xlv 



view, but even the last upon the list of those practically wrought out. Un- 

 derstand me in this ; I am not saying that my mind is wearing out, but those 

 physico-mental faculties by which the mind and body are kept in conjunction 

 and work together, and especially the memory, fail me, and hence a limitation 

 of all I was once able to perform with a much smaller extent than hereto- 

 fore. It is this which has had a great effect in moulding portions of my 

 later life, has tended to withdraw me from the communion and pursuits of 

 men of science my cotemporaries, has lessened the number of points of in- 

 vestigation (that might at some time have become discoveries) which I now 

 pursue, and which, in conjunction with its effects, makes me say most un- 

 willingly that I dare not undertake what you propose — to go with you 

 through even my own experiments. You do not know, and should not now 

 but that I have no concealment on this point from you, how often I have 

 to go to my medical friend to speak of giddiness and aching of the head, 

 and how often he has to bid me cease from restless thoughts and mental 

 occupation and retire to the seaside to inaction. You speak of religion, 

 and here you will be sadly disappointed in me. You will perhaps remember 

 that I guessed, and not very far aside, your tendency in this respect. Your 

 confidence in me claims in return mine to you, which, indeed, I have no 

 hesitation to give on fitting occasions ; but these I think are very few, for 

 in my mind religious conversation is generally in vain. There is no philo- 

 sophy in my religion. I am of a very small and despised sect of Christians, 

 known, if known at all, as Sandemanians, and our hope is founded on the 

 faith that is in Christ. But though the natural works of God can never 

 by any possibility come in contradiction with the higher things which be- 

 long to our future existence, and must with everything concerning him ever 

 glorify him, still I do not think it at all necessary to tie the study of the 

 natural sciences and religion together ; and in my intercourse with my 

 fellow creatures that which is religious and that which is philosophical have 

 ever been two distinct things." 



In answer to Mr. Magrath, who sent him, from the ' Journal des De'bats,' 

 notice of his election as one of the eight foreign associates of the Academy 

 of Sciences, Paris, he said : — "I received by this morning's post notice of 

 the event in a letter from Dumas, who wrote from the Academy at the 

 moment of the deciding the ballot, and, to make it more pleasant, Arago 

 directed it on the outside." 



He was also made Honorary Member of the Sheffield Scientific Society. 



Mt. 53 (1845). 



This year produced the nineteenth series of Researches on the Magnetiza- 

 tion of Light and the Illumination of Magnetic Lines of Force : — 1 . Action of 

 Magnets on Light ; 2. Action of Electric Currents on Light ; 3. General 

 considerations. Also the twentieth series, on new Magnetic Actions, and on 

 the Magnetic Conditions of all Matter : — 1. Apparatus required ; 2. Action 

 of magnets on heavy glass ; 3. Action of Magnets on other substances act- 



