(FARADAY LECTURE.) 

 THE FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF THE ELEMENTS. 1 



By Theodore William 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. 



i 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, J.911. Printed also in Science, Oct. 27, 

 1911. Reprinted by permission, after author's revision. 



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