304 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 
ory reveals itself in his first letter to Abbot. To a proposi- 
tion that no new inquiry should be started between them 
before the old one had been exhaustively discussed, Faraday 
objects. "Your notion, " he says, "I can hardly allow, for 
the following reason: ideas and thoughts spring up in my 
mind which are irrevocably lost for want of noting at the 
time." Gentle as he seemed, he wished to have his own 
way, and he had it throughout his life. Differences of 
opinion sometimes arose between the two friends, and then 
they resolutely faced each other. " I accept your offer to 
fight it out with joy, and shall in the battle of experience 
cause not pain, but, I hope, pleasure." Faraday notes his 
own impetuosity, and incessantly checks it. There is at 
times something almost mechanical in his self-restraint. 
In another nature it would have hardened into mere 
"correctness" of conduct; but his overflowing affections 
prevented this in his case. The habit of self-control 
became a second nature to him at last, and lent serenity to 
his later years. 
In October, 1812, he was engaged by a Mr. De la Roche 
as a journeyman bookbinder; but the situation did not suit 
him. His master appears to have been an austere and 
passionate man, arid Faraday was to the last degree sensi- 
tive. All his life he continued so. He suffered at times 
from dejection; and a certain grimness, too, pervaded his 
moods. " At present," he writes to Abbott, " I am as seri- 
ous as you can be, and would not scruple to speak a truth 
to any human being, whatever repugnance it might give 
rise to. Being in this state of mind, I should have re- 
frained from writing to you, did I not conceive from the 
general tenor of your letters that your mind is, at proper 
times, occupied upon 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 harbors 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 recognized the 
merit of his correspondent, kept his eye upon him, and, 
when occasion offered, drove to his door and sent in u letter, 
