DAVY HUMPHRY: (1778-1829) British chemist, famous for his invention of the Davy Lamp. A good A.L.S., Sir H. Davy, in the third person, one page, 12mo, n.p. (London), n.d., to Reverend John Hodgson. Davy states that he hopes to have the pleasure of seeing his correspondent that evening, and 'shall be happy if he will be his guest tomorrow at 20 minutes before 5 at the Crown & Anchor Strand at the Royal Society dinner'. A letter of interesting association. Neatly mounted and with some light overall wrinkling, G

John Hodgson (1779-1845) English clergyman and antiquary. As a result of his book An Account of the Explosion at Felling (1813), an accurate narrative of the Felling mine disaster of May 1812 which caused the deaths of 92 people, Hodgson became a founding member of The Society for Preventing Accidents in Coal Mines. Hodgson met Humphry Davy in Newcastle in August 1815 and, upon returning to London, Davy worked with Michael Faraday and identified 'firedamp' as methane. Davy's subsequent research led to the Davy Lamp, and Hodgson's assistance was acknowledged. Hodgson himself was one of the first to venture into a mine with the new lamp and explain its principle to the colliers.

The Crown & Anchor was a public house in Arundel Street, off The Strand in London, famous for its political meetings and those of other groups including the Royal Society.