64 lines
4.1 KiB
Plaintext
64 lines
4.1 KiB
Plaintext
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<h3>E. Delaval</h3>
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<p>Edward Delaval (1729–1814) was a classical scholar and linguist, and made a European reputation for himself as well as a scientist, chiefly in chemistry and experimental philosophy. He matters a great deal for our story of the glass armonica, because Delaval also performed on the musical glasses, having—as he claimed—the largest set in England at the time.; and it was Delaval whom Franklin heard and was inspired to invent the glass armonica.
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<p>Delaval was a Fellow of Pembroke Hall. Franklin helped his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1759.<a href="#tthFtNtAAB" name="tthFrefAAB"><sup>1</sup></a> In 1769 Delaval was also on the committee—along with Franklin—appointed by the Royal Society to make recommendations on how to protect St. Paul's Cathedral from lightning strikes.<a href="#tthFtNtAAC" name="tthFrefAAC"><sup>2</sup></a> His other scientific contributions included: studying the effects of lightning; advocating the use of blunt lightning rods (instead of pointed, contradicting what Franklin advocated); he studied the specific gravities of several metals and their colors when bonded with glass; and the manufacture of artificial gems.<a href="#tthFtNtAAD" name="tthFrefAAD"><sup>3</sup></a> He was a candidate in 1762, and again in 1768, for the Professorship of Modern History at Cambridge—both times unsuccessfully. He was also known as 'Delaval the Loud' for his loud voice.<a href="#tthFtNtAAE" name="tthFrefAAE"><sup>4</sup></a>, or sometimes just called 'Delly' by his friends<a href="#tthFtNtAAF" name="tthFrefAAF"><sup>5</sup></a>, who considered him 'an honest gentleman'.<a href="#tthFtNtAAG" name="tthFrefAAG"><sup>6</sup></a>
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<p>About March 28th, 1760, Thomas Gray described one of Delaval's concerts to his friend James Brown, the Master of Pembroke:
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<blockquote>We heard Delaval the other night play upon the water glasses, & I was astonished. No instrument that I know has so celestial a tone. I thought it was a cherubim in a box.<a href="#tthFtNtAAH" name="tthFrefAAH"><sup>7</sup></a>
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</blockquote>
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<p>On Dec. 8, Gray wrote to Mason:
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<blockquote>Of all loves come to Cambridge out of hand, for here is Mr. Dillaval [sic] & a charming set of glasses that sing like nightingales, & we have concerts every other night, & shall stay here this month or two...<a href="#tthFtNtAAI" name="tthFrefAAI"><sup>8</sup></a>
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</blockquote>
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<p>But before long Gray took a dislike to Delaval and wrote in Jan. 1762
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<blockquote>I am still here: so are the glasses & their master: the first still delight me: I wish I could say as much for the second.<a href="#tthFtNtAAJ" name="tthFrefAAJ"><sup>9</sup></a>
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</blockquote>
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<p><hr />
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAB"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAB"><sup>1</sup></a>
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#PBF'>
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Papers of Benjamin Franklin</a> 8:359–60
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAC"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAC"><sup>2</sup></a>
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#PBF'>
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Papers of Benjamin Franklin</a> 16:145ff.
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAD"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAD"><sup>3</sup></a>
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#DebusA'>
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Debus (1968)</a>, 437
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAE"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAE"><sup>4</sup></a>
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#ToynbeeA'>
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Toynbee (1935)</a>, letters 461, 494
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAF"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAF"><sup>5</sup></a>e.g.
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#ToynbeeA'>
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Toynbee (1935)</a>, letters 394, 395, 399, 414, 430
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAG"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAG"><sup>6</sup></a>
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#ToynbeeA'>
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Toynbee (1935)</a>, letter 482
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAH"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAH"><sup>7</sup></a>
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#ToynbeeA'>
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Toynbee (1935)</a>, letter 309
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAI"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAI"><sup>8</sup></a>
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#ToynbeeA'>
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Toynbee (1935)</a>, letter 351
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<p><a name="tthFtNtAAJ"></a><a href="#tthFrefAAJ"><sup>9</sup></a>
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<a href='/armonica/index-biblio.php#ToynbeeA'>
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Toynbee (1935)</a>, letter 352
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