me.
Classes of men, as well as individuals, are apt to form too high
ideas of their own importance; but certainly one of the most
important is, that which contributes so much as ours do to the
cummunication of useful knowledge, as forming the characters of
men, thereby fitting them for their several stations in society.
In some form or other this has been my employment and delight; and
my principal object in flying for an asylum to this country, "a
land," as I hope you justly term it, "of virtuous simplicity, and
a recess from the intriguing politics, and vicious refinements of
the European world," is that I may, without molestation, pursue my
favourite studies. And if I had an opportunity of making choice of
an employment for what remains of active exertion in life, it
would be one in which I should as I hope I have hitherto done,
contribute with you, to advance the cause of science, of virtue,
and of religion.

Further, The Medical Society of the State of New York through Dr. John
Charlton, its President, said:

PERMIT us, Sir, to wait upon you with an offering of our sincere
congratulations, on your safe arrival, with your lady and family
in this happy country, and to express our real joy, in receiving
among us, a gentleman, whose labours have contributed so much to
the diffusion and establishment of civil and religious liberty,
and whose deep researches into the true principles of natural
philosophy, have derived so much improvement and real benefit, not
only to the sciences of chemistry and medicine, but to various
other arts, all of which are necessary to the ornament and utility
of human life.

May you, Sir, possess and enjoy, here, uninterrupted contentment
and happiness, and may your valuable life be continued a farther
blessing to mankind.

And in his answer Dr. Priestley remarked:

I THINK myself greatly honoured in being congratulated on my
arrival in this country by a Society of persons whose studies bear
some relation to my own. To continue, without fear of molestation,
on account of the most open profession of any sentiments, civil or
religious, those pursuits which you are sensible have for their
object the advantage of all mankind, (being, as you justly
observe, "necessary to the ornament and util