Page:Glossary of words in use in Cornwall.djvu/347

ADDITIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. INTRODUCTION OF THE STUDY OF CHEMISTRY INTO THIS DISTRICT (See Assnook in the Glossary). In oonnection with this word I may perhaps be excused for intro- duciug the following anecdote. Mr. Nowell of Famley Wood, well known for his scientific attainments, and especially for his knowledge of chemistry, the study of which he introduced into this neighbourhood^ himself related to me these &LciB, About the year 1809, then quite a youth, he had succeeded in pro- ducing oxygen and other gases under circumstances of no ordinary difficulty, chemical matericus and apparatus being at that time by no means easy to procure. Haying become somewhat expert in such experiments, many neigh- bouring gentlemen, and other loyers of science, came to see his per- formances, and among them Mr. Michael Harrison. There was at that time a book-club at Meltham, and Mr. Harrison persuaded Mr. Nowell to pay him a visit, with the view of preparing the gases at his house near Orosland factory, to be afterwards shown before the club, the members of which were anxiously awaiting the exhibition. Haying produced a quantity of oxygen and hydrogen, which were placed in stone bottles, they were taxen to the mn where the book- club met. The house was crowded with anxious people, and the great chamber was reached with some difficulty. There was a large table in^ the middle bf the room, and the young lecturer, then only a lad of fifteen, was nlaced upon it. Around stood Mr. Harrison, Mr. Jonas Brook, the Messrs. Taylor of Marsden, Mr. Dean of Slaith- waite, and many others ; the room was in feuct crowded to excess, and the windows blocked up. Taking courage, the young experimentalist proceeded with his work ; the combustion of the file, ana large drops of molten iron falling, created much surprise ; then the buobles of oxygen and hydrogen in their proper proportions, rising to the top of the room and there exploding, astounded mose who had neyer before experienced such effects. Oarbonio and other gases were exhibited* and in fact all went off successfully. Two or three days after, Mr. Nowell, senior, was informed of the exploits of his son, which were not at all to his mind. After a few weeks another story arose. The whole affair had now become witch- ery, and the old man was meyously vexed. ' The hare and hounds,* it was said, * as natural as life^ had been brought out of the tumookf