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object desired. Perhaps it might be accomplished by dividing the circuit judges into two classes, and providing that the supreme court should be held by those classes alternately, the chief justice always presiding.

"If an extension of the circuit court system to those States which do not now enjoy its benefits should be determined upon, it would of course be necessary to revise the present arrangement of the circuits; and even if that system should not be enlarged, such a revision is recommended.

"A provision for taking the census of the people of the United States will, to ensure the completion of that work within a convenient time, claim the early attention of Congress.

"The great and constant increase of business in the department of the state, forced itself, at an early period, upon the attention of the executive. Thirteen years ago it was, in Mr. Madison's last message to Congress, made the subject of an earnest recommendation, which has been repeated by both of his successors; and my comparatively limited experience has satisfied me of its justness. It has arisen from many causes, not the least of which is the large addition that has been made to the family of independent nations, and the proportionate extension of our foreign relations. The remedy proposed was the establishment of a home department,—a measure which does not appear to have met the views of Congress, on account of its supposed tendency to increase gradually and imperceptibly the already too strong bias of the federal system towards the exercise of authority not dele

gated to it. I am not, therefore, disposed to revive the recommendation; but am not the less impressed with the importance of so organizing that department, that its secretary may devote more of his time to our foreign relations. Clearly satisfied that the public good would be promoted by some suitable provision on the subject, I respectfully invite your attention

to it.

"The charter of the bank of the United States expires in 1836, and its stockholders will, most probably, apply for a renewal of their privileges. In order to avoid the evils resulting from precipitancy in a measure involving such important principles, and such deep pecuniary interest, I feel that I cannot, in justice to the parties interested, too soon present it to the deliberate consideration of the legislature and the people. Both the constitutionality and the expediency of the law creating this bank, are well questioned by a large portion of our fellow citizens; and it must be admitted by all, that it has failed in the great end of establishing a uniform and sound currency.

"Under these circumstances, if such an institution is deemed essential to the fiscal operations of the government, I submit to the wisdom of the legislature, whether a national one, founded upon the credit of the government and its revenues, might not be devised, which would avoid all constitutional difficulties, and, at the same time, secure all the advantages to the government and country that were expected to result from the present bank.

"I cannot close this communication without bringing to your

view the just claim of the representatives of commodore Decatur, his officers and crew, arising from the re-capture of the frigate Philadelphia, under the heavy batteries of Tripoli. Although sensible, as a general rule, of the impropriety of executive interference under a government like ours, where every individual enjoys the right of directly petitioning Congress, yet, viewing this case as one of a very peculiar character, I deem it my duty to recommend it to your favourable consideration. Besides the justice of this claim, as corresponding to those which have been since recognized and satisfied, it is the fruit of a deed of patriotic and chivalrous daring, which infused life and confidence into our

infant navy, and contributed, as much as any exploit in its history, to elevate our national character. Public gratitude, therefore, stamps her seal upon it; and the meed should not be withheld which may hereafter operate as a stimulus to our gallant tars.

"I now commend you, fellowcitizens, to the guidance of Almighty God, with a full reliance on his merciful providence for the maintenance of our free institutions; and with an earnest supplication, that, whatever errors it may be my lot to commit, in discharging the arduous duties which have devolved on me, will find a remedy in the harmony and wisdom of your counsels.

"ANDREW JACKSON."

HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF SIR HUMPHRY DAVY, BART. LL.D. F.R.S. M.R.I.A.

IR HUMPHRY DAVY's

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Sfather, Robert Davy, Vo's beter

sessed a small piece of land opposite St. Michael's Mount, called Bartel, and followed the profession of a carver in wood; in the town and neighbourhood of Penzance there remain many specimens of his art; and among others several chimney-pieces, curiously embellished by his chisel. His mother's maiden name was Grace Millett.

Sir Humphry Davy was born at Penzance, in Cornwall, on the 17th of December, 1778. Having received the rudiments of a classical education under Dr. Cardew of Truro, he was placed with a respectable professional gentleman of the name of Tonkin, at Penzance, in order that he might acquire a knowledge of the profession of a surgeon and apothecary. His master, however, soon became dissatisfied with his new pupil instead of attending to the duties of the surgery, Humphry was rambling along the sea shore, and often declaiming against the wind and waves, in order to overcome a defect in his voice, which, although only slightly perceptible in his maturer age, was, when a boy extremely discordant. At

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menced, with a view of releasing the parties from their engagement; and Humphry returned home. It is, however, but fair to state, that he always entertained the highest respect for Mr. Tonkin, and never spoke of him but in terms of affectionate regard.

A person, endowed with the genius and sensibilities of Davy, would naturally have his mind directed to the study of mineralogy and chemistry by the nature and scenery of the country in which accident had planted him. Many of his friends and associates must have been connected with mining speculations; shafts, cross courses, lodes, &c. were words familiarised to his ears; he could not wander along the rocky coast, nor repose for a moment to contemplate its wild scenery, without being invited to geological inquiry by the genius of the place. "How often when a boy," said sir Humphry to a friend, upon shewing him a view of Botallack Mine, "have I wandered about those rocks in search after new minerals, and when tired, sat down upon those crags, and exercised my

fancy in anticipations of scientific renown!"

