Lives of Philosophers of the Time of George III.R. Griffin, 1855 - 492 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Academy acid ADAM SMITH admirable admitted afterwards alkalis ancient appears Banks Black bodies branches calcination calculus capital Cavendish Charles Blagden chemical Clairaut cloth lettered combustion common air D'Alembert discovered discovery doctrine early eminent Encyclopédie equal Euler experiments favour fixed air fluid formed gave geometrician geometry give given Glasgow honour hydrogen Illustrations important inflammable inflammable air inquiries investigation kind labour latent heat Lavoisier lectures Lord mathematical Memoirs ment mentioned merit metals motion nature never nitrous acid observed obtained opinion oxygen oxygen gas person philosopher phlogiston porism Priestley principles produce Professor profit proposition published pursuits regard remarkable rent respecting Robert Simson Royal Society says scientific Simson Sir Joseph Sir Joseph Banks Smith solution steam studies substance supposed theory thing tion trade truth University of Glasgow Voltaire wages Watt Watt's whole wholly writings
Popular passages
Page 417 - D'Alembert, was the Precession of the equinoxes and the Nutation of the earth's axis, according to the theory of gravitation.
Page 283 - The life which I led at Glasgow was a pleasurable dissipated life in comparison of that which I lead here at Present. I have begun to write a book in order to pass away the time.
Page 228 - ... that insidious and crafty animal, vulgarly called a statesman or politician, whose councils are directed by the momentary fluctuations of affairs.
Page 52 - ... and encouragement to all young persons who showed any indications of talent, or applied to him for patronage or advice. His health, which was delicate from his youth upwards, seemed to become firmer as he advanced in years, and he preserved up almost to the last moment of his existence, not only the full command of his extraordinary intellect, but all the alacrity of spirit, and the social gaiety which had illumined his happiest days.
Page 314 - Lavoisier, as well as of the conclusion drawn from them, that dephlogisticated air is only water deprived of its phlogiston ; but, at that time, so far was M. Lavoisier from thinking any such opinion warranted, that till he was prevailed upon to repeat the experiment himself, he found some difficulty in believing that nearly the whole of the two airs could be converted into water.
Page 246 - The member of parliament who supports every proposal for strengthening this monopoly is sure to acquire not only the reputation of understanding trade, but great popularity and influence with an order of men whose numbers and wealth render them of great importance.
Page 246 - ... reputation of understanding trade, but great popularity and influence with an order of men whose numbers and wealth render them of great importance. If he opposes them, on the contrary, and still more if he has authority enough to be able to thwart them, neither the most acknowledged probity, nor the highest rank, nor the greatest public services, can protect him from the most infamous abuse and detraction, from personal insults, nor sometimes from real danger, arising from the insolent outrage...
Page 54 - Watt, who directing the force of an original genius early exercised in philosophic research to the improvement of the steam-engine, enlarged the resources of his country, increased the power of man, and rose to an eminent place among the most illustrious followers of science, and the real benefactors of the world.
Page 194 - The moral and serious strain that prevails through these additions, when connected with the circumstance of his declining health, adds a peculiar charm to his pathetic eloquence, and communicates a new interest, if possible, to those sublime truths, which in the academical retirement of his youth, awakened the first ardours of his genius, and on which the last efforts of his mind reposed.