hereby she would multiply her mariners and sca forces (the best offensive and defensive strength of islanders), encrease navigation and commerce, (whereby her subjects would be better enabled to assist her) would improve the riches of her cities and towns, and raise the rent of land and augment the crown revenue by customes and imposts; neither would any foreign Prince dare to tamper with her subjects, to her prejudice, whilst she could awe them by her navy; nor would her subjects, however incensed, make any domestic commotions against a person so redoubtable abroad. He urged the precedent of King Edgar, who, though he were surnamed the Peaceable, did ensure his tranquillity by a constant navy royal of 4800 ships; the which he divided into four stations in the four seas, and those he visited in person every summer. He inculcated the glory of Pompey, whose honour had this for its principal foundation, that he had restored to the Romans the dominion of the sea. But, above all, he pressed the advice and example of Pericles and the Athenians, and by the glory thereof, he excited her Majesty to fix upon the course of strengthening her navy royal. The Queen did embrace the advise, and within the compass of a few years, (not full four,) her reputation grew great, the trading and til age infinitely did increase, her coffers began to replenish, her subjects were rich, loved and reverenced her. She was called by foreigners the Queen of the Sea; the North Starr; the Restorer of the Naval glory; and in 1563, the Parliament presents her with two subsidies, the clergy giving one, the layety another, together with two-tenths and two-fifteenths; and amongst their reasons for this gift, this is one:-"That she had repaired the fleet, and made unexpected preparations for warr and navigation."

CHAPTER II.

DR. HENRY.

How little could we anticipate in the progress of this work through the press, that we should have to record, upon its last pages, the loss of an illustrious townsman, to whose liberal assistance we have been much indebted, and one of whose compositions in particular greatly enriches this publication.

Within the last few years, death has extinguished very unexpectedly, both in this country and on the continent, a large proportion of the most eminent lights of science. La Place, Cuvier, Stromyer, Ampère, Davy, Wollaston, Young, Leslie, all passed from the stage of life in rapid succession. To this list we have now to add the name of one who enjoyed their intercourse, and rivalled them in their fame. Of all the eminent individuals to whom we have referred, there is no one perhaps whose death has occasioned a greater sensation in the scientific world, or will produce a wider chasm in the town of his residence, than that of Dr. William Henry. As no man could be more generally respected, so none has been more sincerely and extensively lamented.

Dr. r. Henry finished his education in the University of Edinburgh. To this College he manifested through life a great attachment. During his studies in that celebrated establishment, he was exceedingly fortunate. He attended the lectures of the illustrious Dr. Black, one of the fathers of Chemistry; and he was the associate and friend of Brougham, of Jeffrey, of Mackintosh, and of a number of others, who have since attained, like himself, a high degree of celebrity. Lord Brougham in his address to the Manchester Mechanics' Institution, in 1835, referred to Dr. Henry in the most respectful terms as a fellow student. "I met," he says, " an old and worthy friend of mine, a man of great ability and learning, your townsman Dr. Henry. We were fellow Collegians, and learned Chemistry together-though, God wot, he learned a great deal more than I did."

Dr. Henry was intended for the medical profession; but very delicate

health, and the necessity of his co-operation in his father's lucrative pursuits, which he subsequently so greatly extended, induced him, after some practice, to relinquish that arduous and harrassing oceupation. A taste for chemical research had also, no doubt, its influence upon his determination.

In private life Dr. Henry had qualities calculated to excite and to rivet esteem and admiration. His conversation was peculiarly attractive and insinuating. Pregnant with varied and extensive information, he knew how to impart it in the most alluring manner. His anecdotes, of which he had a copious selection, were always aptly introduced, and felicitously narrated. Intended to enliven or to illustrate at the time, they generally left upon the memory impressions worthy of subsequent reflection. He was a master of the science of conversation. He was never overbearing or dogmatical; and no one, how humble soever his talents, was, in private intercourse, made to feel an inferiority, except by a silent comparison which was, in many cases, almost unavoidable. He never appeared to speak for the purpose of display. He always seemed to talk for others, not for himself. He was always anxious to inspire the most diffident with confidence. He had no repulsive airs, but many admirable graces; and no one, it is believed, ever enjoyed his conversation without feeling that, high as was his reputation, it afforded a very inadequate estimate of his merits. It might be justly said of him, in the words of an eloquent statesman, that " he was the life and ornament of polished society."

In all the relations of private life he was most exemplary. As far as the writer can judge, no man was more highly regarded and more warmly beloved by his relatives. The combination of kindness with mental superiority was his most marked characteristic; and it attached to him every one who came within the sphere of its influence.

