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Historical Eulogy of Joseph Priestley ; read at the public sitting of the National Institute , in the department of mathematics and natural philosophy ; the 5 th Messidor , 13 th year , by G .
Cuvjer , perpetual Secretary . Gentlemen ^ I am called to address you on the life and "writings of Dr . Joseph Priestley , an E ng lish Clergyman , who was born at Pieldhead near Biistol * , in 1728 , anddied at Philadelphia in 1804 ,
His great discoveries in natural philosophy procured him from the Academy of . sciences , at Paris , the appellation of foreign member of that society ; and the National Institute was eager to associate
him with itself in the same character . He belonged to most of the Academies of science , and in all the cities in which they exist , the homage I now render to his memory , has perhaps already been paid .
This flattering unanimity will appear still more encouraging to the friends of science , will prove still more certainly the irresistible influence of real merit , . when they reflect that he who receives this
honour employed no address , no accommodating policy , to obtain it ; that his % vhole life was spent in controversy ; that he ever seemed to take delight in comhating predominant opinions , and that he attacked the dearest interests of
certdin orders of men . That extreme ardour in defending his sentiments rendered him , it is true , the object of implacable hatred . He was long exposed to every species of calumny ; he was frequently the victim of inhuman persecution . A mob , excited by
the falsehoods cf his enemies , destroyed in one day the fruit of ah his labours ; and it was only by quitting his country that he found it possible to abate the fury of his persecutors . But when his own countrymen seemed to abandon him , several nations were forward to offer him an
honoiable asylum ; and even at this moment , whilst the principal lite ary institution of a peop e at war with his native country , are rendering him , by my niouth , the last , sad tribute which is paid to all it ^ members , I behold within these walls ntany whom he \\ is opposed , who are yet unTtmg with me , and completing his triumph by their gene ous praL-e .
Philosophy will have nothing to fear from its bhort-sighted enemies , whi st * Fieldhead is near Leeds in Yorkshire Ejdiior .
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such a recompense awaits the man wh ® shall have enlarged the noble edifice o * human knowledge ; whilst genius , in thus serving the cause of mankind at large , is abbe to free itself from the shackles of petty , local relations ; in short , whilst the discovery of some unknown truths atones for the belief of
opinions which are chimerical , extraordina-Ty , perhaps even dangerous ;—for £ ought not to conceal that amongst the opinions of Priestley , all the ^ e are to be
found . In fact , his history will exhibit , if I may so speak , two men , of distinct , and almost opposite character . The first , a circumspect philosopher , examines those objects alone which come within the limits of experience ; employs only a strict and cautious mode of reasoning ; fosters in his mind no prejudice , no love of system ; seeks truth alone * what- ; ever it may jbe , and seldom fails to discover truth , and to establish it in the most
solid and luminous manner . The other , a daring theologian , rashly
pries into the greatest mysteries ; contemns the faith of ages ; rejects the most revered authorities ; commences disputant with pre-conceived ideas , which he endeavours to extend rather than to
examine , and to suppoit which he falls into the most contradictory hypotheses . The first calmly resigns to the
scrutiny of the learned , opinions which make their way wkh facility , and crown him with undbputed gloiy . —The second environ * himself with hostile preparations ; he rrms himself with erudition and mer tapjhysic *; he attacks every sect ; he shakes the foundation of every dogma ; he alarms the conscience by his apparent eagerne 6 S to subdue it .
It is . against the servant of Heaven , against the minister of peace , that earthly weapons are employed ; it is he who is accused of Stirling up hatred , of calling for -vengeance , and producing disorder The mere philo opher gains universal re > pect : every one allows that he defends truth by reason alone , that his discoveries , are used but for the welfare of man , that
his writings display nothing but gentleness and modesty . Obliged a « I am , gentlemen , to make you acquainted with the whole of Priestley's character , it U incumbent , on me . to represent him a ^ a divine , as a metaphysician and as a politician : ' "! shalf not ,
however , mistake the peculiar claims of my office ; I shall not forget that it was the philosopher who was a member of the
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EULOGY ON DR . PRIESTLEY .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1806, page 216, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1723/page/48/
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