MARCH.1934 A NOTE ON CAVEhTDISH FROM FARINGTON'S DIARY
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He was the largest Stockholder in England. He had in different stock to the amount of a million Sterling. He had also a large landed estate. He left of His stock two 6 t h ~ .to His Cousin Lord George Cavendish; and to each of three of His Sons, one sixth each, and the remaining Sixth to His Cousin Loid Besborough.He also left 15000 pounds to Sir Charles Blagden; He was son to Lord Charles Cavendish, Great Great Uncle to the present ((the fifth)) Duke of Devonshire. He had been a constant attendant a t the Royal Society * * * * * * Club for 50 years past, a t the Crown and Anchor tavern, a dinner meeting every Thursday throughout the year. A GREAT CHEMIST He resided principally a t Clapham. He was a man of "March 7. Smirke's I dined at.-Lysons spoke of mild manners, but it was remarked of Him that He was the death of the Honble. Henry Cavendish, F. R. S.* in His political sentiments always in opposition to * H e w Cavendish (1731-1810). eldest son of Lord Charlu whoever might be in power. His Philosophical disCavendish, and nephew of the third Duke of Devonshire, was coveries had long made Him a distinguished man. born a t Nice. A pupil of Dr. Newcomhe, Master of the well- He was born Octr. 30th, 1731, and died Feby. 24th, known Hackney Seminary, Cavendish afterward went to St. 1810." Contributed by F. B. Dains Peter's College, Cambridge. in 1749, andleft in 1753 without tak-
JOSEPH FARINGTON (1747-1821) was an English artist long associated with the Royal Academy. Farington's diary for the years 1793 to 1821 has recently been published. It is a mine of information about the artistic and social world af London in those years. It also contains occasional records of men in other fields, and the following a c e & regarding Cavendish may be of interest. ["The Farington Diary," Vol. VI, p. 23 (1810).]
ing a degree. He determined the composition of nitric acid, and computed the density of the earth to be equal to 5.44, the accuracy of his observations being more or less borne out by subsequent experiments. He and James Watt, ignorant of each other's particular studies, discovered the composition of water, but Cavendish was actually
the first to come to a definite conclusion on the subject. The two men afterward settled their scientific disputes in friendly fashion. Cavendish's morbid temperament isolated him from his fellows, and "he objected to communication with his female domestics."
