1843 AT CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL 31 



tion, the problem of perpetual motion, and even 

 sought an interview with Faraday, whom he left 

 with the resolution to meet the great man some day 



on a more equal footing. 



March 1848. 



To-day, ruminating over the manifold ins and outs of 

 life in general, and my own in particular, it came into 

 my head suddenly that I would write down my interview 

 with Faraday how many years ago ? Aye, there's the 

 rub, for I have completely forgotten. However, it must 

 have been in either my first or second winter session at 

 Charing Cross, and it was before Christmas, I feel sure. 



I remember how my long brooding perpetual motion 

 scheme (which I had made more than one attempt to 

 realise, but failed owing to insufficient mechanical dex- 

 terity) had been working upon me, depriving me of rest 

 even, and heating my brain with chdteaux d'Espagne of 

 endless variety. I remember, too, it was Sunday morning 

 when I determined to put the questions, which neither 

 my wits nor my hands would set at rest, into some hands 

 for decision, and I determined to go before some tribunal 

 from whence appeal should be absurd. 



But to whom to go ? I knew no one among the high 

 priests of science, and going about with a scheme for 

 perpetual motion was, I knew, for most people the same 

 thing as courting ridicule among high and low. After 

 all I fixed upon Faraday, possibly perhaps because I 

 knew where he was to be found, but in part also because 

 the cool logic of his works made me hope that my poor 

 scheme would be treated on some other principle than 

 that of mere previous opinion one way or other. Besides, 

 the known courtesy and affability of the man encouraged 

 me. So I wrote a letter, drew a plan, enclosed the two 

 in an envelope, and tremblingly betook myself on the 

 following afternoon to the Royal Institution. 



" Is Dr. Faraday here ? " said I to the porter. " No, 



