Memoir of DAVIES GILBERT, ESQ. M.P. PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY. (With a Portrait.) THE ancestral name of the distinguished character whose portrait enriches the present number, is Giddy, and the family is of very ancient standing in the county of Cornwall, at the eastern extremity of which they had long enjoyed a seat called Trebersy. Mr. John Giddy, who resided near Truro, had two sons, Edward and Thomas, the former in the church, and the latter an eminent medical practitioner at Penzance. Both were educated at Truro school, under that excellent teacher and truly pious man Mr. George Conon, to whose instructions they did honour through life, by their talents and conduct. Mr. Edward Giddy, after taking his degrees in arts at Christ Church, Oxford, was ordained to the curacy of St. Erth, in his native county, the only preferment he ever obtained. Here he married Catharine, daughter of Mr. John Davies, of Tredrea, the representative of that and of several ancient families, and inheriting the property of William Noye, attorney-general in the reign of king Charles the First. At St. Erth was born the subject of this sketch in the year 1767. After obtaining the rudiments of learning, in some part, by attendance at a grammar school in Penzance, but mainly by the care and attention of his father, under the paternal roof, he proceeded to Oxford, and was admitted a student of Pembroke College. Dr. Johnson, who was also of Pembroke, once said with exultation, in allusion to the poetical characters there brought up, that it was a nest of singingbirds. Since that period, it is certain the credit of the house has not diminished, as the fasti of the University will sufficiently evince, where stand pre-eminently the names of Dr. Moore, archbishop of Canterbury, Nathaniel Bliss, astronomer royal, David Durell, and Thomas Wintle, biblical critics, with many others, who still shine above the horizon in the sphere of ornamental and useful literature. 115.-VOL. X. [1828. Cotemporary with Mr. DAVIES GIDDY, but of older standing in the college, was that extraordinary man, Dr. Thomas Beddoes, whose ardent and penetrating mind soon became closely attached to a kindred spirit, in whom the love of science was. predominant. The intimacy between the two students was of reciprocal advantage, for if Beddoes excelled in chemistry, his friend had a deeper insight in mathematics; and the knowledge which each possessed was as liberally imparted. Previously to this period, the time of Beddoes was divided between Oxford and Edinburgh, for though he graduated at the former university, he deemed it necessary to pass through a series of terms at the latter, as the first school of physic in Europe. The high expectations which he had formed of "the modern Athens," as our northern brethren presume to call their capital, were far from being realized; and Beddoes was astonished to find, that, with all its vaunted superiority, Edinburgh seemed rather fitted to send out smatterers and pretenders, than minds well grounded in medical science. This could hardly be well otherwise, where the system pursued was one of perpetual bustle. The picture drawn of the academical course by our doctor, is sufficiently curious to claim insertion here, as exhibiting a striking contrast to the regularity of the English universities. "At Edinburgh there is a perpetual bodily hurry, which is generally attended with a good deal of confusion of mind. No sooner does the college hour-bell toll, than the audience rush out in full stream, leaving the last word half finished in the mouth of one professor, not a few fearing lest they should miss the first words of another. The young men doubtless are earnest in their pursuits, but it is a common feeling, that each attempts too much at once; and our academical architects, in their hurry to finish the structure, fail to lay a solid foundation." We have been tempted to give this passage from the correspondence of Dr. Beddoes, on account of the series of systematic attacks carried on against the English universities, by the critics of the Cale. 20 587 Memoir of Davies Gilbert, Esq. M.P. donian capital, who have magisterially asserted, that science has declined in England, owing to the defective mode of instruction pursued in the public schools, but particularly in the two great centres from whence knowledge is supposed to radiate over all the rest of the island. "The 588 the world, ever ready to admire what is new, the fruits of our discovery."* The justness of these remarks must strike every considerate obsérver, and much is it to be desired, that in the present rage for novelties, the system of education may be preserved on the same firm and tried basis of experience. The design of public seminaries is to keep up a succession of practically useful characters, in all the departments of civil life; not to elicit extraordinary genius, or to give birth to visionary schemes of improvement. By keeping this object continually in view, we have happily been enabled to steer clear of revolutionary storms, when other nations were sinking around us; and when many strong-minded men trembled for the safety of the British constitution. There were some who, smitten with the dazzling splendour of the equalizing doctrines to which the changes in France had given currency, fancied that nothing more was wanting than the application of the same levelling principles to our own form of government, for the purpose of rendering it perfect. Among these political enthusiasts, Dr. Beddoes was one of the first and most ardent. To such a degree indeed, did he carry his admiration of the new Such was the language thrown out by the late Professor Playfair, who was answered in a defence of the University of Oxford at considerable length, and with incontrovertible facts, by the present bishop of Llandaff, then fellow of Oriel college. The learned Oxonian, after allowing to the fullest extent the advantages resulting from public lecturing, maintained the superior benefit of the method of private study ordinarily pursued in our colleges. succession of illustrious names brought into notice by the former mode," says this powerful reasoner, "is apt to cast a delusive splendour over the prominent masses which it illumines, and to withdraw our attention from the thousand inferior objects which are crowded in the back ground, less captivating, it is true, to the imagination, but equally entitled to the care of true philanthropy. I would not undervalue these higher doings; but we must be cautious how they lead us out of the track of plain and sober industry. A thirst for dis-order of things, that, like Earl Stanhope, tinction may interfere with homely duties more really important to mankind. Our husbandry is truly on a large scale; but let us beware how we sacrifice, after the example of vain ostentatious breeders, the food of some twenty or thirty, for the sake of making a proud show of one. Such produce is not the true or certain test of skilful management. If we send out into the world an annual supply of men, whose