8 LOEWENFELD, Contributions to the History of Scieftce. 



The end of the letter is most interesting as it throws 

 a sidelight on University teaching in 1817, when the 

 Professor of Chemistry at a University such as Glasgow 

 had also to fulfil the duties of a medical practitioner. 



The following letter is remarkable as it shows the 

 close intimacy which existed between the writer and 

 Michael Faraday. Henry's admonitions were not thrown 

 away, as Faraday at this time was busy with his immortal 

 discoveries concerning the electrical current. As the 

 letter treats to a great extent of personal matters, an 

 extract may be sufficient : — 



Manchester, 8/2/1831. 

 .... Having got your second edition^ off your hands, 

 you must permit me to say that I hope you will direct 

 your next exertions to some of those elevated topics 

 of chemical philosophy to which you have established 

 your title to aspire. In the exercise of your public 

 duties in the Royal Institution,* you must necessarily, 

 while treading the ground which has been already 

 cleared, sometimes cast your eye beyond its boundaries, 

 and catch glimpses of extensive tracts on which 

 nothing more than a dawning light is yet shed. It is 

 impossible for anyone (even for a person like myself, 

 whose energies of thought and purpose are on the 

 wane) not to be warmed into something like enthusiasm 

 when fancy pictures the glories that are yet to be won 

 in the fields of chemical science. These bright though 

 distant prospects will, I trust, tempt you to open and 

 pursue paths that may lead you to great discoveries, 

 to the benefit of science, and to the increase of your 

 own honourable fame .... 



William Henry. 

 To Michael Faraday. 



* Viz., of "Chemical Manipulation.'' P'irst edition in 1827; second 

 ed., 1830. 



^ Faraday had become, in 1813, Davy's assistant; in 1825, Director of 

 the Laboratory of the Royal Institution, and had given his first course of 

 lectures in 1826 at the Institution, followed by innumerable other lectures. 



