(FARADAY LECTURE.) 
THE FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF THE ELEMENTS. 
By THEoporE Wri11Am RicHArDs, 
Professor of Chemistry, Harvard University. 
We meet to-night to honor the memory of Michael Faraday. It is 
fitting that we should ccme to this historic place, for here were his 
home and his laboratory, and in this room he lectured. Science is 
one of the great influences promoting the solidarity of mankind; it is 
world embracing, and recognizes no bounds of nationality. Fara- 
day’s work especially was a message to the whole world, and has 
grown into a priceless heritage for all humanity. Therefore, from 
time to time the generous guardians of this famous lectureship have 
called chemists and physicists from many lands to honor his unique 
genius. England, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, have all sent 
eminent representatives; and now from across the sea there comes a 
pilgrim who is proud indeed to bring the homage of the New World 
to this shrine of cherished memories. The many ties which bind 
together our two nations add especial pleasure to the fulfillment of 
the trust. 
The mystery that enshrouds the ultimate nature of the physical 
universe has always stimulated the curiosity of thinking man. Of 
old, philosophers sought to solve the cosmic problem by abstract 
reasoning, but to-day we agree that the only hope of penetrating 
into the closely guarded secret lies in the precise estimation of that 
which is tangible and visible. Knowledge of the actual behavior of 
material and of energy provides the only safe basis for logical inference 
as to the real essence of things. Faraday was deeply imbued with 
this conviction, and it is widely recognized as the basis of all modern 
experimental science. The subject of my lecture to-night concerns 
the methods and general results of several extended series of investi- 
gations, planned with the hope of adding a little to the foundations 
of human knowledge by means of careful experiment. 
1 Delivered before the Fellows of the Chemical Society in the theater of the Royal Institution, London, 
‘on Wednesday, June 14, 1911. Printed in the Journal of the Chemical Society, London, vol. 99, p. 1201, 
1911. See also Proceedings of the Chemical Society vol. 27, p. 177, 1911. Printed also in Science, Oct. 27, 
1911. Reprinted by permission, after author’s revision. 
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