PREFACE. AN account of the progress of a virtuous man through a variety of trying vicissitudes, must ever be a gratification to the reader of sensibility. Such a man was the subjet of this biographical sketch, and the most remarkable events of his history, are here detailed with truth, and impartiality. This little work is enriched with anecdotes, com-municated to the author, by persons who were long eye-witnesses to the dignified conduct of Dr. Priestley, as a public character, and to his domestic habits as a private individual. It may be observed that his Biographer ought to be a man highly endowed with eloquence, to give an animated picture of his superlative merit; but his fame is fully established by his own inestimable productions, and the more simple and perspicuous the narrative of his life, the better. The name of this philosopher will undoubtedly be enrolled by the historian with those of the illustrious few of whom Englishmen are justly proud!—it will often be repeated in the same breath with the names of Bacon, Newton, and Boyle. Dr. Priestley endured the ordeal of persecution with a philosophic serenity which must have been admirable even to his enemies. Posterity will do justice to the memory of this great man, and the author of this sketch has felt the purest intellectual pleasure in the production of even an imperfect memorial of departed genius. The Inder. ADDISON, his valediction, 41 Appendix, containing extracts from Dr. Priestley's works, illustrative of his character, 95. Birmingham, cause of the riots at, 23-commemoration of the French Revolution celebrated in this town, 25 outrages of the rioters, 26-several of them tried at Warwick, 30. Beddoes, Dr. his experiments with oxygen gas, ridiculed, 62. Education, its importance demonstrated, 81. Fashionable world, excessive dissipation and depravity of, 87. Franklin, Dr. the principal philosopher of America, 36-the intimate friend of Dr. Priestley, 55. PRIESTLEY, JOSEPH, born at Field-head, near Leeds, 10-his favourite studies, 11-sent to Daventry to complete his education, 12-chosen pastor to a congregation of Dissenters-deserted by his flock-circulates proposals for opening a school, but without success, 13-removes to Nantwich, where he officiates as pastor, and opens an academy-appointed Professor in the languages and belles lettres in Warrington academy, 14-publishes his rudiments of English grammar-charts of biography and universal history-marries-publishes his history of electricity, 15-appointed pastor to a congregation in Leeds-publishes his history of vision, light and colours becomes a Socinian, 16-presented with a gold medal by the Royal Society, and elected F.R.S.appointed librarian to the Earl of Shelburne-independence of his principles, 18-settles near Birminghamcontroversy with Dr. Horsley, 19-aversion of the High Church party to the Doctor, 22-riots in Birmingham, 26-fortitude of the Doctor when the mob were destroying his house, 27-escapes to Worcester, 28-arrives in the capital-appointed successor to Doctor Price, 52embarks for America, 33—his reception in that country -his wife dies, 36-gradual decline of the Doctor, 38serenity at the hour of death, 41-testimony of respect to his memory, 43-description of his person and manners, 43 to 49-his precepts to young clergymen, 51critical observations on his writings, 54-his metaphysical opinions controverted, 69-his excellent precepts concerning education, 81—his advice to young men, 83 -excellence of his moral character, 87. Priestley, Mrs. an account of her death, 36—her character, 47. Pringle, Sir John, 57.. |