124 ENGLISH MEN OF SCIENCE. [CHAP. 



Dalton, the discoverer of the atomic theory, and 

 Dr. Young, of the undulatory theory of light, 

 were both Quakers, and that Faraday was a 

 Sandemanian. So I find in these returns 

 numerous cases of Quaker pedigree ; and I know 

 of one man, not as yet technically on my list, 

 who was born a Sandemanian. There are also 

 representatives of several other small sects, as 

 Moravians and Bible Christians, and the Uni- 

 tarians are numerous. It will be understood that 

 the object of saying this is not to throw light 

 on the religious tendencies of the scientific men 

 (concerning which I shall have almost imme- 

 diately to speak), because so off-hand a statement 

 would mislead, but to prove that they and their 

 parents had the habit of doing what they 

 preferred, without considering the fashion of 

 the day. The man of science is thoroughly inde- 

 pendent in character. 



MECHANICAL APTITUDE. 



There is a prevalent taste for mechanics 

 among scientific men. whose peculiarity it is 



