Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAPTER X.

Mr. Faraday's introduction to Sir H. Davy.-A renewed correspondence on the subject of the Gunpowder Manufactory.-Davy obtains permission from Napoleon to visit the Continent.-He embarks in a Cartel from Plymouth.-Is arrested at Morlaix.-Arrives at Paris.-Visits the Louvre. His extraordinary conduct upon that occasion.-Inspects the Colossal Elephant, and is introduced to M. Alavair, its architect. The discovery of the dungeons of the Bastile.Davy's interesting letter to M. Alavair.-He attends a meeting of the Institute.—Is visited by all the principal savans of Paris.-The adventure which befell Lady Davy in the Thuilleries' Garden. -Anniversary dinner of the Philomatic Society. The junior Chemists of France invite Davy to a splendid entertainment.-How far Davy is entitled to be considered the discoverer of the true nature of Iodine.-Napoleon's unlucky experiment with the Voltaic battery.-Davy is presented to the Empress Josephine.-An account of the Court ceremony at Malmaison.-Remarks on the conduct of Davy during his visit to Paris.-He quits the capital of France, and proceeds, by way of Lyons, to Montpellier.-Is assisted in experiments on sea-weed by M. Berard.-Crosses the Alps.-Arrives at Genoa.-Institutes experiments on the Torpedo.-Visits Florence, and accomplishes the combustion of the diamond, by the great lens in the cabinet of Natural History.-Experiments on Iodine. He examines the colours used by the Ancients.Visits all the celebrated Philosophers of Italy and Switzerland, with whom he works in their laboratories. Returns to England.

It is said of Bergman, that he considered the greatest of his discoveries to have been the discovery of Scheele.* Amongst the numerous services conferred upon Science by Sir Humphry Davy, we must not pass unnoticed that kind and generous patronage which first raised Mr. Faraday from obscurity, and gave to the chemical world a philosopher capable of pursuing that brilliant path of enquiry which the genius of his master had so successfully explored.

The circumstances which first led Mr. Faraday to the study of chemistry, and by which he became connected with the Royal Institution, were communicated to me, by himself, in the following letter.

See Note at page 31.

TO J. A. PARIS, M. D.

MY DEAR SIR,

Royal Institution, Dec. 23, 1829. You asked me to give you an account of my first introduction to Sir H. Davy, which I am very happy to do, as I think the circumstances will bear testimony to his goodness of heart.

When I was a bookseller's apprentice, I was very fond of experiment, and very averse to trade. It happened that a gentleman, a member of the Royal Institution, took me to hear some of Sir H. Davy's last lectures in Albemarle Street. I took notes, and afterwards wrote them out more fairly in a quarto volume.

My desire to escape from trade, which I thought vicious and selfish, and to enter into the service of Science, which I imagined made its pursuers amiable and liberal, induced me at last to take the bold and simple step of writing to Sir H. Davy, expressing my wishes, and a hope that, if an opportunity came in his way, he would favour my views; at the same time, I sent the notes I had taken at his lectures.

The answer, which makes all the point of my communication, I send you in the original, requesting you to take great care of it, and to let me have it back, for you may imagine how much I value it.

You will observe that this took place at the end of the year 1812, and early in 1813 he requested to see me, and told me of the situation of assistant in the Laboratory of the Royal Institution, then just vacant.

At the same time that he thus gratified my desires as to scientific employment, he still advised me not to give up the prospects I had before me, telling me that Science was a harsh mistress; and, in a pecuniary point of view, but poorly rewarding those who devoted themselves to her service. He smiled at my notion of the superior moral feelings of philosophic men, and said he would leave me to the experience of a few years to set me right on that matter.

Finally, through his good efforts I went to the Royal Institution early in March of 1813, as assistant in the Laboratory; and in October of the same year, went with him abroad as his assistant in experiments and in writing. I returned with him in April 1815, resumed my station in the Royal Institution, and have, as you know, ever since remained there.

I am, dear Sir, very truly yours,

M. FARADAY.

The following is a note of Sir H. Davy, alluded to in Mr. Faraday's letter:

TO MR. FARADAY.

December 24, 1812.

SIR,

I AM far from displeased with the proof you have given me of your confidence, and which displays great zeal, power of memory, and attention. I am obliged to go out of town, and shall not be settled in town till the end of January: I will then see you at any time you wish.

It would gratify me to be of any service to you. I wish it may be in my I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

power.

