'J. P. Gassiot.



'Dr. Tyndall.'

From a letter written by Faraday himself soon after his appointment
as Davy's assistant, I extract the following account of his
introduction to the Royal Institution:--
'London, Sept. 13, 1813.

'As for myself, I am absent (from home) nearly day and night, except
occasional calls, and it is likely shall shortly be absent entirely,
but this (having nothing more to say, and at the request of my
mother) I will explain to you. I was formerly a bookseller and
binder, but am now turned philosopher,[2] which happened thus:--
Whilst an apprentice, I, for amusement, learnt a little chemistry
and other parts of philosophy, and felt an eager desire to proceed
in that way further. After being a journeyman for six months,
under a disagreeable master, I gave up my business, and through
the interest of a Sir H. Davy, filled the situation of chemical
assistant to the Royal Institution of Great Britain, in which office
I now remain; and where I am constantly employed in observing the
works of nature, and tracing the manner in which she directs the
order and arrangement of the world. I have lately had proposals
made to me by Sir Humphry Davy to accompany him in his travels
through Europe and Asia, as philosophical assistant. If I go at all
I expect it will be in October next--about the end; and my absence
from home will perhaps be as long as three years. But as yet all is
uncertain.'