Occupying a splendid establishment, he displayed commensurate hospitality. He was particularly distinguished for the liberal and active patronage which he readily afforded to those aspirants in science who attracted his attention. In such cases, he required no solicitation. The encouragemeut was on his part spontaneous. It was the emanation of his nature. When he formed a favourable opinion, he was very unlike an ordinary patron. His kindness never ebbed and flowed. It was always equable. Any one who tried to deserve it might calculate upon it, at any time, with absolute certainty. He not only possessed high talents himself, but he was almost a creator of talent in others. The younger members of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester will deeply lament the loss of him who peculiarly encouraged and stimulated their earliest efforts. That association

will, in all its ramifications, mourn the absence of him who has been "as water which was spilt upon the ground, and cannot be gathered up."

Dr. Henry has conspicuously shewn that a due and regular attention to business is not incompatible with very high success in science. Soon after the termination of his collegiate education, he delivered, in Manchester, several courses of lectures on Chemistry. These lectures were illustrated by a very expensive apparatus, and contained experiments of a highly interesting character. The notes of these courses ultimately led to the publication of a small volume on the science, which has, in successive editions, gradually become a detailed and excellent treatise on the subject. This work has long been remarkable for the precision of its information, and for the characteristic elegance of its style. In the latter particular, especially, Dr. Henry is entitled to decided pre-eminence among all the writers on Chemistry.

Bes.des this publication he has contributed to the Transactions of the Royal Society of London, to the Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, and to several Periodicals, a number of papers of a very interesting and important character. When coal gas was applied to the purpose of illumination, he was one of the first to determine its constitution; to point out the best mode of analysis; and to suggest the most effective methods of obviating the inconveniences to which, in its early applications, it was liable. His papers on this subject present a fine specimen of inductive research. His investigations on the combinations of the gases by volume; the absorption of the different gases by water; the application of Doberiener's spongy platina to gaseous analysis; and a great number of other interesting subjects, have exhibited great philosophical acumen, and unequalled precision in manipulation. Never was there a more careful, a more impartial, a more accurate experimenter. It may be mentioned, as an instructive illustration, that on one occasion when a young friend was assisting him in his operations, the former proceeded, before the termination of an experiment, to calculate the result. "Stop," said the Doctor, emphatically, “don't try what the result should be, or there will be danger of coaxing the experiment so as to make it correspond with the estimate."

As a literary character, Dr. Henry deserves a much higher reputation than he has, in this respect, yet obtained. His character of Priestley, of Davy, and of Wollaston, are some of the finest specimens of that species of composition in the English language. The discrimination which they manifest, and the elegance and accuracy of the style, will render them models of the highest value to those who are required to exercise their powers upon such topics.

To the death of Dr. Henry it is necessary to refer. In ancient times to shorten the natural period of life was, in certain cases, regarded with applause. Cato, Brutus, Seneca, and others were lauded by their countrymen for an act which has received from modern times unqualified censure. Yet, even in modern times, illustrious instances have occurred. Romilly, Whitbread, and others fixed the limit of their own earthly existence. Such an act cool reflection cannot justify; but we should not be disposed to admit the right of erring human beings to dictate to Providence in presumptuously assigning a penalty for the offence. In the case of Dr. Henry there was every circumstance which might preclude or could mitigate condemnation. Months had elapsed during which he had not slept; his ever active mind was perfectly exhausted; and he was himself conscious that, as others too clearly observed, his mind was acquiring, by perpetual excitement and want of repose, a tendency to "wander from its dwelling." It is, perhaps, in the very constitution of superior intellects, too continuously exerted, that they should be peculiarly liable to be shaken from their equilibrium. Even Newton's transcendant mind was repeatedly subjected to this condition of humanity. The pious and amiable Cowper was also a martyr to mental alienation. It has been so with very dissimilar dispositions and characters. The last days of Tasso, of Collins, and of Swift, were obscured by the same mysterious visitation. The human intellect may be, to a certain extent, compared to the dew-drop in the sun-beam,-the brighter it shines, the more rapidly it fades away!

Dr. Henry was 61 years of age. He was interred on Wednesday morning the 7th. of September, 1836, in the burial-ground of the chapel, in Cross-street, Manchester, and his coffin was deposited upon that of his distinguished father,

This very, very hurried and equally imperfect tribute has been drawn up by one who has reason to cherish Dr. Henry's memory with mingled feelings of gratitude and admiration. At a period when the pressure of his loss is so heavily felt, by those who could appreciate his talents and estimate his worth, it is impossible to do justice to his character. When the agitation of grief shall have subsided, his career and his virtues will, we trust, be detailed by an abler pen, under more favourable circumstances,

JOHN DALTON

Was born at Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth, in Cumberland, on the fifth of September, 1766. Little is known of his early history,