LIFE AND LETTERS OF FARADAY. 319 
the society, and of course from my remarks; and whatever 
I may say has 110 reference to a future state, or to the 
means which are to be adopted in this world in anticipation 
of it. Next, I have no intention of substituting anything 
for religion, but I wish to take that part of human nature 
which is independent of it. Morality, pliilosophy, commerce, 
the various institutions and habits of society, are independ- 
ent of religion, and may exist either with or without it. 
They are always the same, and can dwell -alike in the 
breasts of those who, from opinion, are entirely opposed in 
the set of principles they include in the term religion, or 
in those who have none. 
" To discriminate more closely, if possible, I will observe 
that we have no right to judge religions opinions; but the 
human nature of this evening is that part of man which 
we have a right to judge. And I think it will be found on 
examination, that this humanity as it may perhaps be 
called will accord with what I have before described as 
being in our own hands so improvable and perfectible." 
In an old journal I find the following remarks on one of 
rny earliest dinners with Faraday: " At two o'clock he came 
down for me. He, his niece, and myself, formed the party. 
' I never give dinners/ he said. ' I don't know how to 
give dinners, and I never dine out. But I should not like 
my friends to attribute this to a wrong cause. I act thus 
for the sake of securing time for work, and not through 
religious motives, as some imagine/ He said grace. I am 
almost ashamed to call his prayer a 'saying of grace.' In 
the language of Scripture, it might be described as the 
petition of a sou, into whose heart God had sent the Spirit 
of His Son, and who with absolute trust asked a blessing 
from his father. We dined on roast beef, Yorkshire pud- 
ding, and potatoes; drank sherry, talked of research and 
its requirements, and of his habit of keeping himself free 
from the distractions of society. He was bright and joy- 
ful boy-like, in fact, though he is now sixty-two. His 
work excites admiration, but contact with him warms and 
elevates the heart. Here, surely, is a strong man. I love 
strength; but let me not forget the example of its union 
with modesty, tenderness, and sweetness, in the character 
of Faraday." 
Faraday's progress in discovery, and the salient points 
of his character, are well brought out by the wise choice 
