While he was living with Lord Shelburne, he brought out the first three volumes of his Experiments on Air, and he collected the materials for a fourth volume, which was published after his removal to Birmingham.
The pursuits of experimental chemistry did not prevent our author from directing his attention to his favourite subject of metaphysics. In 1775, he published his Ex amination of the Doctrine of Common Sense, as held by Drs. Reid, Beattie, and Oswald ; a book which he assures us was written in a fortnight. Having become a convert to Materialism, he published, in 1777, his Disquisitions on Matter and Spirit, in which that system is openly sup ported. This work was followed by A Defence of Uni tarianism, or the Simple Humanity of Christ, and of the Doctrine of .A"ccessity ; and it has been thought probable, that the odium which these works entailed upon the au thor, was the ground of a coolness on the pact of Lord Shelburne, which led to the dissolution of their connexion. Dr. Priestley retained an annuity of 150/. for life ; and it has been said, that when the bond was burnt during the riots at Birmingham, his Lordship transmitted to him another. The cause of his separation from Lord Shel burne is not known. One of his biographers, however, states, that Lord Shelburne declined receiving any visits from Dr. Priestley ; and Dr. Priestley assures us, that he never in any way aided his patron in his political views.
The diminution of income which attended this event, was made up by very considerable presents from Mrs. Rainer ; and, by means of a subscription, he had an an nuity of some considerable amount secured to him.
Having removed to Birmingham in 1780, he was soon after unanimously appointed to the principal dissenting congregation in that town. Here he published the last three volumes of his Experiments on Air, and a variety of papers on the same subject in the Philosophical Transac tions. These peaceful pursuits, however, were disturbed by his passion for theological and political controversy. His History of the Corruptions of Christianity, and his History of Early Opinions concerning Jesus Christ, to gether with his exertions respecting the repeal of the corporation and test acts, involved him in controversies, which, if they did not disturb the tranquillity of his mind, must at least have interrupted his philosophical pursuits.
His Familiar Letters to the Inhabitants of Birmingham had excited considerable irritation from the ironical style in which they were written ; and his answer to Mr. Burke's
work on the French revolution brought down upon him, in the House of Commons, the thunders of this great man's eloquence. The press teemed with attacks upon him ; and in this state of excitement the anniversary of the cap ture of the Bastile was celebrated at Birmingham, on the 14th July, 1791. Although Dr. Priestley declined joining the party, yet the tide of popular set strongly against him, and, during the disgraceful riots which en sued, his church and house were burned, his library, ap paratus, and manuscripts destroyed, and he himself was forced to seek for safety in flight. The houses of several of his friends were also burned down, and his son escaped from death only through the care of a friend who kept him in concealment for several days.
After the storm which thus threatened him had blown over, he took up his residence at Hackney, and, in a short time, he succeeded his deceased friend, Dr. Price, in the meeting-house at that place. The resources of his mind, and the active pursuits of science, restored to him for a while that tranquillity which had been so unexpectedly disturbed ; hut his opinions had excited against him such a crowd of enemies, that he saw no hope of enjoying per manent comfort by continuing in this country. The Royal Society declined admitting him to their meetings, and he was obliged to withdraw his name from its list of members. His sons had renounced their native country and emigrated to France, and their father, finding himself thus deserted, even by his own family, resolved upon leav ing England. Ile accordingly embarked for America, in April, 1795, and went to reside in the town of North umberland, in Pennsylvania. He was offered the pro fessorship of chemistry in Philadelphia, soon after his arrival ; but he declined engaging in any public employ ment.
Even in America Dr. Priestley was viewed with a sort of suspicion and distrust which it is not easy to explain ; and it was not till the administration of Jefferson, who treated him with kindness, that all disquietude on that head was removed. The death of his youngest son, and of his wife, and other domestic calamities, embittered the rest of his life, and a complaint in his digestive organs began gra dually to undermine his constitution. In January, 1804, the disease had got beyond the reach of medical skill, and on the 6th of February, 1804, he expired, in the 71st year of his age.
An account of Dr. Priestley's chemical discoveries will be found in our article CHEMISTRY, and under AT