60 MEMOIR OF ALFRED SMEE. [CHAP. VI. 



house was generally situated near a river, and so my father in the 

 cool summer evenings had frequent opportunities of exercising 

 his skill in fishing. At these times he was generally surrounded 

 by his family. My grandfather, too, frequently mingled in our 

 sports ; and when the latter caught a fish, how speedily did the 

 length of the fish increase until it grew to a wonderful size ! 

 But in fishing, as in other things, my father generally won the 

 laurels : but what fun it was for the domestic circle each to 

 contend for our places as skilful fishermen, none can appreciate 

 but those who have tried their hand in the art ! The distinguished 

 chemist and investigator Professor Graham (former Master of the 

 Mint) had similar tastes to my father. How amusing it was 

 to spectators to hear them intermingling their conversations on 

 abstruse chemical and philosophical theories with their theories 

 on the art of fishing ! 



On Sundays my father used with his family to be a regular 

 attendant at the morning service at St. Paul's Cathedral. In 

 various parts of this work it has been shown that one of the 

 great peculiarities of Alfred Smee's mind was that it belonged 

 to that class (Pneuma-Noemic) which is particularly capable 

 of appreciating spiritual qualities. He was ever labouring to 

 demonstrate that religion and reason were not discordant. 

 After my father had fulfilled the duties of attending a service 

 at a place of worship, he would then with his family betake 

 himself into the country, and there investigate Nature, and, 

 contemplating the Author of all things, would rejoice in the 

 works of the Almighty, and sing in his heart, Glory be to God 

 most High ! 



Although the following anecdote is perhaps unconnected 

 with my present subject, yet it is so typical of the minds of 

 the two men Faraday and Alfred Smee, both electricians, and 

 both possessing a fervent and deep-rooted religion, though each 

 of his own kind that it may not be out of place to mention 

 it here. It was on one Sunday morning, now many years ago, 

 as my father and myself were going to attend the 10 o'clock 

 morning service at St. Paul's Cathedral, that we met Faraday 

 close to the General Post Office. He was hurrying to the San- 

 demanian Chapel, not far from St. Martin's-le-Grand, where he 

 was wont to preach. He stopped us, and after a few words of 

 conversation suddenly inquired where we were going to at that 

 early hour in the morning. " To St. Paul's," was the reply. 



