CHAPTER VII. "Modifications in the religious sentiments and the tenderest social feelings of men, and changes in the special habits of those who exercise an influence on the ideas of the mass, give a sudden predominance to that which might have previously escaped attention."-ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. HIS IDEAS ON QUAKER-WORSHIP-THE HANDSOME WIDOW AND LOVEABLE SPINSTER-POETICAL EFFORT-ESSAYS ON THE QUANTITY OF RAIN AND DEW-ON THE POWER OF FLUIDS TO CONDUCT HEAT-MAXIMUM DENSITY OF WATER-THE SECRETARYSHIP OF THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY-ESSAYS ON HEAT AND COLD PRODUCED BY CONDENSATION AND RAREFACTION OF AIR-CONSTITUTION OF MIXED GASES-FORCE OF STEAM-EVAPORATION-EXPANSION OF GASES BY HEAT. JOHN DALTON, though reticent on religious questions, and never voluntarily entering upon their discussion, felt himself bound to obey regimental orders; and in outer habiliments, no less than in denominational observances, justly ranked as a "Friend," or faithful disciple of George Fox. His first visit to London in May 1792, evidently arose out of a wish to attend the "yearly meeting of Friends,"* where this pious * The Prince Regent, afterwards George the Fourth, fond of excitement and adventure, laid a wager with one of his Beau Brummel jovial crew that he could appear as a Quaker at the great yearly meeting in London. In suitable drab and broad brim he entered the meetinghouse, and took a seat, a little disconcerted, perhaps, to find that "Women Friends" sat apart from the men. Whether his embonpoint, jaunty air, or non-quakerish countenance betrayed him as he passed His First Visit to London. 127 and peaceful people most do congregate from all parts of the empire; either as representatives of their respective "monthly meetings," or as zealous partakers of the wisdom of the higher orders of the ministry assembled to discuss the laws and discipline of the body, and, it may be added, with a solemnity becoming those who seek the Divine Spirit in all matters relating to their moral and religious welfare. Coming from the quietude of a small market town like Kendal, he naturally looked upon London as "a most surprising place, worth one's while to see once, but the most disagreeable place on earth for one of a contemplative turn to reside in constantly." The number and noise of the hackney coaches engaged his attention as much as any novelty he saw, and his numerical habits led him to count the number of coaches conveying Friends to their meetinghouse, and he found no less than one hundred and four in the service. There is no indication of his having made the acquaintance of any of the scientific men in the metropolis on the visit, his time being apparently absorbed with his co-religionists, and a general glance at the wonders of the New Babylon. He felt more than usual interest in the mode of worship practised by Friends, as is revealed by a through the porch, some of the elders scrutinised him very closely, and were consequently led to express a doubt as to his claims to a seat in the synagogue. After a few minutes' consultation on the subject, an aged Friend approached the Prince, and put this simple questionMay I ask thee to say what monthly meeting thou belongs to, friend?" This interrogation was beyond the card of His Royal Highness, so he found it convenient to withdraw from the meeting; not, however, without a polite uplifting of his broad brim to the wondering Friends as he passed from the threshold of the meeting to the open street. record in his Journal of 1795, where he states that, along with another Friend, he "drew up a petition to the yearly meeting soliciting permission to use music under certain limitations." To those who are aware of the extreme simplicity guiding Friends in their religious attitudes, where there is no tuning to the heavenly spheres, no vociferation, but much silent meditation, nay, a silence not infrequently quite profound during the hour and a half of their assembling, it is needless to say that so bold an innovation as that suggested by Dalton must have taken the "Conscript Fathers," and, it may be added, "Mothers," seeing that the majority of Quaker ministers are women, with no small amount of astonishment. As there is nothing more akin to the higher religious feelings of man than his sympathetic relations with the tender sex, the following love episodes in John Dalton's staid and invulnerable bachelorship may find appropriate place here. In a long letter to Elihu Robinson (February 20, 1794), after describing his residence in the New College, his varied engagements, and observations on colour-blindness, he frames a supposition for his Eaglesfield friends"I wonder whether John is going to marry yet or not?" and then describes with becoming discretion his experiences with a pretty love-making widow in the circle of "Friends." For a time he seemed to feel with Shakespeare's "Biron " "From woman's eyes this doctrine I derive; "Sir Roger de Coverleyed." 129 Philosopher John triangled! or "dephlogisticated," and nearly "Sir Roger de Coverleyed" by "the handsomest woman in Manchester," can only be credited by sober friends on perusing his own narrative of this delicate affair. The untoward symptoms marking his captivity or bondage may seem a little peculiar. It seems that another of your maids is become mistress-a good omen for the next, whoever she may be. Methinks there may be a question started from some side of the fire when this is read-" I wonder whether John is going to marry yet, or not?" I may answer that my head is too full of triangles, chymical processes, and electrical experiments, &c., to think much of marriage. I must not, however, omit to mention that I was completely Sir Roger de Coverleyed a few weeks ago. The occasion was this: being desired to call upon a widow, a Friend, who thought of entering her son at the academy, I went, and was struck with the sight of the most perfect figure that ever human eyes beheld, in a plain but neat dress; her person, her features, were engaging beyond all description. Upon inquiry after, I found that she was universally allowed to be the handsomest woman in Manchester. Being invited by her to tea a few days after, along with a worthy man here, a public Friend [a Quaker minister], I should have, in any other circumstances, been highly pleased with an elegant tea equipage, American apples of the most delicious flavour, and choice wines, but in the present these were only secondary objects. Deeming myself, however, full proof against mere beauty, and knowing that its concomitants are often ignorance and vanity, I was not under much apprehension; but when she began to descant upon the excellence of an exact acquaintance with English grammar and the art of letter-writing; to compare the merits of Johnson's and Sheridan's dictionaries; to converse upon the use of dephlogisticated marine acid in bleaching; upon the effects of opium on the animal system, &c., &c., I was no longer able to hold out, but surrendered at discretion. During my captivity, which lasted about a week, I lost my appetite, and had other symptoms of bondage about me, as incoherent discourse, &c., but have now happily regained my freedom. I Having now wrote till I have tired my hand, and probably thine eyes in reading, I shall conclude with my love to cousin Ruth and thyself, and to all inquiring friends, JOHN DALTON. If Dalton could afford to treat his relations to the fascinating widow in a vein of facetiousness, it was far otherwise with his pen, when the object of his admiration was worthy of his more thoughtful hours. Little demonstrative in any direction outside his own laboratory, he was not without the higher sensibilities of our nature that make the society of women of amiability and mental culture highly enjoyable. In his journeys to Cumberland, he used to pay a visit to a Friend in Lancaster, who had two daughters of both of whom he spoke very highly; but Hannah was evidently his favourite, of whom he writes in the following enthusiastic terms to his brother, September 15, 1796. Considering the high qualifications of the lady, it is to be regretted that Dalton's means were too limited to enable him to marry, or there might have been "a wedding of it," with probably blissful issue to posterity. 66 I may here observe that it has been my lot for three years past to be daily gaining acquaintance of both sexes. I have consequently had opportunities of estimating and comparing characters upon a pretty extensive scale. Since my first introduction to twelve months ago, I have spent a day or two with them at six different intervals, with the highest satisfaction, as I never met with a character so finished as Hannah's. What is called strength of mind and sound judgment she possesses in a very eminent degree, with the rare coincidence of a quick apprehension and most lively imagination. Of sensibility she has a full share, but does not affectedly show it on every trivial occasion. The sick and poor of all descriptions are her personal care. Though undoubtedly accustomed to grave and serious reflections, all pensiveness and melancholy are |