FARADAY. 335 



himself by the side of Faraday, and in his frank and genial 

 way entered into conversation with the young man. It was 

 evident that a person possessing such a charm of manner 

 and such high intelligence could be no mere servant. On 

 inquiry De la Rive was somewhat shocked to find that the 

 soi-disant domestique was really preparateur in the labora- 

 tory of the Royal Institution : and he immediately proposed 

 that Faraday thenceforth should join the masters instead 

 of the servants at their meals. To this Davy, probably out 

 of weak deference to his wife, objected ; but an arrangement 

 was come to that Faraday thenceforward should have his 

 food in his own room. Rumor states that a dinner in 

 honor of Faraday was given by De la Rive. This is a 

 delusion ; there was no such banquet ; but Faraday never 

 forgot the kindness of the friend who saw his merit when 

 he was a mere gar$on de laboratoire* 



He returned in 1815 to the Royal Institution. Here he 

 helped Davy for years; he worked also for himself, and 

 lectured frequently at the City Philosophical Society. He 

 took lessons in elocution, happily without damage to his 

 natural force, earnestness, and grace of delivery. He was 

 never pledged to theory, and he changed in opinion as 

 knowledge advanced. With him life was growth. In those 

 early lectures we hear him say, " In knowledge, that man 

 only is to be contemned and despised who is not in a state 

 of transition." And again, " Nothing is more difficult and 

 requires more caution than philosophical deduction, nor is 

 there any thing more adverse to its accuracy than fixity of 

 opinion." Not that he was wafted about by every wind of 



1 While confined last autumn at Geneva by 'the effects of a fall in the 

 Alps, my friends, with a kindness I can never forget, did all that friend- 

 ship could suggest to render my captivity pleasant to me. M. de la Rive 

 then wrote out for me the full account, of which the foregoing is a con- 

 densed abstract. It was at the desire of Dr. Bence Jones that I asked 

 him to do so. The rumor of a banquet at Geneva illustrates the ten 

 dency to substitute for the youth of 1814 the Faraday of later years. 



