DR. DAVY'S FRAGMENTARY REMAINS OF SIR DAVY.*

TUE S E additional illustrations of the life of an all-accomplished man and a great chemical philosopher, have chiefly originated in the transfer of documents and correspondence to Dr. Davy on the death of his brother's widow. Other papers, however, have been- obtained from other quarters, the whole forming a supple- r& to Dr. Davy's life of his brother, Sir Ilumphry, published 836. So far as a complete whole is in question the book is iiinIy, as the title expresses it, " fragmentary "; but there is leitihing disjointed or imperfect. The materials are arranged in chronological order, and successively illustrate the stages of the reat chemist's biography, a sketch of which is furnished by f.tbe Doctor, just sufficient to fix the place, and give life to the gfianous periods of his brother's career. Occasionally, he does more, where he can speak from full personal knowledge, as in his thieracteristic: and interesting reminiscences of the primitive state of Penzance little more than fifty years ago, and in his intimations of the illstarred marriage of Sir Humphry. It was not "marrying discord in a noble wife"; for Lady Davy was good- natured, and it would seem fascinating, but her health -was Un- certain; and, when out of the fashionable world where she glittered and charmed, she was out of spirits, if not infected by what our ancestors called the "vapours." However, "a fat sorrow is better than a lean one," and the philosopher married riches. The book is -valuable for its direct object, interesting for the matter it brings- tolight, and very readable, perhaps all the more -so from its " fragmentary " character: the reader passes quickly -from one topic to another without having his attention detained too long upon any. Old account books, old copy books, and old journals, are made to give up facts slight it may be, but well illustrating the boyhood, youth, and early schemes, aspirations, and studies of Hiunphry Davy. That almost restless industry w}tioh kept him ever employed, and that intuitive perception, which led him instinctively, as it were' to discern the true points to he discovered, and the directest way to the discovery are shown in his various studies, pursuits, and lucubrations. The vivacity of mind, poetical spirit, and charm of manner, which more than any scientific explanations or expositions, made him from his first appearance in London, the favourite and attractive lecturer at the Royal Institution, and the fashion in "high life," are visible in his poetical fragments, and in the friendships he made as a youth at Penzance, and afterwards at Bristol as a youthful assistant at a public institution. Among the friendships of this early day were the elder Watt, and his son Gregory, Southey, and Coleridge with other remarkable men in their day and circle, if less distinguished before the world. The letters of several of these friends form one of the most attractive features of the book, if less illustrative of Davy's life than of his corres- pondence.

Southey stands at the head of the letter-writers ; indeed, in al-

most all his epistles there is a never-fading attraction. It is common to speak of the charm of his English style ; and his style Undoubtedly is very attractive, being clear, easy, flowing, and if not rising to animation always sustained and living. There is, however, more than this. Southey has fruitfulness of thought, (*piousness of matter, a sound judgment on men, measures, things, and books, when not warped by his prejudices, or personal feelings, perhaps his personal vanity. To appreciate their quali- ties, Southey's epistles should be read in their entirety, with the associations of persons and subjects. The following passages are mere bits.

Southey on the Effect of Rhythm.—" Your Mount's Bay,' my dear Davy, disappointed me in its length. I expected more, and wished more, because what there is is good ; there is a certain swell, an elevation in the flow of the blank verse, which, I do not know how, produces an effect like the fulness of an organ-swell upon the feelings. I have felt it from the rhythm of Milton, and sometimes of Akenside, a pleasure wholly independ- ent of that derived from the soul of the poetry, arising from the beauty of the body only. I believe a man who did not understand a word of it would feel pleasure and emotion at hearing such lines read with the tone of a poet."

Southey on Combination in Writing Poems.—" If we were near enough to admit of daily intercourse, I should like to undertake the poem with you, because two people, if my opinion be not ill-founded, would necessarily write a better poem than one, their powers of poetry being granted and their similarity of opinion ; the story should be the work of both, each take sepa- rate parts, eaca correct the other's and add to it whatever ideas occurred to him. When their styles had amalgamated, the work would have double the merit of the single production of either. It is singular that this should Frasanentary Remains, Literary and Scientific, of Sir Hunaphry Davy, Bart., hate President oldie Royal Society, Re., with a Sketch of his Life and Selections (rani his Correspondence. Ldited by his brother, John Davy. M.D., F.A.S. Pub- lished by Churchill. only have been-done by Beau A131SY,AilbrAffitgliave

probably prev'ented.olhers from followhig , ;

.Walter Savage Lawlor at anford.*"I now veraimiver neat of Oak is he was a contemporary of mine at Oxfoed, ofTrinity, anti torious as a mad Jacobin ; Ins jacehiniam would have made me seek bielte., quaintancc, bikt for his madness ; he was obliged _to le,ave, the TJaiversity for shooting at Cue of the Fellows through the window ; all this I home, diately recollected on getting at his name. Row could you compare this man's book with Rough's ! [The author of a dull book they had been reQ. ing.] The lucid passages of Gebir are all palpable to the eye •' they are tbe master touches of a painter—there is power in them, • and passoin, and thought, and knowledge."

