much looked up to by unbelievers here.
Volney's only reply was that he would not read the pamphlet. It was in these days that Priestley saw a great deal of Thomas Jefferson; indeed, the latter attended several of his sermons. The intercourse of these friends was extremely valuable to both. Jefferson welcomed everything which Priestley did in science and consulted him much on problems of education.
At the election in the American Philosophical Society in the closing days of 1796 there was openly discussed
whether to choose me (Priestley) or Mr. Jefferson, President of the Society,—
which prompted the Doctor
to give his informant good reasons why they should not choose me.
Naturally he listened to the political talk. He worried over the apparent dislike observed generally to France. He remarked
The rich not only wish for alliance offensive and defensive with England ... but would have little objection to the former dependence upon it,
and