"That Mr. Davy be requested to accept the sum of five hundred guineas from the Society."[96]
The following letter appears, from the date, to have been written about a week before his arrival in Dublin.
TO THOMAS POOLE, ESQ.
October 12, 1810.
MY DEAR POOLE,
Upon every occasion your recommendation, or opinion, would have great weight with me.
Amongst the candidates for the office of Clerk to the Royal Society, there is one Mr. W——, that I am well acquainted with, and who was formerly attached to the Royal Institution. He appears to me, as well from his scientific character, as from his habits and pursuits, to be admirably fitted for the situation. I advised him nearly two months ago, in consequence of a conversation with Sir Joseph Banks, to offer himself for the situation. I cannot therefore interest myself for any other person who does not possess superior qualifications.
Sir Joseph's maxim, which I hope will be adopted by all the members, is—"let it be given to the most worthy." I have no doubt that Mr.—— would fill the situation with credit, and that he is a very worthy man; but, from all that I can learn, his claims are much inferior to those of W——. We want not merely a civil, gentlemanlike, honest man, but a man a little accustomed to calculation, to astronomical observation, and to experiment.
I am in a delightful country here—the Valley of the Tyne—enjoying a few days' leisure after a rather hard chemical campaign, and preparing health and spirits for another in Ireland, where I am going next week.
I hope to be in London by the first week in December. I intend next summer to go into Cornwall—God willing; and I will not go through without seeing you, and telling you that, under all circumstances, I shall always think of you with the warmest esteem, and shall always be