WATSON, Richard.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Chemical Essays. A handsomely bound mixed set, comprising the first edition of volumes I & II, the second of volumes III and V, and the fourth of volume IV. This set was gathered by the dilettante Richard Gregory (1761-1839), who studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, during Watson's period as Regius Professor of Divinity. Despite his later theological fervour, Watson (1737-1816) began his academic career as a professor of chemistry at Cambridge. On receiving the chair, he cheerfully acknowledged that "I knew nothing at all of Chemistry, had never read a syllable on the subject; nor seen a single experiment in it" (quoted in Hole), and his house later suffered the consequences when an experiment blew up in his face. The Essays reflect Watson's applied interest in chemistry: his attention is particularly taken by opportunities to apply chemical insights to the development of British industry.Gregory's contemporary engraved bookplate is on the front pastedown of each volume, while a number of contemporary ink annotations - presumably in his hand - cross-reference Watson's arguments with other contemporary writers.

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