minds are imbued with literature according to their several measures of capacity, impressed with what we hold to be the soundest principles of policy and religion, grounded in the elements of science, and taught how they may best direct their efforts to farther attainments in that line; if, with this common stock, of which they all partake, they be encouraged afterwards to strike off into the several professions and employments of life, to engage in the public service of the state, or to watch over and manage the lesser circle of affairs, which the independent gentlemen of this country, and of this country only, conduct in their respective neighbourhoods; I think we do a greater and more solid good to the nation, than if we sought to extend over Europe the fame of a few exalted individuals, or to acquire renown by exploring untrodden regions, and by holding up to he laid aside his honorary distinctions, and instead of adding to his name the academical title which properly belonged to him, he discarded it in contempt, as an assumption of superiority over his fellow men. This intemperate conduct had a serious effect on his fortune, and greatly alarmed his friends, of whom he had many at Ox. ford. It must be admitted, that the times were critical, and that the very association with persons of a republican character was enough to bring the most loyal man under suspicion. In these circumstances it was not much to be wondered, that some of those who esteemed the doctor for his virtues, and admired him for his talents, should appear desirous of dropping his acquaintance; especially when they saw that he had not discretion enough to keep his obnoxious principles concealed within the circle of private friendship, but took a pride in obtruding them upon the public, and that too in print. Though Mr. Giddy could not approve of this conduct of his friend, he had too much regard for his good qualities to break off the connexion on that account. Their intimacy, which had so long subsisted, con Reply to the Calumnies of the Edinburgh Review against Oxford, p. 149, 1810, tinued unabated, notwithstanding the disparity of their political sentiments; and the doctor, or, as he now chose to designate himself, plain Thomas Beddoes, inscribed to his fellow collegian, an ingenious treatise, which he published in 1792, entitled, "Observations on the Nature of Demon. strative Evidence." The great points which the author endeavours to maintain in this performance, are, that geometry may be best taught by sensible images, or, mechanical contrivances; and Latin and Greek by new grammars, simply constructed on the principles of etymology. In the dedication to Mr. Giddy, the doctor says, "For the principal opinion, stated and exemplified in the following pages, it seems to me that I have the full evidence of intuition; and this evidence, you know, must always carry conviction to the mind of the individual. All he can desire further is, to learn whether objects appear to the senses of others, as they appear to his senses. What additional confirmation it is possible in such circumstances to receive, was afforded me by your assent, when I formerly mentioned to you my ideas concerning demonstrative evidence. Your uncommon proficiency in mathematical science, and your no less uncommon discernment, I was well assured, perfectly qualified you to decide on such a question." The friendship of which we have said so much, was not more honourable to the parties themselves, than important to the interests of science. Soon after this publication, Dr. Beddoes, finding his situation at Oxford no longer tenable, gave up the chemical lectureship, and removed to Clifton, near Bristol. Here he began to put into execution his favourite project of treating pulmonary disorders by the mechanical application of factitious airs to consumptive patients. For this purpose a subscription was set on foot, and hence arose the Pneumatic Institution, which, if it did not answer the immediate expectation of the proprietor and supporters, brought into action talents that have proved of inestimable benefit to this country, and to the world of science. It has often been remarked, that some of the most valuable discoveries have originated in accidental circumstances, or chimerical pursuits. Thus the fall of an apple gave the hint of gravitation; the search for the philosopher's stone produced phosphorus; and to the visionary scheme of relieving an irremediable disease by the elastic fluids, we are indebted for the analysis of the alkalies. Though the pneumatic scheme ended, like other wonders, in disappoint ment, and the dream of empiricism now excites a smile, we are induced to feel some respect for it, on account of its having been the means of bringing into public life such a man as Sir Humphry Davy. The extraordinary powers of this eminent philosopher, were first discovered at Penzance by Mr. Giddy, while he was going through a preparatory education with Mr. Bingham Borlase, an eminent surgeon in that town, to qualify himself for attending the medical school of Edinburgh. The chemical establishment at Clifton was exactly a situation fitted for the improvement of an ardent mind; and here, on the recommendation of his friend and countryman, Humphry Davy first began those experiments, the result of which has immortalized his name. For this apparent digression, no apology, we trust, is requisite, considering the characters and circumstances to which it relates. We, therefore, now return to the immediate subject of this memoir; who on the 26th of June, 1789, received the degree of master of arts from the university of Oxford, and as this was by creation, it proves in what high esteem Mr. Giddy had passed through his academic course. From this period we have little or no acquaintance with his personal history, till his entrance upon public life. Thus much however, we can venture to say, that his time, after quitting college, was not dissipated in idleness or pleasure. His principal delight lay in the company of literary men, on which account he became a candidate for admission into the Royal Society, and was elected a member Nov. 17, 1791. Besides this, his eager thirst for knowledge led him to join the Linnæan Society; and if not the first mover, he certainly was one of the most active supporters of the institution for the cultivation of geology and mineralogy in his native county, of which he has continued president up to the present time. These associations necessarily extended the circle of his acquaintance with scientific characters; to many of whom his friendship was substantially beneficial. Among these, were the late Reverend Malachi Hitchins, vicar of St. Hilary, in Cornwall, and the Reverend John Hellins, vicar of Potterspury, in Northamptonshire. The former died at an advanced age, in 1809, and the latter in 1827. Mr. Hitchins was, for a long series of years, the principal calculator of the Nautical Almanac, and the Tables for the Board of Longitude; but, though a mathematician of the first order, he never published any distinct |