ABSTRACT
Salmonia had a welcome from readers, though Christopher North ridiculed it, and the remarks of Poietes on the dangers of education forced on people produced a virulent attack on Davy from the President of the Mechanics’ Institute, who accused him of conceit, pride, and arrogance. Davy, who always emphasized the necessity for a liberal education, was the natural critic of Brougham’s ‘steam intellect societies’. In contrast with Ambrosio, Onuphrio expresses lightly his teasing, indolent, unzealous view. There is nothing to prove that Davy had William Lamb in mind and yet, as one reads Lord David Cecil’s biography of the young Melbourne, one is irresistibly reminded of Davy’s imagined Onuphrio. Davy’s optimism depends on his faith in science and progress; his sadness from his perception of the decay of all things. His own body was in such a process of decay.
