y
and Philosophical Society were pleased to take of my essay;
and to assure you at the same time that it will give me great
pleasure to be acquainted with a gentleman who is so
eminently distinguished for his skill in chemistry, as you
have shewn yourself to be. I have been told by good
authority, of an odd fact relative to calcined mercury, the
fact is this: A bottle which contained some calcined mercury
which had been purchased in London was left standing without
its cork for near thirty years without being looked at. When
it was examined, the greater part of it was revivified.

"I have the honour to be, Sir,
"Yr obliged servt
"BP. LLANDAFF."

And this celebrated Bishop was no less a personage than Dr. Watson,
whose "Chemical Essays" are most charming, instructive reading at the
present moment. Students of the history of our science will find them
to be so.

But all these early chemists--ancient, if you please--are gone. They
cultivated chemistry with pleasure and ardor. Some left visible
imprints, while scarce a vestige remains of others. Their labours have
made our path easier. A century hence, many honoured to-day and
respected for their achievements, will receive scant consideration,
though the work of the present looms up large in our judgment.

The founding of the Columbian Chemical Society in 1811 was an event in
the chemical circles of Philadelphia. The old Chemical Society of
Philadelphia went out of existence in 1809, with the death of
Woodhouse. The new organization was founded "by a number of persons
desirous of cultivating chemical science." It comprised many young men
zealous in research. The names of eminent foreigners and distinguished
Americans are upon its rolls. Its meetings were monthly. Each year, at
the fall opening, "an oration on some chemical subject" was delivered.
Every month some member was appointed to read "an original chemical
essay." It was recorded that

"any person desirous of membership ... previous to his
election ... shall read an original essay on some chemical
subject on which any member may speak not more than ten
minutes."

This feature was held to be important; at least the daily papers made
note of it, as is evident from the subjoined excerpt:

"The following gentlemen have been elected Junior members of
the Columbian Chemical Society, during the last year, after