rate of chlorine, Davy, I
submit, may be excused for thinking differently. A father is not
always wise enough to see that his son has ceased to be a boy, and
estrangement on this account is not rare; nor was Davy wise enough to
discern that Faraday had passed the mere assistant stage, and become a
discoverer. It is now hard to avoid magnifying this error. But had
Faraday died or ceased to work at this time, or had his subsequent
life been devoted to money-getting, instead of to research, would
anybody now dream of ascribing jealousy to Davy? Assuredly not. Why
should he be jealous? His reputation at this time was almost without
a parallel: his glory was without a cloud. He had added to his other
discoveries that of Faraday, and after having been his teacher for
seven years, his language to him was this: 'It gives me great pleasure
to hear that you are comfortable at the Royal Institution, and I trust
that you will not only do something good and honourable for yourself,
but also for science.' This is not the language of jealousy, potential
or actual. But the chlorine business introduced irritation and anger,
to which, and not to any ignobler motive, Davy's opposition to the
election of Faraday to the Royal Society is, I am persuaded, to be
ascribed.

These matters are touched upon with perfect candour, and becoming
consideration, in the volumes of Dr. Bence Jones; but in 'society'
they are not always so handled. Here a name of noble intellectual
associations is surrounded by injurious rumours which I would
willingly scatter for ever. The pupil's magnitude, and the splendour
of his position, are too great and absolute to need as a foil the
humiliation of his master. Brothers in intellect, Davy and Faraday,
however, could never have become brothers in feeling; their characters
were too unlike. Davy loved the pomp and circumstance of fame;
Faraday the inner consciousness that he had fairly won renown. They
were both proud men. But with Davy pride projected itself into the
outer world; while with Faraday it became a steadying and dignifying
inward force. In one great particular they agreed. Each of them
could have turned his science to immense commercial profit, but
neither of them did so. The noble excitement of research, and the
delight of discovery, constituted their reward. I commend them to the
reverence which great gifts greatly exercised ought to inspire. They
were both ours; and through the coming