



Produced by Chris Curnow, Mary Akers and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive)







Transcriber's note:
    This book was published in two volumes, of which this is the second.
    The first volume was released as Project Gutenberg ebook #45394,
    available at http:www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45394. Italic text
    has been marked with _underscores_. Please see the end of this
    Project for further notes.




    THE LIFE
    OF
    SIR HUMPHRY DAVY,
    BART. LL.D.

    LATE PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY, FOREIGN ASSOCIATE
    OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCE,
    &c. &c. &c.

    BY
    JOHN AYRTON PARIS, M.D. CANTAB. F.R.S. &c.
    FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.

    IN TWO VOLUMES.

    VOL. II.

    LONDON:
    HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY,
    NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
    M DCCC XXXI.




CONTENTS.


    CHAPTER X.

    Mr. Faraday's introduction to Sir H. Davy.--A renewed correspondence
    on the subject of the Gunpowder Manufactory.--Davy
    obtains permission from Napoleon to visit the Continent.--He embarks
    in a Cartel from Plymouth.--Is arrested at Morlaix.--Arrives
    at Paris.--Visits the Louvre.--His extraordinary conduct
    upon that occasion.--Inspects the Colossal Elephant, and is introduced
    to M. Alavair, its architect.--The discovery of the dungeons
    of the Bastile.--Davy's interesting letter to M. Alavair.--He attends
    a meeting of the Institute.--Is visited by all the principal savans
    of Paris.--The adventure which befell Lady Davy in the Thuilleries'
    Garden.--Anniversary dinner of the Philomatic Society.--The
    junior Chemists of France invite Davy to a splendid entertainment.--How
    far Davy is entitled to be considered the discoverer
    of the true nature of Iodine.--Napoleon's unlucky experiment
    with the Voltaic battery.--Davy is presented to the Empress
    Josephine.--An account of the Court ceremony at Malmaison.--Remarks
    on the conduct of Davy during his visit to Paris.--He quits the
    capital of France, and proceeds by way of Lyons, to Montpellier.--Is
    assisted in experiments on sea-weed by M. Berard.--Crosses
    the Alps.--Arrives at Genoa.--Institutes experiments on
    the Torpedo.--Visits Florence, and accomplishes the combustion
    of the diamond, by the great lens in the cabinet of Natural
    History.--Experiments on Iodine.--He examines the colours used by
    the Ancients.--Visits all the celebrated Philosophers of Italy and
    Switzerland, with whom he works in their laboratories.--Returns
    to England                                                       1


    CHAPTER XI.

    Collieries of the North of England.--Fire-damp.--The dreadful
    explosion at Felling Colliery described.--Letters from the Bishop
    of Bristol to the Author.--A Society is established at Bishop-Wearmouth
    for preventing accidents in coal mines.--Various projects
    for ensuring the miner's safety.--The Reverend Dr. Gray, the present
    Bishop of Bristol, addresses a letter to Sir H. Davy, and
    invites his attention to the subject.--Sir H. Davy's reply.--Farther
    Correspondence upon the possibility of devising means of security.--Sir
    H. Davy proposes four different kinds of lamp for the purpose.--The
    Safe-lamp--The Blowing-lamp--The Piston-lamp--The
    Charcoal-lamp.--His investigation of the properties of fire-damp
    leads to the discovery of a new principle of safety.--His
    views developed in a paper read before the Royal Society on the
    9th of November 1815.--The first Safety-lamp.--Safety-tubes superseded
    by Safety-canals.--Flame Sieves.--Wire-gauze lamp.--The
    phenomenon of slow combustion, and its curious application.--The
    invention of the Safety-lamp claimed by a Mr. Stephenson.--A
    deputation of Coal-owners wait upon Sir H. Davy, in order to
    express to him the thanks of the Proprietors for his discovery.--Mr.
    Buddle announces to Dr. Gray (now Bishop of Bristol) the intention
    of the Coal-trade to present him with a service of plate.--The
    Resolutions are opposed, and the claims of Stephenson urged,
    by Mr. W. Brandling.--A dinner is given to Sir Humphry, at which
    the plate is presented to him.--The President and Council of the Royal
    Society protest against the claims still urged by Mr. Stephenson's
    friends.--Mr. Buddle's letter in answer to several queries
    submitted to him by the Author.--Davy's Researches on Flame.--He
    receives from the Royal Society the Rumford Medals.--Is
    created a Baronet.--Some observations on the apathy of the State
    in rewarding scientific merit.--The Geological Society of Cornwall
    receives the patronage and support of Sir Humphry               58


    CHAPTER XII.

