36 Faraday as a Discoverer. 
to quit trade, which he detested, and to pursue science, which 
he loved. Davy was helpful to the young man, and this should 
never be forgotten: he at once wrote to Faraday, and after- — 
ward, when an opportunity occurred, made him his assistant.* 
Mr. Gassiot has lately favored me with the following reminis- 
cence of this time :— 
“Crapuam Common, SuRREY, 
“28th November, 1867. 
“My dear Tyndall,—Sir H. Davy was accustomed to call on the © 
late Mr. Pepys in the Poultry on his way to the London Institu 
tion, of which Pepys was one of the original managers ; the latter 
told me that on one occasion, Sir H. Davy, showing him a letter 
said, ‘Pepys, what am I to do, here is aletter from a young man 
a | 
anythin , he will do it directly ; if he refuses, he is good for noth — 
appoineed Director of the Laboratory, and, as Farada 
t rate im on apes ara oceasions to hold a definite position — 
in the institution, in which he was always supported by Davy. | 
believe he held that office to the last. oe : ‘i 
“Believe me, my dear Tyndall I 
paige ee 
From a letter written by Faraday himself soon after his ap- 
pointment as Davy’s assistant, I extract the following account 
of his introduction to the Royal Institution :— | 
| “Lonpon, Sept. 13th, 1813. 
“As for myself I am absent (from home) nearly day and night 
Me = occasional calls, and it is likely shall shortly be absent en- — 
wens be this (having nothing more to say and at the request 0 
my mother) I will explain to you. I was formerly a bookseller 
* Here is Davy’s reommendation of Farada 
tituti : Y, presented to the managers of the 
Nia rs chan? ot @ meeting on the 18th of March, 1813, Charles Hatchett, 
