Faraday to Benjamin Abbott   1 June 1813

June 1st 1813

Dear Abbott

Again I resort for pleasure and to dispell the dullness of a violent head-ach to my correspondence with you tho perfectly unfit for it except as it may answer the purpose of amusing myself[.] The subject upon which I shall dwell more particularly at present has been in my head for some considerable time and it now bursts forth in all its confusion[.]

The opportunities that I have latterly had of attending and obtaining instruction from various Lecturers in their performance of the duty attached to that office has enabled me to observe the various habits peculiarities excellences and defects of each of them as far as they were evident to me during the delivery[.] I did not wholly let this part of the things occurrant escape my notice but when I found myself pleased endeavoured to ascertain the particular circumstance that had affected me: also whilst attending Mr. Brande and Mr. Powell¹ in their lectures I observed how the audience were affected and by what their pleasure & their censure was drawn forth.

It may perhaps appear singular and improper that one who is entirely unfit for such an office himself & who does not even pretend to any of the requisites for it should take upon him to censure and to commend others to express satisfaction at this to be displeased with that according as he is lead by his judgement when he allows that his judgement is unfit for it but I do not see on consideration that the impropriety is so great[.] If I am unfit for it ‘tis evident that I have yet to learn and how learn better than by the observation of others[.] If we never judge at all we shall never judge right and it is far better to learn to use our mental powers (‘tho it may take a whole life for the purpose) than to leave them buried in idleness a meer void[.]

I too have inducements in the C.P.S. to draw me forward in the acquisition of a small portion of knowledge on this point and these alone would be sufficient to urge me forward in my judgement of

In a word Ben I intend to give you my ideas on the subject of lectures and lecturers in general. The observations and ideas I shall set down are such as entered my mind at the moment the circumstances that gave rise to them took place. I shall point out but few beauties or few fa[u]lts that I have not witnessed in the presence of a numerous assembly and it is exceedingly probable or rather certain that I should have noticed more of these particulars if I had seen more lecturers or in other words I do not pretend to give you an account of all the fa[u]lts possible in a lecture or directions for the composing & delivering of a perfect one[.]

On going to a lecture I generally get there before it begins indeed I consider it as an impropriety of no small magnitude to disturb the attention of an audience by entering amongst them in the midst of a lecture and indeed bordering upon an insult to the lecturer. by arriving there before the commencement I have avoided this error and have had time to observe the lecture room.

The best form for a lecture room in general is without dispute a circular one tho in particular circumstances deviations may with propriety be adopted[.] The seats should be so arranged that no obstruction intervene between the spectator & the lecture table if there is a gallery each person in it should be situated in a manner the most convenient for observation and hearing[.] Those in which I have seen company and which please me most are the Theatre Royal Haymarket the Automatical Theatre and the Lecture room here to the last of which I must give the preference[.] In a lecture room I would have the lecturer on a levell with the lowest person in it consequently the pit should ascend very considerably an object which cannot be attained in a theatre also in the two I have mentioned the lecturer is too far backward and a part of his audience is placed in a direction by far too oblique with respect to him - I allude to the side seats of this theatre[.]

In considering the form of a Lecture room we should take into account the time at which it is intended to be occupied inasmuch as the modes of lighting by means natural and artificial are very different[.] In this particular the theatres in a large way have one advantage i.e. in the site of their stage lamps which illuminate in a grand manner all before them tho at the same time they fatigue the eyes of those who are situated low in the house but tho Walker² has shewn in the most splendid and sublime manner that Astronomy may be illustrated in a way the most striking by artificial light³ yet from what little I know of these things I conceive that for by far the greater part of Philosophy day light is the most eligible and convenient[.]

When a Lecture room is illuminated by the light of the Sun it should constantly be admitted if convenient at the top not only as rendering the whole of the interior more uniform and distinct but also for the convenience of darkening the room. in the instance of the Lecture room here you will readily recognize the mode of attaining that end to which I allude.

There is another circumstance to be considered with respect to a Lecture room of as much importance almost as light itself and that is ventilation how often have I felt oppression in the highest degree when surrounded by a number of other persons and confined in one portion of air how have I wished the Lecture finished the lights extinguished and myself away merely to obtain a fresh supply of that element. The want of it caused the want of attention of pleasure and even of comfort and not to be regained without its previous admission[.] Attention to this is more particularly necessary in a lecture room intended for night delivery as the lights burning add considerably to the oppression produced on the body.

Entrance and Exit are things too, worthy of consideration amongst the particulars of a Lecture room but I shall say no more on them than to refer you to the mode in which this is arranged here a mode excellently well adapted for the convenience of a great number of persons.

Having thus thrown off in a cursory manner such thoughts as spontaneously entered my mind on this part of the subject it appears proper next to consider the subject fit for the purposes of a Lecture[.] Science is undeniably the most eminent in its fitness for this purpose there is no part of it that may not be treated of illustrated and explained with profit and pleasure to the hearers in this manner the facility too with which it allows of manual and experimental illustrations place it foremost in this class of subject after it comes (as I conceive) Arts and Manufactures the Polite Arts Belles Lettres &c a list which may be extended untill it includes almost every thought and idea in the mind of man Politics excepted - I was going to add religion to the exception but remembered that it is explained and laid forth in the most popular and eminent manner in this way[.]

The fitness of subjects - however is connected in an inseparable manner with the kind of audience that is to be present since excellent Lectures in themselves would appear absurd if delivered before an audience that did not understand them[.] Anatomy would not do for the generality of audiences at the R.I. neither would Metaphysics engage the attention of a company of school boys. Let the subject fit the audience or otherwise success may be despaired of.

A Lecturer may consider his audience as being Polite or Vulgar (terms I wish you to understand according to Shuffletons new Dictionary⁴) Learned or unlearned (with respect to the subject) Listeners or Gazers - Polite Company expect to be entertained not only by the subject of the Lecture but by the manner of the Lecturer, they look for respect, for language consonant to their dignity and ideas on a levell with their own[.] The vulgar that is to say in general those who will take the trouble of thinking and the bees of business wish for something that they can comprehend. this may be deep and elaborate for the Learned but for those who are as yet Tyros and unacquainted with the subject must be simple and plain[.] Lastly Listeners expect reason and sense whilst Gazers only require a succession of words[.]

These considerations should all of them engage the attention of the Lecturer whilst preparing for his occupation each particular having an influence on his arrangements proportionate to the nature of the company he expects he should consider them connectedly so as to keep engaged completely during the whole of the Lecture the attention of his audience[.]

If agreeable this subject shall be resumed at a future time till when I am as always

Yours sincerely | M. Faraday

Address: Mr. B. Abbott | Long Lane | Bermondsey