This story, in its generals, seems te derive „seme corroboration from a late trial ; but when Dr. Davy submitted it to Waiter Savage Landor, he denied the specific fact of shooting, the gun was thoughtlessly fired by a friend he defends himself from the other charges in ids usual racy, reckless, way, and gives full liberty to The letters publish. from Coleridge are of a" mingled yarn," indicative of the aspiring, well stored, and varied gentus, but of the proem. tinating, unsettled, vain, and wayward man. Several passages display his discursive eloquence, and there is a capital criticism on Cobbet, his Register, and popular newspapers, written in re- ference to a scheme of Coleridges printer, to publish the .Frioul at a cheap price. Shorter remarks are more available, and here is a curious one in anticipation of Rowland Hill's cheap postage. "0, what a fine unveiling of modern politics it would be if there n-ere published a minute detail of all the sums received by Government from the post establishment, and of all the outlets in which the sums so received flowed out again; and, on the other hand, all the domestic affections that had been stifled, all the intellectual progress that would have been, but is not, on account of the heavy tax, &c. The letters of a nation ought to be

paid for as an article of national expense." .

This singular autobiographical passage follows a long resume of various reasons, apparently for not having kept an engagement The Italics are his own; the date 1804.

"I have thought it fit to explain at large, both as it mark of respect to you, and because I have very unjustly acquired a character for breaking engagements, entirely from the non-sympathy of the well with the sick, the robust with the weakly. It must be d4.cult for most men to conceive the extreme reluctance with which I go at all into company, and the en. ceasing depression which I am struggling up against diving the whole time I am in it, which too often makes me drink more daring dinner than I ought to do, and as often forces me into efforts of almost obtrusive conver- sation, acting the opposite of my real state of mind in ender to arrive at a medium as we roll paper the opposite way in order to smoothe it," These maxims or opinions are from Davy's...Dote-boas. The first three were written in his teens or soon after ; the remainder are of later date.

"'Consistency in regard to opinions is the slow poison of intellectual life, the destroyer of its vividness and energy,"

" The use of physical science is, that it gives definite ideas'. ., "'Great discoveries may sometimes be made by chance, but they* much oftener produced by laborious and accurate investigations. ' * *

" The man who labours to produce effect, can never have the highest degree of genius. That polish of style, thatsinoothness of versification, and that harmony of perio& which demand labour, and labour only are in- Compatible with the strong and rapid combinations of genius. Restlessness of thought, power superior even to will, ardent, but indefmitelope—these constitute the great elements of that feeling which always has something above the common habits of thought ; has been, as it were, supernaturally infused into the mind, or self-born in it,—which though derived from the senses and the feelings, bears very little relation to them—which is, as it were, matter converted into mind, spirit animating thoughts and feelings,

embodied in reasoning.' • "'The men who begin with speculation and end with facts, begin at the wrong end ; the firmest materials should be in the foundations; the em- bellishments should be made after the structure is completed.'

"'It is needless for us again to say that in science and the arts there is a dependence which is the source of their progression and importance. In a well organized country, power is always compound : Archimedes could not have made machines which terrified the Roman soldiers without the aa- sistance of good carpenters and good workers in metal."

"To love and be wise is not given to man" and love letters, we are sorry to think, are with more or less justice regarded as proverbially foolish. In Davy's case this view would be alto- gether unjust. He erred but little in allowing his imagination to colour the beloved object with qualities she did not possess, for Mrs. Apreece appears to have been clever and captivating. His love letters are by no means foolish, they are, on the con- trary, philosophical. A vein of gallantry, compliment, and affection, runs through them undoubtedly, (at least we fancy so,) but they are vastly learned, and analytical. Here are two examplei written during a tour to Ireland in 1811.

