Davy discovered the metal, potassium, by means of his electric battery. Potassium is found in common potash and saltpetre, and, when separated, is a very soft metal. The newly discovered metal aroused great interest in other countries. When Napoleon heard of it, he inquired impetuously how it happened the discovery had not been made in France. On being told that in France there had not been made an electric battery of sufficient power, he exclaimed: "Then let one be instantly made without regard to cost or labor." His command was obeyed, and he was called to witness the action of the new battery. Before any one could interfere he placed the ends of the wires under his tongue and received a shock that nearly deprived him of sensation. On recovering he left the laboratory without a word, and was never afterward heard to refer to the subject. Davy made many great discoveries, but the greatest was his discovery of Faraday. * * * * * A journey on the Continent with Davy was an event in the life of Faraday, who up to that time had never to his own recollection travelled twelve miles from London. On this journey he met Volta, whom he describes as "an hale elderly man, very free in conversation." He visited the Academy del Cimento, in Florence, and wrote: "Here was much to excite interest; in one place was Galileo's first telescope, that with which he discovered Jupiter's satellites. It was a simple tube of wood and paper, about three and a half feet long, with a lens at each end. There was also the first lens which Galileo made. It was set in a very pretty frame of brass, with an inscription in Latin on it." Faraday crossed the Alps and the Apennines, climbed Vesuvius, visited Rome, and _saw a glow-worm_. The last he thought as wonderful as the first. Shortly after his return to London he fell in love. Now, Faraday had determined that he would not be conquered by the master passion. In fact, he had written various aspersions on love, of which the following is a sample: "What is the pest and plague of human life? And what the curse that often brings a wife? 'Tis Love. What is't directs the madman's hot intent, For which a dunce is fully competent? What's that the wise man always strives to shun, Though still it ever o'er the world has run. 'Tis Love."