LIFE AND LETTERS OF FARAD A T. 319 



the society, and of course from my remarks; and whatever 

 I may say has no 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, philosophy, 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 religious 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 

 my 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 son, 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 



