28.-1780.-THOMAS MOORE BORN. From the nature of many of Mr. Moore's productions, it is very often imagined that he mixes in all the follies and gaieties of life. This is not the case. He lives rather retired than otherwise, in Sloperton Cottage, a beautiful rural retreat, about five miles from Devizes, in the vicinity of Bowood, the seat of the Marquis of Lansdowne, whose friendship the poet enjoys. In days to come, when another generation shall walk the earth, curiosity will lead numbers to visit Sloperton, eager to say they have been in the room where the poet Moore wrote his Lalla Rhook, and some of the most charming productions of his day. 29.-KING CHARLES II. RESTORED. On this day, 1660, Charles the Second made his public entry into London, on being restored to his throne after the Commonwealth. It was also the king's birth-day. In many parts of the country it is still customary for the common people to wear oak leaves on this day, in commemoration of the king's concealment in the oak after the battle of Worcester. 29.-1506.-COLUMBUS DIED. COLUMBUS BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY OF SALAMANCA. By Mrs. Sigourney, COLUMBUS found, that, in advancing the spherical figure of the earth, he was in danger of being convicted, not merely of error, but of heterodoxy.-Irving's Life of Columbus. St. Stephen's cloistered hall was proud Some, from stern vigils measured hours, Why doth yon simple mariner His toil-stained hands the pictured chart While words of wonder from his heart What hath he said? Their frowns are dark, Courage, bold Genoese; for Time The gold-sown rocks and rivers, thou Courage, world-finder!-thou hast need! Dark wrongs and nameless woes I read, Pale Envy's shafts in secret hurl'd, The bitter payment of the world To those who wear her chain. On! on! creation's secrets probe, And give the old and crime-sick globe Her sister's broad domain; Then, with torn heart and smothered frown, Exhaust the cup of scorn, And in thy lowly grave lie down, The glorious, yet forlorn. The Token. 29.-1829.—SIR HUMPHREY DAVY DIED, ÆTAT. 50. He was born at Penzance, in Cornwall, in the year 1779. His father enjoyed a small patrimony, amply competent for the supply of his limited desires: his profession was a carver in wood, and joiner. Unfortunately he did not live long enough to witness his son's eminence; but from his widow, who has only lately descended to the tomb, full of years, this boon was not withheld; she witnessed his whole career of usefulness and honor. Davy, having received the rudiments of a classical education under Dr. Cardew, of Truro, was placed with a professional gentleman named Tonkin, at Penzance, that he might acquire a knowledge of the profession of a surgeon and apothecary. His master, however, soon became dissatisfied with his new pupil: instead of attending to the duties of the surgery, Humphrey was rambling along the sea-shore, and often declaiming against the wind and waves, in order to overcome a defect in his voice, which, although only slightly perceptible in his maturer age, was, when a boy, extremely discordant: instead of prepar ing the medicines for the doctor's patients, he was experimenting in the garret; and, upon one occasion, he produced an explosion that put the doctor and all his phials in jeopardy. "This boy, Humphrey, is incorrigible-I plainly foresee that no good awaits him-idleness is the root of all evil:" such were the continual exclamations of the dissatisfied apothecary. At length a negociation between the parents and master commenced, with a view of releasing the parties from their engagement; the boy was " idle and incorrigible," the master relentless, but the parents reasonable and indulgent, and we believe that Humphrey returned home. It is not difficult to understand how it happened, that a person endowed with the genius and sensibilities of Davy, should have had his mind directed to the study of mineralogy and chemistry, when we consider the nature and scenery of the country in which accident had planted him. Many of his friends and associates must have been connected with mining speculations; shafts, cross courses, lodes, &c. were words familiarised to his ears; and his native love of inquiry could not have long suffered such terms to remain as unmeaning sounds. Nor could he wander along the rocky coast, nor repose for a moment to contemplate its wild scenery, without being invited to geological inquiry by the genius of the place; for, were we to personify that science, it would be impossible that a more appropriate spot should be selected for her local habitation and favored abode. Such scenery also, in one who possessed