FARADAY. 453 



serious subjects to the exclusion of those that are 

 frivolous.' Plainly he had fallen into that stern Puritan 

 mood, which not only crucifies the affections and lusts 

 of him who harbours it, but is often a cause of disturbed 

 digestion to his friends. 



About three months after his engagement with 

 De la Roche, Faraday quitted him and bookbinding 

 together. He had heard Davy, copied his lectures, and 

 written to, him, entreating to be released from Trade, 

 which he hated, and enabled to pursue Science. Davy 

 recognised the merit of his correspondent, kept his eye 

 upon him, and, when occasion offered, drove to his door 

 and sent in a letter, offering him the post of assistant 

 in the laboratory of the Royal Institution. He was 

 engaged March 1, 1813, and on the 8th we find him 

 extracting the sugar from beet-root. He joined the 

 City Philosophical Society which had been founded by 

 Mr. Tatum in 1808. 'The discipline was very sturdy, 

 the remarks very plain, and the results most valuable.' 

 Faraday derived great profit from this little association. 

 In the laboratory he had a discipline sturdier still. 

 Both Davy and himself were at this time frequently cut 

 and bruised by explosions of chloride of nitrogen. One 

 explosion was so rapid 'as to blow my hand open, tear 

 away a part of one nail, and make my fingers so sore 

 that I cannot use them easily.' In another experiment 

 ' the tube and receiver were blown to pieces, I got a cut 

 on the head, and Sir Humphry a bruise on his hand.' 

 And again speaking of the same substance, he says, 

 'when put in the pump and exhausted, it stood for a 

 moment, and then exploded with a fearful noise. Both 

 Sir H. and I had masks on, but I escaped this time the 

 best. Sir H. had his face cut in two places about the 

 chin, and a violent blow on the forehead struck through 