"Under such circumstances I might have been melancholy and listless, but thoughts and feelings, of which you are the source, and the consola- tions of science, have kept my mind cheerful and active. I do not admit the truth of the lines of Anacreon, which may be translated,—' It is hard

to i love, it is hard not to love, but the hardest of all to be absent from the beloved object.' I should rather say affection is necessary to the moral and intellectual being ;—when present, the beloved object is a constant source of happiness ; when absent, an eternal spring of hope. It would be earl' to show metaphysically that this must be the case. -Rope, as flartley53 shown (and the analysis of the passions is, perhaps, the only truly logic!n part of his book,) is reflected pleasure, i.e., it bears the same relation to pleasure, that an idea bears to an impression, and consequently the object that has produced most pleasure must be remembered with most delifht- I cannot describe to you the gratitude that I feelfor the very happy a1,33 and hours I have passed in your society. I am convinced with you, pleasure is always useful to a well organized mind. You have rano!! many of my sentiments, given me more correct principles of taste, 96 raised very much my opinon of the standard of human excellence, by 411.,- playing a character which appeared more exalted the more it was studio. I hope you will not think this acknowledgment of benefits obtrusive." . # * * •• '11045616W— a'''Y vtiraiti• an4flittei

tibu from my acquaintance

here, Yet I sie deeply for your "la `TMt have given me a distaste fcrr u `of 'othli5 as some harm amongst all the tle4°,111311°.,k,,n. t:dre°ged in tarblist lettei.. There is a law of sensation;which ,,,gecao be—aallellthe-law of continuity and contrast, of which you may read laarwin's "Zeonomia." An example is—look long on a spot of pink and the

our impression will continue for some time, and will then

-doe 3• suceeede by green light. For some days after I quitted you I had the k light in my eyes, and the rosy feelings ni my- heart, but now the green sad feelings—not of jealousy, but of regret—are e6me." A wildly subdued delight characterizes his acceptance; but it rather condenses than expands his style. The notification is addressed to his brother" the present Dr. Davy, editor of the vo- lume.

" Mardi 1812.

many thanks for your last letter. I have been very miserable ; the jv whom I have best a any human being, has been very ill. She is now ireD and I am happy. a km Apreece bus consented to marry me, and when this event takes place, I shall not envy kings, princes, or potentates. 44 Do not fall in love. It is very dangerous ! "My case is a fortunate one. I do not believe there exists another being riessed of such high intellectual powers, just views and refined taste, as the object of my admiration. I am, my dear brother,

"Ever most affectionately yours, H. DAVY."

Before the honeymoon was half over, he could mingle medical advice with his raptures.

" Beechwood, April 22 1822. "My dear John—My wife desires her kind love to you. She will now for my sake have the kindest regard for you, and when she knows you, for your own sake.

"I have heard of some experiments you have made on the action of digitalis and other poisons on yourself. wI hope you will not indulge in trials of this kind. I cannot see any useful results that can arise from them : it is in states of disease, and not of health, that they are to be used, and you may injure your constitution, without gaining any important re- sult; besides, were I in your place, I should avoid being talked of for any- thing extraordinary of this kind, as you have already fame of a better kind,

and the power of gaining fame of the noblest kind." * * * "I have every prospect of happiness in my new relations. A most ex- alted and charming intellectual woman, full of good feelings, refined taste, and having a mind stored with various knowledge. My usefulness will be her happiness, and her happiness any glory.

14 I am, my dear John, ever your most affectionate brother'

" H.DAVY."

If these anticipations were not completely realized, it is diffi.cult to perceive the precise kind of failure in Sir Humphry Davy's case. It seems to have been thoughtlessness mingled of course with selfishness, on Lady Davy's part, which led to domestic and household neglect. In 1823, he writes to his brother, on coming to London en garcon—" I find my house as usual, after the ar- rangements made by the mistress of it, without female servants ; but in this world we have to suffer and bear, and from Socrates down to humble mortals, domestic discomfort seems a sort of phi- losophical fate." The last two years of his life were chiefly passed in, for the most part, solitary travel on the continent in search of that health which was never to come. His letters to his wife were frequent, frank, and affectionate ; her letter in reply to his last dictation expressing his last wishes' was feeling and loving; but all which Dr. Davy intimates as to the actual infelicity of the union, seems confirmed by the close of a letter, written when Sir Humphry was about to return to England, from his first tour. "I still hope that I shall return freer than I once expected from para- lytic affection, and I do not despair of perfect reiistablishment. I think you will find me altered in many things—with a heart still alive to value and reply to kindness and a disposition to recur to the brighter moments of my existence of fifteen years ago, and with a feeling that though a burnt out flame can never be rekindled, a smothered one may be.

"God bless you!

"From your affectionate, H. DAVY. "I hope it is agood omen that my paper by accident is couleur de rose."