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.Only references within this volume are hyperlinked.
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.
MDCCCXXXI.
CHAPTER X.
Mr. Faraday's introduction to Sir H. Davy.—A renewed correspondenceon the subject of the Gunpowder Manufactory.—Davyobtains permission from Napoleon to visit the Continent.—He embarksin a Cartel from Plymouth.—Is arrested at Morlaix.—Arrivesat Paris.—Visits the Louvre.—His extraordinary conductupon that occasion.—Inspects the Colossal Elephant, and is introducedto M. Alavair, its architect.—The discovery of the dungeonsof the Bastile.—Davy's interesting letter to M. Alavair.—He attendsa meeting of the Institute.—Is visited by all the principal savansof Paris.—The adventure which befell Lady Davy in the Thuilleries'Garden.—Anniversary dinner of the Philomatic Society.—Thejunior Chemists of France invite Davy to a splendid entertainment.—Howfar Davy is entitled to be considered the discovererof the true nature of Iodine.—Napoleon's unlucky experimentwith the Voltaic battery.—Davy is presented to the Empress Josephine.—Anaccount of the Court ceremony at Malmaison.—Remarkson the conduct of Davy during his visit to Paris.—He quitsthe capital of France, and proceeds by way of Lyons, to Montpellier.—Isassisted in experiments on sea-weed by M. Berard.—Crossesthe Alps.—Arrives at Genoa.—Institutes experiments onthe Torpedo.—Visits Florence, and accomplishes the combustionof the diamond, by the great lens in the cabinet of Natural History.—Experimentson Iodine.—He examines the colours used bythe Ancients.—Visits all the celebrated Philosophers of Italy andSwitzerland, with whom he works in their laboratories.—Returnsto England 1
CHAPTER XI.
Collieries of the North of England.—Fire-damp.—The dreadfulexplosion at Felling Colliery described.—Letters from the Bishopof Bristol to the Author.—A Society is established at Bishop-Wearmouthfor preventing accidents in coal mines.—Various projectsfor ensuring the miner's safety.—The Reverend Dr. Gray, the presentBishop of Bristol, addresses a letter to Sir H. Davy, andinvites his attention to the subject.—Sir H. Davy's reply.—FartherCorrespondence upon the possibility of devising means of security.—SirH. Davy proposes four different kinds of lamp for the purpose.—TheSafe-lamp—The Blowing-lamp—The Piston-lamp—TheCharcoal-lamp.—His investigation of the properties of fire-dampleads to the discovery of a new principle of safety.—Hisviews developed in a pap