Hamphry Davy. Poet and Philosopher. By T. E. Thorpe, LL.D
(Cassell and Co.)—Sir Humphry Davy's fame, in the case of the vast majority of those who know his name, rests on the discovery of the safety-lamp. His claim to the merit of this has been dis- puted, for the invention was attributed by some persons at the time to George Stephenson. Stephenson's friends had the courage of their convictions, for they subscribed £700 as a testimonial, the similar acknowledgment made by the more numerous Davy party amounting to .£2,500. Dr. Thorpe does not hesitate in preferring the claim of Davy. Probably the thing was "in the air," like other great discoveries; for, indeed, the need was urgent, increased by the improved ventilation, which made the explosions more deadly. But Davy had other claims to the gratitude of the world,—the Presidential chair of the Royal Society has not often been filled by a more able man. In this volume the incidents of his life, a life not altogether fortunate, and the main facts of his scientific work, are well given by his biographer.
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