Over the winter of 1860-1861, as the secession crisis was tearing the American Republic into pieces, Michael Faraday, one of the most renowned scientists of the day, delivered a series of six lectures on science at the Royal Institute to audiences consisting principally of children. The Royal Institute had offered such lectures during the Christmas holidays since 1825, and Mr. Faraday delivered 19 of the lectures series between 1829 and 1860.
Mr. Faraday’s lectures were accompanied by demonstr...