On October 8, 1812, Faraday went as a journeyman bookbinder to a Mr. De la Roche, then a French emigrant in London. He was a very passionate man, ‘and gave his assistant so much trouble that he felt he could not remain in his place,’ although his master held out every inducement to him to stay, and even said to him, ‘I have no child, and if you will stay with me you shall have all I have when I am gone.’

The letters which Faraday wrote to his friends Abbott and Huxtable show ‘how eager was the desire he felt to proceed further in the way of philosophy,’ and how strongly he was drawn towards ‘the service of science;’ they also show how far he had educated himself when he first went to the Royal Institution, and they give an insight into his character when he changed his course of life, and began his scientific career at the very lowest step, but under the greatest master of the time.

Four days after his apprenticeship ended, he wrote to his friend Abbott.

'Sunday afternoon, October 11, 1812.

‘Dear A—, I thank you heartily for your letter yesterday, the which gave me greater pleasure than any one I had before received from you. I know not whether you will be pleased by such commendation or not; it is the best I can bestow.