Ixii 



the Royal Institution has bestowed upon me. Thank God, first, for all his 

 gifts. I have next to thank you and your predecessors for the unswerving 

 encouragement and support which you have given me during that period. 

 My life has been a happy one, and all I desired. During its progress I 

 have tried to make a fitting return for it to the Royal Institution, and 

 through it to science. But the progress of years (now amounting in num- 

 ber to threescore and ten) having brought forth first the period of deve- 

 lopment, and then that of maturity, have ultimately produced for me that 

 of gentle decay. This has taken place in such a manner as to make the 

 evening of life a blessing ; for whilst increasing physical weakness occurs, 

 a full share of health free from pain is granted with it, and whilst me- 

 mory and certain other faculties of the mind diminish, my good spirits 

 and cheerfulness do not diminish with them. 



" Still I am not able to do as I have done. I am not competent to 

 perform as I wish the delightful duty of teaching in the Theatre of the 

 Royal Institution, and I now ask you (in consideration for me) to accept 

 my resignation of the juvenile lectures. Being unwilling to give up what 

 has always been so kindly received and so pleasant to myself, I have tried 

 the faculties essential for their delivery, and I know that I ought to retreat ; 

 for the attempt to realize (in those trials) the necessary points brings with 

 it weariness, giddiness, fear of failure, and the full conviction that it is 

 time to retire ; I desire therefore to lay down this duty. I may truly say 

 that such has been the pleasure of the occupation to me, that my regret 

 must be greater than yours need or can be. 



<c And this reminds me that I ought to place in your hands the whole 

 of my occupation. It is no doubt true that the juvenile lectures, not being 

 included in my engagement as professor, were when delivered by me un- 

 dertaken as an extra duty, and remunerated by an extra payment. The 

 duty of research, superintendence of the house, and of other services 

 still remains ; hut I may well believe that the natural change which incapaci- 

 tates me from lecturing, may also make me unfit for some of these. In such 

 respects, however, I will leave you to judge, and to say whether it is your 

 wish that I should still remain as part of the Royal Institution. I am, 

 gentlemen, with all my heart, your faithful and devoted servant." 



Shortly afterwards he wrote to the Secretary : — " You know my feelings, 

 in regard to the exceedingly kind manner in which the Board of Managers 

 received my letter, and you therefore can best convey to them my deep 

 thanks on this occasion. Please do this for me. Nothing would make 

 me happier in the things of this life than to make some scientific discovery 

 or development, and by that to justify the Board in their desire to retain 

 me in my position here." 



Sir Emerson Tennant wished Mr. Faraday to witness the phenomena 

 produced by Mr. Home. Mr. Faraday says, in his reply, " You will see 

 that I consent to all this with much reserve and only for your sake." Three 

 days afterwards Sir E. Tennant says, " As Mr. Home's wife is dying, the 



