The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-10-08
a Scientific hnchorite.

for the honor Of priority in the discovery of
the gaseous elements which constitute wafer,
his recent biog,apher, DR.. George Wilson,
presents the following character - which
perhaps, is an ethical impossibiity. What
ever Cavendish may have finally made him
self it is very unlikely thata being Of so
high an intellectual capacity should have
come from the bands of his Creator with
only blank in the place of moral, religious,
and even sensuous susceptbilities. Such
development Of mind, and congenital
airophy of soul, are scarcely compatible ideas
in any scheme Of prosdonlia suporintend-
ence and human responsibility. Dr. Will
son says
lie did not love he did not hate he did
not hope; lie did not fear he did not wor-
ship as others do. He separated himself
from bis fcllow-men, and apparently from
God. There was nothing earnest enthu-
siastic, heroic, or ctivalrous in his nature,
and as little was there anything mean, gro
Yelling, or isnoble. lie was almost passion
less.
All that needed for its apprehension more
than the pure intellect, or required tho ex-
ercise Of fancy imagination, affection, or
faith, was distastcfu TO Cavendisb. An in
telleclual head thinking pair of wonder
fully acute eyes Observing, aud pair of very
skiful hands experimenting or recording
are all that realize in his memorials. His
brain seems 10 have been but calculating
engine; his eyes inlets Of vision, not foun-
tans Of tears; his hands instruments of man.
| ipulaton, which never tremblcd with emo
ton, or were clasped together in adoralion
thanksgiving, or despair his heart only an
anatomical organ, necessary for tho circula-
lion of the blood. Yet if such being. who
reversed the maxim " nihil humani me
alienum puto," cannot be loved, as little can
be abhorred or dcspiscd. He was, in srite
Of the atrophy or non development of many
faculties which are found in those in whom
the "elemenis are kindly mixed" as truly a
genius as the merc poois painters, and mu-
sicians with small intelccts and hearts, and
large maainations TO whom the world is so
willing to bend the knee.
He is more to be wondered at than blamed
! Cnvcndish did not stand alooffrom other men
in a proud or supercilious spirit, refusing TO
count them his fellows. He felt himself sep.
a7aed from them by great gulf, which
neither he nor they could bridge over, and
across which it was vain 10 stretch hands to
exchange greetings. sense OF isolation
from his brethren made him shrink from
their society and avoid their presence, but
he did go as one conscious Of an infrmty,
not Boosting Of an excellence. He was like
deaf mute sitting apart from a circle, whose
looks and gestures show that they are utter.
ing and listening 10 music and eloqucnce, in
producing OF welcoming which he can be no
sharer.
Wisely, therefore, he dwelt apart, and
bidding the world farewell, took the self,
imposed VOWS Of q scientific nnchorite, and
like the monks Of old, shut himself up with
in his coll. Ii was kingdom sufficient fol
him, and from bis narrow window he saw n,
much Of the universe as he cared to see. II
had throne, also, and from it he dispensed
royal gifts TO his brethren.
lie was one of the unthankcd benefactor.
OF lis race, who was patiently teaching and
serving mankind, whilst they were shrinking
from his coldncss, or mocking his PECULIAR,
ties He could not sing for them sweet
song, or create hing Of beauty" whic!
should be "a joy forever" or touch theii
hearts, or FIRE ,heir spirits, or deepen theil
reverence or their fervoL He was not q
poet, priest, or prophet, but only cold
clear intelligence raying down pure white
light, which frightened every thing on whicl
it fell, but warmed noihing-a star of at lcas
the second, if not the first, magnitude, in the
intellectual armament.
Caven1ish was descended on both side
from high aristocratic families, and inherited
at length prodigious wealth, which, to ,
being Of his restricted sympathies, was onl,
a worry, and worse than useless The bank
ers where he kept his accounts, we are told
, in looking over their books on one occasion
found that Cavendish had an enormous sun
in their bands; some say nearly eighty thou
sand pounds and one of them said that h,
/ did not think it right that it should so Ii,
without investment, He was therefore com
missioned 10 wait upon Mr.. Cavendish. who
at that time, resided at Clapham. Upon hi
arrival at The house, he desired to speak tt
= Mr.. CaYendish. The servant said, "Wha
is your business with him ," lie did no
: choose 10 tell tho servant. The servant theI
saidr " You must wait ill my master ring
his bell, and then will let him know" Ii
abou; quarter Of an hour the bell rang, an,
the banker had the curiosity TO listen TO tb,
I conversation which took place. " Sir, ther
= is person below who wants to speak TO you.
-"Who is he 2 Who is he ? What doe
he want with me ?"-" lie says he is you
) banker, and must speak to you" MIR. Cav
endisb, in great agitation, desires he may b,
sent up, and, before he enters the room
cries, "What do you come here for Wha
l do YOU want with me -" Sir, thought i
q proper 10 wait upon you, as we have yer,
1 large balance in hand of yours, and wish 70
your orders respecting it," II it is any
0 trouble to you, will take it out of you