SIR ALEX. COCHRANE, K.B. (See page 308.)

Was brought up under the celebrated Sir George Brydges (afterwards created Lord) Rodney. He acted for a considerable time as signal officer, on board the flag-ship, and was present at the naval action with De Grasse, April 12, 1782..

Lord Dundonald himself is now at Derby, employed in perfecting new machinery for the manufacture of wool, the yarn of which will, by its means, be enabled to attain an unrivalled degree of fineness and perfection.

V. PROFESSOR DAVY. .

Vol. X. for 1809-10. (See page 552.)

Mr. Davy has adopted the termination in um, so that his Potasium and sodaium may be arranged in the present nomenclature of metals, with platinum, plumbum, &c. It had been proposed, if we are to believe some, by high authority, to terminate them in en, so as to coincide with hydrogen, oxygen, &c.

The two new metals are not only malleable, but inflammable in a high degree. They instantly deflagrate, on coming in contact with the smallest quantity of water. Anterior to this discovery, only two bodies of this class, viz. iron ̄and platina, were capable of being welded, and that, too, by means of a very intense heat. As to the potasium and the sodaium, they can be welded readily, at the common temperature of the atmosphere. Their extraordinary lightness is another property for which they are peculiarly distinguished.

The similarity between the properties of earths and metallic oxides, was noticed in the early periods of chemistry, and attempted to be acted upon by those who pretended to be adepts in alchymy, which has since been defined:

"Ars sine arte,

Cujus principium est mentiri,

Medium laborare

Et finis mendicare."

Lavoisier was led by the specific gravity of barytes and stronites, as well as from their poisonous qualities, to conjecture that they were of a metallic nature. On the other hand, the elements of the fixed alkalis were supposed to consist in part of hydrogen and nitrogen; but although the most dissimilar in appearance to metallic oxides, they are the first which have been demonstrated to be such.

VI.-SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY.

Vol. X. for 1809-10. (See page 327.)

Since the account in the body of the work was written, we have heard Sir Samuel in the House of Peers, in the celebrated Roxburgh cause, as counsel for Sir James Innes Kér, Bart. greatgrandson of Lady Mary Ker, grand-daughter of Robert Earl of Roxburgh, who entailed the immense estates, now in litigation, all of which, according to the decision of the court of Scotland, since appealed from, appertain to his client.

His speeches, on this occasion, were at once dignified and interesting, and the reply to an introductory oration of several days continuance on the part of the Ex-Solicitor General of Scotland, was considered as able and luminous.

VII.-MR. DEMPSTER,

Vol. X. for 1809-10. (See page 238.)

Was educated at the University of St. Andrew's, but afterward repaired to Edinburgh, for the purpose of studying the law. He was a contemporary with Mr. Grey, mentioned in page 256, who, with the most benevolent views, presented an annual prize to St. Andrew's, with the hope that it would be applied annually to the purpose for which it was intended.