H. DAVY.

I must now recall the reader's attention to the affair of the gunpowder manufactory, to which some allusion has been already made. It is far from my wish to intrude upon the public any account of a private transaction; but the circumstances to which I must refer are already well known, and I believe, moreover, that they have been the subject of misrepresentation.

The letters I shall introduce appear to me highly interesting; and by the warmth of feeling with which they repel the bare suspicion of his prostituting science to the acquisition of wealth, to develope a feature in his character too important to be omitted in a memoir of his life.

From the following letter, it would appear that Davy's alarms, with respect to his responsibilities, were first awakened by a sight of the labels, in which his name was introduced.

TO JOHN GEORGE CHILDREN, ESQ.

MY DEAR CHILDREN,

Rokeby, July 1813.

I AM very sorry you did not come to Cobham, as the party was very pleasant.

Your apparatus was magnificent, worthy an Imperial Institute: there were some swine however for the pearls; at least, there was one,-you cannot suppose I mean any other than

I have been much disturbed and vexed by enquiries respecting the price

* I am here bound to state, from a careful examination of all the original documents, that his name was introduced in the very words which he suggested, and which I have at this moment before me in his own handwriting—so differently, however, does the same sentence strike the print and in manuscript, that an author frequently does not recognise his own composition.

eye

'in

me.

of my gunpowder, which from the labels I find is supposed to be sold by These labels must be altered, so as to put in a clear point my relations to the manufacture; and it must be understood by the public that I have given my gratuitous assistance and advice only.

I have written to Mr. Burton by post, giving two forms. I shall do you more good if these are adopted than I can now; and I wish them to be adopted speedily, as it may otherwise get abroad that I have nothing to do with the powder, and that my name is used in a manner which does not meet my approbation.

In the labels in the windows, it should not be under my directions, for this implies that I am a superintendent in the manufactory; but it should be— "RAMHURST GUNPOWDER, manufactured by Messrs. B. C. and Co. In the composition of this powder, the proprietors have been assisted by the advice and assistance of Sir H. Davy."

A fair statement will do the manufacture good. Misapprehension will do it much harm.

I am now at Rokeby; we shall be in a few days at Braham Castle, Lord Mackenzie's, near Dingwall, where we shall stay for a week. After that we shall go to the Marquis of Stafford's, Dunrobin, near Goldspie.

[blocks in formation]

I WROTE to you from Rokeby. I expressed my feelings respecting the gunpowder. I have been in extreme harrass and anxiety from the idea of the use of my name, without the proper explanation, and I certainly expected that no use would have been made of it without my sanction. I never saw the label for the canister till it came to me upon one of them, and I immediately expressed that I was not satisfied with it.

I told Mr. Burton expressly, that in all cases in which my name was used it must be in my own way. He is now at the head of your firm; but it is to you, and not to him, that I have given, and shall give my assistance.

Every feeling of friendship and affection prompts my wishes to be useful

to you; I have not the same relations to Mr. Burton.

I am very sorry to give you any trouble on this business, but I am sure

you cannot wish me to remain in a state of anxiety; and all the friends with whom I have consulted think it absolutely necessary for my reputation, that, when my name is used, a clear statement should be given of the true nature of the connexion.

I think it will be more useful to you, and increase your influence and power in the partnership, if my assistance is stated as given to you, and to you only-in this way: "RAMHURST GUNPOWDER, manufactured by Messrs. Burton, Children, and Co. after an improved process, founded upon experiments and investigations made by Sir H. Davy, and communicated by him to Mr. J. G. Children, under whose immediate superintendence the gunpowder is made."

I have fully made up my mind on this matter; and if you approve of the above form, I will state it to be the only one to which I will consent.

If the gunpowder is called Sir H. Davy's powder, it must be stated in all cases where my name is used, that it is so called in honour of my discoveries in chemistry, and because I have given my gratuitous assistance in making the experiments and investigations on which the process is founded.

I have resolved to make no profit of any thing connected with science. I devote my life to the public in future, and I must have it clearly understood, that I have no views of profit in any thing I do.

I am, my dear Children,
Very affectionately yours,

H. DAVY.

In subsequent letters, which it is not necessary to publish, Davy dwells upon the necessity of his engagements as a partner being legally cancelled, as he cannot endure the idea of his philosophical repose and usefulness being disturbed by the cares of business, or the trouble of litigation.

It is scarcely necessary to add, that all the parties concerned in this transaction most readily and cheerfully met Davy's wishes, all erroneous impressions were effaced, and the affair was adjusted amicably and satisfactorily; and he prepared to quit England with a mind relieved from all the fears and anxieties which had so unfortunately oppressed it.

« PreviousContinue »