New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-29

DR.. Franklin was renewed in London. We are told
that the Doctor used to say that If the msuhder-
standing between Great Britain and the colonies
came to war; it would be a war of ten years ana ne
should not live to see the end of it, ms ne
dreaded. which accounts for his doctrine OF 1orpear
ance which for time made him unpopular au
home. During his last day in London, he reao 10
Priestly the American newspapers which dlScusseu
the Boston Port Bill with the tears trclJing down
his cheeks PricstIy expresses regret that tfahhIh
should have been an unbeleyer in Christianity, but
says that he acknowledged that he had not gwen
as much attention as he ought to have done to the
evidences. Overturcs of pension fromthe Govern
ment were made to Prestly but ho declined theli'
lie received, however, a small stipend from the
friends of science.
In 1850 PricstIy settled at Birmingham, where
he was chosen minister Of the principal Dissenting
congrcgation Here he took considerable part III
tLc controversies excited by the French ReYolu-
ton On the occasion Of :he celebration of the at
tack upon the Bastile July II, l79l, loyal mob
burned ms Westinghouse and then his dwelling
house deuolishiur his library, apparatus, and, as
far rs they could, everything belonging to him. lie
received pccuniary satsfactio" from the pubhc
authorities: Lut he refused TO live longer IN BIZ
mincham. lie went up TO London, and settled at
Hackney But he found that most OF the members
of the Roya! Society Stunned BIN on account OF Hs
religions or political opinions. He was elected in
1872 by the Department Of the Orno, member OF
the National Convention of France. This honor
he respectfully declined giving as a reason
his ignorance of the French language and his I'M
familiarity with legislative duties.
In 1892 Priestly resolved TO leave England and
to emgratc to America partly lccause the
bi.otry Of the country IN general made II lmpoS-
siL.a for him to place his sons 20 any advantage
They were already here At sen he engaged HIM
self among other literary work. I'D answering
Iaine's Age of Reason. There was pioecl ioT
large settlement OF the trends u liberty near IHe
head of the SusQuchaHna IN IcnnayI NaHla. IHis
vas gwen up and P6e>t,y remained at NoItHum-
berland. Here he went on with tie Memoirs 'uI
hc never brought them mp to the present. HIS son
saws that lac thought them OF Hl'ie N"ue' com
with the works in which be was engaged. ne a.
ways hoped 20 90 back 10 England, INT th.s waS
not vOuchsafed 30 him tie was warmly welcomed
here, receiving addresses from various sGcicMr33'
lie was chosen Professor OF Chemistry III the Uni
Versify of Pennsylvania. lie was HN'tcu 10 open
q Unitarian placc of worship in New York. But ne
preferred a country TO n city NE Ihere was
scheme for establishing u coleEe az NoIlhulh"c'-
land hut 70 fell through. IlIcStE, IN MS compare
tive solitude applied himself to his old studies. lie
rested himself from inferior iaburS, by reading
novels and PLAYS, and 10y playing nj oardS' PACK
gamI on and chess lie was very iond OF "ahInE'
and his regular pace was four miles an hour. ne
found recreation. too in gardening. lie dcIlVeTeu
IN PilalelpLia in 1876. q set OF dSCOurScg OI the
Evidences Of Religion. In 1928 LIE lost son 10
whom he was greatly attached. MOI long aittiWdII
me lost his beloved wife, lie gave 4 second set OF
lectures IN philadelphia I'D 49, III ~, hr nrG'Iii
10 take an interest IN the politics 81 'ic country
lie never was natUraZcd lie haI however
rfcat dSta ste for the politics o. the FcueraH>tS ana
particularly for the alien ana sediton laws ana ne
s,upatlEzed warmly with Nh Jefferson and with
France. To thc latter ne thought Washington IN
grateful I'm 1902 he was conl.lmcd luNaiH put
his spirits good, ana ne was very aSSiuuouS III
making cNurrmcuts. He did not take hlmseI 10
his led until two DAYS before ne died. lie delighted
in lis garden ana his laboratory. lie c9Hld ei ~
hardly anything, but hyCd Cheiy upon {hr SVit
parts OF oysters. He used TO say Checriuy - ms
physician that If he coulG but patch him mp ioI SIX
month, long + he would be perfectly satisfied as
his works NtIl he went on indnstrous!y lahorIHC
lie would wife one Gay III shoii mainline htNI ga!
he would trausCrNc what hc had written in lohS-
hand Sometimes he would he unable % speak iof
three hours. vet he stll went on writing. AZ night
be would have his gianGchi!dren kuec at ms DtuI
side tor prayer. When ne died there was pen ana
ink beside him. and Lis last order was LOT some
alteration of q urOof-sheet. He expired on the hth
a. February. l~Ol mt the age of scvcntY-two years
n is unnecessary here to draw any special chaIac
ter of Priesty There never was greater student
Nature, and never one who worked Dy SllnRictt
means As Il Cuntr0N ersialist hc was someW hat
irritable bat at the same tine the day IN Wllch ne
lived must be remembered, aS well as how Solcy
his temper was tried. Iii, pcrmical works VIII he
forgotten; but his statue at oxford attestS ms IN
poTtance natural observer, ana MS services 10
modern sciences
PrirstIv,s iouo has outiivcd the memory Of his
frailres Nobody writing of him now wulld speak
OF him n, De Ouinccv did, o. the victim Of his
own f,lly and misguided passions The contcm-
porary prediction of Sir Jane Mackintosh has been
verified lie j. REGARDED rs "a philosopher. Illus
trous by his talents and his writings, venerable for
the ,poiess purity OF his lie, and amiabie ioF the
unof6nding simplicity of lis manners, His IN
du.frv must have been enormous, for he left not
les, than one hundred and foTtyonc separate publ
cations large and small and he printed ten in one
wear Ills ircuudity reminds rs of CObbett and
ScItf II his erudtion was COntemptuou,ly oSti-
mated by Hor,ley 1t was vouched for by Adam
Clarke =" No man" said Robert Southey, has
stndlei Christianity more believes in it more
SINCERELY With such an Endorsement from such
source, may safely leave him.