Introduction xvii

memoir I placed in his hands. I returned to Germany,
worked there for nearly another year, and in June 1851 came
back finally from Berlin to England. Then, for the first time,
and on my way to the meeting of the British Association,
at Ipswich, I met a man who has since made his mark upon
the intellect of his time; who has long been, and who by the
• strong law of natural affinity must continue to be, a brother
to me. We were both without definite outlook at the time,
needing proper work, and only anxious to have it to perform.
The chairs of natural history and of physics being advertised
as vacant in the university of Toronto, we applied for them,
he for the one, I for the other; but, possibly guided by a
prophetic instinct, the university authorities declined having
anything to do with either of us. If I remember aright, we
were equally unlucky elsewhere.

One of Faraday's earliest letters to me had reference to
this Toronto business, which he thought it unwise in me to
neglect. But Toronto had its own notions, and in 1853, at
the instance of Dr. Bence Jones, and on the recommendation
of Faraday himself, a chair of physics at the royal institution
was offered to me. I was tempted at the same time to go
elsewhere, but a strong attraction drew me to his side. Let
me say that it was mainly his and other friendships, precious
to me beyond all expression, that caused me to value my
position here more highly than any other that could be offered
to me in this land. Nor is it for its honour, though surely
that is great, but for the strong personal ties that bind me
to it, that I now chiefly prize this place. You might not credit
me were I to tell you how lightly I value the honour of being
Faraday's successor compared with the honour of being
Faraday's friend. His friendship was energy arid inspiration;
his " mantle " is a burden almost too heavy to be borne.

Sometimes during the last year of his life, by the permission
or invitation of Mrs. Faraday, I went up to his rooms to see
him. The deep radiance, which in his lime of strength Hashed
with such extraordinary power from his countenance, had
subsided to a calm and kindly light, by which my latest;
memory of him is wanned and illuminated, J knelt one day
beside him on the carpet; and placed my hand upon lns knee-
he stroked it affectionately, smiled, and murmured in a low
soft voice, the last words that I remember as having been
spoken to me by Michael Faraday.

It was my wish and aspiration to play the part of Schiller

I