As a lecturer to children Faraday was indeed particularly successful and especially interesting. His first course of Christmas Juvenile Lectures was given in 1827—his last, on "The Chemical History of a Candle," was given in 1863, and during that time he gave in all nineteen of these courses. The first consisted of six lectures on chemistry, and the first lecture of the course was illustrated with no fewer than eighty-six experiments, which were, it is scarcely necessary to say, carried out on the platform. In his note-book Faraday made the following entry with regard to this course, "The six juvenile lectures were just what they ought to have been, both in matter and manner; but it would not answer to give an extended course in the same spirit."
One secret of Faraday's success as a lecturer, both to juveniles and others, was the carefulness with which he always tried to ascertain what was the best method. In early years he would have a friend (Magrath, or some other) among the audience, who was to tell him afterwards of any peculiarities, either of manner or style, that wanted correcting; and Miss Reid tells us that in the early years of the Juvenile Lectures her uncle used to encourage her to tell him everything that struck her; and, when she did not fully understand him, where her difficulties lay. He would then enlarge upon those points in the next lecture, and thus he made a child's remark serve him in making things clear to children. He used also, at first, to have a card, on which was distinctly written the word Slow, before him; and if he forgot it and became rapid, his assistant Anderson had orders to place it before him. Sometimes also when his lecture hour was nearly expired, he would arrange to have a card with the word Time on it, placed within his view.
One of his early courses for children treated of that subject which always possessed a great fascination for him, and in which he did much of his greatest work—electricity. The slight notes which he made for the first lecture of this course are interesting. "An extraordinary power that I have to explain; not fear boldly entering into its consideration, because I think it ought to be understood by children—not minutely, but so as to think reasonably about it, and such effects as children can produce, or observe to take place in nature—simple instances of its power." This first lecture was illustrated by eighty experiments.
We have dwelt upon his kindliness and sympathy with children; but, it may be noted, he had none of his own, though from almost the earliest year of his married life he always liked to have one or other of his nieces with him. His love for children is well shown in an anecdote which Dr. Gladstone tells of his later life. He was at a soirée at the house of Mr. Justice Grove; the eldest daughter having heard him express himself disappointed at being too late to see any of the younger members of the family, brought down the little ones in their nightgowns to the foot of the stairs, when Faraday showed how gratified he was by saying to her, "Ah! that's the best thing you've done to-night."
Sometimes he would indulge in some slight practical jokes with the young people. For instance, a nephew visiting him in his study one morning, Faraday said to him, "Why, Frank, what a tall boy you are growing; you can almost touch that brass ball—just try." Nothing loth, the boy standing on tiptoe reached up and touched the ball with his fingers, when his playful uncle gave a turn to a wheel and the boy received a slight shock, and with it a first, and somewhat unexpected, lesson on the nature of electricity.
FARADAY LECTURING BEFORE THE PRINCE CONSORT, PRINCE OF WALES AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH.
Reduction of the picture painted][in 1856 by Alexander Blaikley.
The Prince Consort was a constant patron of the Royal Institution, and the young princes also were present at many of the Juvenile Lectures. After attending such a course H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, then a lad of fifteen, and his brother, H.R.H. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, wrote from Windsor Castle the following letters to Professor Faraday:—