a quick sensibility to the subiime forms of nature, was well calculated to kindle that enthusiasm so essential to poetical genius. We accordingly learn that Davy drank of the waters of Helicon at a very early age, and composed a poem on the Land's End, in which he powerfully described the magnificence of its convulsed scenery, the ceaseless roar of the ocean, the wild shrieks of the cormorant, and "those caves where sleep the haggard spirits of the storm." The first original experiment performed by him at Penzance, was for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the air contained in the bladders of sea-weed. His instruments, however, were of the rudest description, manufactured by himself out of the motley materials which fell in his way; the pots and pans of the kitchen were appropriated without ceremony, and even the phials and gallipots of his master were, without the least remorse, put in requisition. A prominent circumstance in Davy's life was his introduction to Mr. Davies Giddy, (now Mr. Gilbert,) the present distinguished and popular President of the Royal Society. The manner in which this happened furnishes another curious instance of the power of mere accident in altering our destinies. Mr. Gilbert's attention was, from some trivial cause, attracted to the young chemist, as he was carelessly lounging over the gate of his father's house. A person in the company of Mr. Gilbert observed, that the boy in question was young Davy, who was much attached to chemistry. "To chemistry!" said Mr. Gilbert; "if that be the case, I must have some conversation with him." Mr. Gilbert, who possesses a strong perception of character, soon discovered ample proofs of genius in the youth, and therefore offered him the use of his library, or any other assistance that he might require for the pursuit of his studies. Another circumstare also occurred, which afterwards contributed to introduce Davy to notice. Mr. Gregory Watt, who had long been an invalid, was recommended by his physicians to reside in the West of England; and he accordingly went to Penzance, and lodged with Mrs. Davy. We may readily suppose that two kindred spirits would not be long in contracting an acquaintance and friendship. Before the formation of the Geological Society of London, which has been the means of introducing more rational and correct views in the science over which it precides, geologists were divided into two great parties, Neptunists and Plutonists; the one affirming that the globe was indebted for its form and arrangement to the agency of water, the other to that of fire. It so happened that the professors of Oxford and Cambridge ranged themselves under opposite banners; Dr. Beddoes was a violent and uncompromising Plutonist, while Professor Hailstone was as decided a Neptunist. The rocks of Cornwall were appealed to as affording support to either theory; and the two professors, who, although adverse in opinion, were united in friendship, determined to proceed together to the field of dispute, each hoping that he might thus convict the other of the error. The geological combatants arrived at Penzance; and Davy became known to them, throngh the medium of Mr. Gilbert. Mr. Watt was also enthusiastic in his praise; and it so happening that at that time Dr. Beddoes had just established his Pneumatic Institution at Bristol, and required an assistant in his laboratory, the situation was offered to Davy, and by him eagerly accepted. In addition to the recommendations we have mentioned, Dr. Beddoes received from Davy himself a testimony of his genius which greatly prepossessed the professor in his favor: this was an essay in which was propounded a new theory of heat and light. Davy was now constantly engaged in the prosecution of new experiments; in the conception of which, as he himself informs us, he was greatly aided by the conversation and advice of Dr. Beddoes. He was also occasionally assisted by Mr. W. Clayfield, a gentleman ardently attached to chemical pursuits, and whose name is not unknown in the annals of science; indeed, it appears, that to him Davy was indebted for the invention of a mercurial air-holder, by which he was enabled to collect and measure the various gases submitted to examination. In the course of these examinations, the respirability and singularly intoxicating effects of Nitrous Oxide were first discovered, which led to a new train of research concerning its preparation, composition, properties, combinations, and physiological action on living beings; inquiries which were extended to the different substances connected with Nitrous Oxide, such as Nitrous Gas, Nitrous Acid, and Ammonia |