Priestley left Needham Market in 1758. He had been there three years, and he was in his twenty-fifth year when he entered upon his work at Nantwich. Of this place he had always the happiest recollections. The meeting-house, as we learn from Partridge鈥檚 Historical Account of Nantwich, 1774, was a good, decent building, to which appertains a convenient house for the minister.鈥� Whether he actually occupied this house is uncertain. One account states that he boarded with Mr John Eddowes, a grocer, and sometimes showed his agility and sprightliness by leaping over the counter. Eddowes was described by Priestley as a very sociable and sensible man, and as he was fond of music his guest was鈥�

Birmingham Commemoration of the French Revolution.

Priestley remained three years at Nantwich. His success there as a teacher induced the trustees of the newly-founded academy at Warrington to reconsider the desirability of engaging him as tutor in the Classical Languages and in what used to be called Polite Literature. His name had already been mentioned in connection with the Warrington Academy by his friend, Clark of Daventry, at the time of its establishment and whilst he was at Needham.

Nevertheless, even in the Club itself there was at least one man who came under the influence of Priestley, but who eventually emancipated himself, and this was Withering, who, we are informed, read to them a humorous piece in verse entitled 鈥楾he Life and Death of Phlogiston,鈥� which was long remembered for its clever treatment and pointed wit.鈥�

A candle,鈥� he says, not only burned but the flame was increased, and something was heard like a hissing similar to the decrepitation of nitre in an open fire.鈥� He also noted the effect of nitrous air upon it and concludes that this series of facts relating to air extracted from nitre appear to me to be very extraordinary and important, and in able hands may lead to considerable discoveries.鈥