376 THE KOYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. VI. 



were possessed of great humility and diffidence of 

 their own opinions and powers. He spoke of Scheele, 

 the discoverer of chlorine ; observed that he possessed a 

 truly philosophical spirit, gave up his opinions when 

 he supposed them to be erroneous, and without hesita- 

 tion or reluctance adopted those of others which he 

 considered more correct; admired his spirit and 

 recommended it to all philosophers ; compared it to 

 corn, which looked but simple and insignificant in 

 blossom and asked for little praise, yet was the support 

 of man.' 



In this lecture Faraday gives the details of twenty 

 experiments. 



On April 8 Professor Davy lectured on Simple 

 Inflammable Bodies. ' Their number, excepting the 

 metals, is six, which unite with oxygen and chlorine, 

 the subjects of the two last lectures.' He showed 

 a jet of oxygen burning in hydrogen, and said, 

 ' In the burning of tallow, wax, oil, and wood it is 

 the hydrogen of their bodies that causes the flame ; 

 though in most cases it is also combined with carbon, 

 yet it is the hydrogen that produces the flame. . . . 



C I have here a bladder filled with nitrous oxide gas ; 

 I will breathe it once or twice, but not so far as to 

 incapacitate me from continuing the lecture. It 

 produces a very pleasing sensation (far superior to the 

 most exquisite liquors, such as champagne), and I have 

 no doubt that if I were to continue it a few minutes 

 longer I should make a very interesting exhibition to 

 the company ; but I would rather be excused. . . . 



* If we suppose that the diamond is pure carbon. 



