CHAPTER VII.

The unfair rivalry of Philosophers.--Bonaparte the Patron of Science--He liberates Dolomieu.--He founds a Prize for the encouragement of Electric researches.--His letter to the Minister of the Interior.--Proceedings of the Institute.--The Prize is conferred on Davy.--The Bakerian Lecture of 1807.--The Decomposition of the Fixed Alkalies--Potassium--Sodium.--The Questions to which the discovery gave rise.--Interesting Extracts from the Manuscript notes of the Laboratory.--Potash decomposed by a chemical process.--Letters to Children, and Pepys.--The true nature of Potash discovered.--Whether Ammonia contains oxygen.--Davy's severe Illness.--He recovers and resumes his labours.--His Fishing Costume.--He decomposes the Earths.--Important views to which the discovery has led 253