    Sir Humphry Davy suggests a chemical method for unrolling
    the ancient Papyri.--He is encouraged by the Government to
    proceed to Naples for that purpose.--He embarks at Dover.--His
    experiments on the Rhine, the Danube, the Raab, the Save, the
    Ironzo, the Po, and the Tiber, in order to explain the formation of
    mists on rivers and lakes.--His arrival and reception at Naples.--He
    visits the excavations at Herculaneum.--He concludes that it
    was overwhelmed by sand and ashes, but had never been exposed
    to burning matter.--He commences his attempt of unrolling the
    Papyri.--His failure.--He complains of the persons at the head of
    the department in the Museum.--He analyses the waters of the
    Baths of Lucca.--His return to England.--Death of Sir Joseph
    Banks.--He is elected President of the Royal Society.--Some
    remarks on that event.--He visits Penzance.--Is honoured by a
    public dinner.--Electro-magnetic discoveries of Oersted extended
    by Davy.--He examines Electrical Phenomena in vacuo.--The
    results of his experiments questioned.--He enquires into the state
    of the water, and aeriform matter in the cavities of crystals.--The
    interesting results of his enquiry confirm the views of the
    Plutonists                                                     160


    CHAPTER XIII.

    The Liquefaction of Chlorine Gas first effected by Mr. Faraday,
    and witnessed by the Author.--Sir H. Davy continues the
    investigation.--His paper on the application of Liquefiable Gases as
    mechanical agents.--Other probable uses of these bodies.--He
    proposes several methods to prevent the fumes which arise from
    Smelting-furnaces.--Importance of the subject.--His Letters to
    Mr. Vivian.--The Government solicit the advice of the Royal Society
    on the subject of protecting the Copper Sheathing of Ships
    from the action of sea-water.--Sir H. Davy charges himself with
    this enquiry.--He proposes a plan of protection founded on Voltaic
    principles.--His numerous experiments.--He embarks on board
    the Comet steam-vessel bound to Heligoland, in order to try his
    plan on a vessel in motion.--He arrives at Mandal, lands, and
    fishes in the lakes.--The Protectors washed away.--He teaches
    the inhabitants of Christiansand to crimp fish.--He remains a few
    days at Arendal.--A Norwegian dinner.--The Protectors are examined
    and weighed.--Results of the experiment.--The steam-vessel
    proceeds up the Glommen.--He visits the great waterfall.--Passes
    into Sweden.--Has an interview with the Crown Prince of
    Denmark, and afterwards with Prince Christian at Copenhagen.--He
    visits Professor Oersted.--He proceeds to Bremen to see Dr.
    Olbers.--Returns to England.--His third paper read before the Royal
    Society.--Voltaic influence of patches of rust.--A small quantity
    of fluid sufficient to complete the circuit.--He receives from the
    Royal Society the Royal Medal.--The Progress of Voltaic discovery
    reviewed.--The principle is of extensive application.--The
    Author's researches into the cause of the solution of Lead in spring
    water.--An account of the numerous trials of Protectors.--Failure
    of the plan.--Report of the French on the state of the protected
    frigate, La Constance.--Dr. Revere's new plan of Protection    208


    CHAPTER XIV.

    The failure of the Ship protectors a source of great vexation to
    Davy.--His Letters to Mr. Poole.--He becomes unwell.--He
    publishes his Discourses before the Royal Society.--Critical Remarks
    and Quotations.--He goes abroad in search of health.--His
    Letter to Mr. Poole from Ravenna.--He resigns the Presidency
    of the Royal Society.--Mr. Gilbert elected _pro tempore_.--Davy
    returns to England, and visits his friend Mr. Poole.--Salmonia, or
    Days of Fly-fishing.--An Analysis of the Work, with various
    extracts to illustrate its character                          