Such scenery also, in one who possessed a quick sensibility to the sublime forms of nature, was well calculated to kindle that enthusiasm so essential to poetical genius. It accordingly appears that Davy, when only nine years old, began to compose a poem on the Land's End; in which he powerfully describes the magnificence of its convulsed scenery, the ceaseless roar of the ocean, the wild shrieks of the cormorant, and those "caves where sleep the haggard spirits of the storm." This bias he cultivated till his fifteenth year, when he became the pupil of Mr. (since Dr.) Borlase of Penzance, an ingenious surgeon, intending to prepare himself for graduating as a physician at Edinburgh. At this early age Davy laid down for himself a plan of education, which embraced the circle of the sciences; and by his eighteenth year he had acquired the rudiments of botany, anatomy, and physiology, the simpler mathematics, metaphysics, natural philosophy, and chemistry. But chemistry soon arrested his whole attention. As far as can be ascertained, the first original experiment performed by him at Penzance was for the purpose of investigating the nature of the air contained in the bladders of sea-weed. His instruments were of the rudest description, manufactured by himself out of the motley materials which fell in his way the pots and pans of the kitchen were appropriated without ceremony, and even the phials and gallipots of his master were without the least remorse put in requisition. A French vessel

having been wrecked near the Land's End, the surgeon became acquainted with young Davy, and, in return for some kind offices, presented him with his case of surgical instruments. The contents were eagerly turned out and examined; not, however, with any professional view of their utility, but in order to ascertain how far they might be convertible to philosophical purposes. The old-fashioned and clumsy clysterapparatus was viewed with exultation, and seized with avidity; and, in the brief space of an hour, was converted into a complicated piece of pneumatic apparatus. Had Davy, in the commencement of his career, been furnished with all those appliances which he enjoyed at a later period, it is more than probable that he might never have acquired that wonderful tact of manipulation, that ability of suggesting expedients, and of contriving apparatus, so as to meet and surmount the difficulties which must constantly arise during the progress of the philosopher through the unbeaten tracks and unexplored regions of science. In this art Davy certainly stood unrivalled; and, like his prototype Scheele, he was unquestionably indebted for his address to the narrowness of his original circumstances.

The next prominent occurrence in Davy's life was his introduction to Mr. Davies Giddy, now Mr. Gilbert, the present distinguished and popular president of the Royal Society. Mr. Gilbert's attention was, from some trivial cause, attracted to the young chemist, as he was carelessly lounging over the gate of his father's house. A person in the company of Mr. Gilbert observed, that the boy in

question was young Davy, who was much attached to chemistry. "To chemistry!" said Mr. Gilbert; "if that be the case I must have some conversation with him." Mr. Gilbert soon discovered ample proofs of genius in the youth; and offered him the use of his library, or any other assistance that he might require, for the prosecution of his studies.

Another circumstance occurred, which afterwards contributed to introduce Davy to notice. Mr. Gregory Watt, who had long been an invalid, was recommended by his physicians to reside in the West of England; and he accordingly went to Penzance, lodged with Mrs. Davy, and became acquainted with her son. Before the formation of the Geological Society of London, geologists were divided into two great par ties,-Neptunists, and Plutonists; the one affirming that the globe was indebted for its form and arrangement to the agency of water, the other to that of fire. It so happened, that the professors of Oxford and Cambridge ranged themselves under opposite banners: Dr. Beddoes was a violent and uncompromising Plutonist, while professor Hailstone was as decided a Neptunist. The rocks of Cornwall were appealed to as affording support to either theory; and the two professors, adverse in opinion, but united in friendship, determined to proceed together to the field of dispute, each hoping that he might thus convict the other of his error. The geological combatants arrived at Penzance; and Davy became known to them, through the medium of Mr. Gilbert. Mr. Watt was enthusiastic in his praise; and Dr. Beddoes

having just established at Bristol his "Pneumatic Institution," for the purpose of investigating the medical powers of the different gases, he proposed to Mr. Davy, who was then only nineteen years of age, and had prepossessed the professor in his favour by an essay propounding a new theory of heat and light, to undertake the superintendence of the necessary experiments. This proposal Davy eagerly accepted.

Such were the circumstances that first extricated Davy from the obscurity of his native town, and paved the way to an eminence which but very few philosophers in this or any other country have been able to attain. Davy was now constantly engaged in the prosecution of new experiments; in the conception of which, as he himself candidly informs us, he was greatly aided by the conversation and advice of his friend Dr. Beddoes. He was also occasionally assisted by Mr. W. Clayfield, a gentleman ardently attached to chemical pursuits, and whose name is not unknown in the annals of science; indeed it appears that to him Davy was indebted for the invention of a mercurial air-holder, by which he was enabled to collect aud measure the various gases submitted to examination. In the course of these investigations, the respirability and singularly intoxicating effects of nitrous oxide were first discovered; which led to a new train of research concerning its preparation, composition, properties, combinations, and physiological action on living beings; inquiries which were extended to the different substances connected with nitrous oxide, such as nitrous

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