Passages from the Life of a Philosopher

Secretaryship of Royal Society -- Mr. Murray of Albemarle Street -- Remark on The Decline of Science -- Dr. Somerville -- Explanation of a Job of Sir Humphry Davy -- History of the Thaumatrope -- Introduction to Mr. Rogers -- The Poet nearly run over -- Anecdote of the Economy of Manufactures -- Teaches the Author how to live forever -- Rapidity of composition amongst Poets -- Different effects of Imagination in the Poet and the Philosopher -- Consultation about the Author's unwritten Novel.

In 1826, one of the secretaryships of the Royal Society became vacant. Dr. Wollaston and several others of the leading members of the Society and of the Council wished that I should be appointed. This would have been the more agreeable to me, because my early friend Herschel was at that time the senior Secretary.