It has been remarked of Faraday that his was a poet-nature expressing itself through science; and this estimate seems largely true, but the verses which he wrote in his common-place book, "On Love," if they be his own composition, are extremely poor; there are other verses though which will merit quotation. They are written by Mr. Dryden, a fellow-member of the City Philosophical Society, and are entitled "Quarterly Night," October 2nd, 1816, being descriptive of one of the periodical gatherings of the Society. The following passage is of especial interest to us, as it shows how Faraday impressed a young contemporary:—
"But hark! A voice arises near the chair!
Its liquid sounds glide smoothly through the air;
The listening Muse with rapture bends to view
The place of speaking and the speaker too.
Neat was the youth in dress, in person plain;
His eye read thus, Philosopher-in-grain;
Of understanding clear, reflection deep;
Expert to apprehend, and strong to keep.
His watchful mind no subject can elude,