14 PROFESSOR HENRY AND THE 



whole of our present knowledge of magneto- elec- 

 tricity. 



But how superior in every respect, except in 

 God-given intellect, was the equipment of Fara- 

 day. He was eight years older than his rival. In 

 the year 1813 he was appointed "assistant" in 

 the laboratory of the Royal Institution, under Sir 

 Humphrey Davy, then one of the foremost scien- 

 tists of the world, who, attracted by Faraday's 

 genius, was directing his studies and forming his 

 mind. At that time Henry was but THIRTEEN 



YEARS OLD. 



In the next twelve years Faraday was at 

 work, with all the resources of the Royal 

 Institution, under the instruction of the great 

 Davy, in acquiring the knowledge with which he 

 was armed when he began his original investiga- 

 tions ; while Henry, during that same period, was 

 struggling unaided for such education as might 

 be obtained from the scanty resources of a country 

 town ; and with that proud independence, ever 

 so marked a feature of his character, was sup- 

 porting himself by teaching to others a part of 

 that which he was learning himself. 



In 1825, Faraday had so improved his great op- 

 portunities, that at the age of thirty-four he was 

 appointed "director of the laboratory " of the Royal 

 Institution, where everything that science could 

 suggest, and money procure, was at his command 



