193 SECTION PHYSICS. 



Faraday, in whatever direction he investigated the mysteries of nature, 

 he compelled her to disclose her secrets. He was the first likewise in 

 this most important branch of science. But nevertheless, Nobili and 

 Antinori, starting from an imperfect report of Faraday's works, which 

 was communicated to the Academy of Sciences of Paris by M. 

 Hachette, by dint of repeating Faraday's experiments, they not only 

 succeeded in obtaining results equal to Faraday's, but, in some cases, 

 produced effects that had never before been observed. 



I well know that the English philosopher was somewhat displeased 

 at Nobili's intrusion into the wide field of science which he had just 

 thrown open ; indeed, the illustrious Tyndall mentions this fact as 

 characteristic of Faraday. I can perfectly understand his annoyance. 

 But at the same time I hope that you will agree with me that the field 

 of science is not merely open to all, but that it invites all to enter ; 

 that Faraday's renown is too firmly established for there to be any 

 reason why some distinction should not be allowed to others ; and 

 that it was impossible for an investigator like Nobili not to throv-- 

 himself eagerly into this new field of such marvellous and profound 

 investigations. I beg you, therefore, to admit the fact that the first 

 magneto-electrical machine was made by Nobili and Antinori. Here 

 it is. If I quickly remove the keeper, armed, as you see, with this 

 " rocchctto" of thread, of which one extremity is in contact with the 

 magnet itself, the other with this spring (molla), afterwards also in 

 contact with the magnet ; this second contact is immediately inter- 

 rupted, and thus the inducted electrical current occasions, as you see, 

 a spark. This instrument gave forth its first spark on the 3oth of 

 January, 1832. 



Under No. 1298^ of the Catalogue you may observe another example 

 of a magneto-electrical machine made by Nobili and Antinori. It is 

 exhibited by the illustrious Professor Dove of Berlin. 



Latterly this same form of a magnetico-electrical machine has been 

 returned to, for use in the lighting of mines (accensione delle mine} 

 Then in order to get a more' intense current, and a greater number of 

 interruptions in a given time, Nobili and Antinori constructed their 

 so-called " united magnets machine" (macchina a catamite conjugate] ; 

 made up, in fact, of permanent magnets, among which, by means of a 

 handle, or lever (manubrio], and of an eccentric, the keeper with its 



