Priestley and Lavoisier

Abstract

IF Mr. Rodwell had anything new to tell us about Lavoisier, there would have been a sufficient motive for his writing; but I do not see what useful purpose is gained by telling us what was already known, namely, that a century ago Lavoisier rendered many important services to science; or, what was not so well known, namely, that chemistry is a French science; or, that Lavoisier was “the most generous of men,” “incapable of any meanness.” The real question Mr. Rodwell himself asks:—“Upon what authority does Dr. Thomson assert that Dr. Priestley informs us that he prepared the gas in M. Lavoisier's house in Paris, and showed him the method of procuring it in the year 1774?”