CHAPTER III.

Count Rumford negotiates with Mr. Underwood on the subject of Davy's appointment to the Royal Institution.--Terms of his engagement communicated in a letter to Mr. Gilbert.--Davy arrives, and takes possession of his apartments.--He receives various mortifications.--He is elected a member of the Tepidarian Society.--Is appointed Lecturer instead of assistant.--He makes a tour in Cornwall with Mr. Underwood.--Anecdotes.--His Poem on Spinosism.--His letter to Mr. Gilbert, communicating a galvanic discovery.--He commences his first grand course of lectures.--His brilliant success.--A letter from Mr. Purkis.--Davy's style criticised.--His extraordinary method of experimenting.--Davy and Wollaston compared as experimentalists.--The style of Davy as a lecturer and a writer contrasted 114