84 Biographical Account of 



by the explosion of a small portion. The accident happened 

 at Tunbridge, in Mr. Children's laboratory. The conse- 

 quences were that severe inflammation attacked the eye, and 

 the conjunctiva and cornea were obliged to be punctured. 

 His complete recovery was suspended till April following, 

 yet while labouring under imperfect vision and often violent 

 pain, he found opportunities of working upon fluorine and 

 ascertained that it expelled oxygen from most compounds. 



In October, 1813, he crossed the channel with Lady 

 Davy, to Morlaix, on a continental tour, " He was accom- 

 panied," says Dr. Davy, " by Mr. Faraday (who has since 

 so honourably distinguished himself in original research) 

 as his assistant in experiments and in writing, and provided 

 with a commodious portable apparatus for instituting such 

 inquiries as he had in contemplation." He spent about two 

 months in Paris, pccupied between the calls of society and 

 science. 



During this short period he assisted in adding another 

 substance to the supporters of combustion, viz., iodine. The 

 discoverer of this useful agent was M. Courtois, a saltpetre 

 manufacturer of Paris. But to Davy and Gay Lussac, che- 

 mistry owes the developement of its properties. Davy's 

 experiments were first published, but Gay Lussac appears 

 to have been engaged with his experiments at the same 

 time. 



Nothing else of importance occurred during his residence 

 in the French capital, with the exception of his cultivating 

 an acquaintance with the philosophers of the time. His 

 opinions of some of the leaders are interesting. 



** Cuvier had even in his address and manner 'the cha- 

 racter of a superior man. I should say of him that he is 

 the most distinguished man of talents I have known ; but 

 I doubt if he is entitled to the appellation of a man of 

 genius. 



*' Gay Lussac was quick, lively, ingenious, and profound, 

 with great activity of mind and great facility of manipula- 

 tion, I should place him at the h6ad of the living chemists 

 of France. 



" La Place when a minister of Napoleon was rather 

 formal and grand in manner, with an air of protection 

 rather than of courtesy. This was in 1813. When I saw 



