'
He looks at the crystal acted upon by the magnet. From its mass he
passes, in idea, to its atoms, and he asks himself whether the power
which can thus seize upon the crystalline molecules, after they have
been fixed in their proper positions by crystallizing force, may not,
when they are free, be able to determine their arrangement?
He, therefore, liberates the atoms by fusing the bismuth. He places
the fused substance between the poles of an electro-magnet,
powerfully excited; but he fails to detect any action. I think it
cannot be doubted that an action is exerted here, that a true cause
comes into play; but its magnitude is not such as sensibly to
interfere with the force of crystallization, which, in comparison
with the diamagnetic force, is enormous. 'Perhaps,' adds Faraday,
'if a longer time were allowed, and a permanent magnet used, a
better result might be obtained. I had built many hopes upon the
process.' This expression, and his writings abound in such,
illustrates what has been already said regarding his experiments
being suggested and guided by his theoretic conceptions. His mind
was full of hopes and hypotheses, but he always brought them to an
experimental test. The record of his planned and executed experiments
would, I doubt not, show a high ratio of hopes disappointed to hopes
fulfilled; but every case of fulfilment abolished all memory of
defeat; disappointment was swallowed up in victory.
After the description of the general character of this new force,
Faraday states with the emphasis here reproduced its mode of action:
'The law of action appears to be that the line or axis of
MAGNE-CRYSTALLIC force (being the resultant of the action of all the
molecules) tends to place itself parallel, or as a tangent, to the
magnetic curve, or line of magnetic force, passing through the place
where the crystal is situated.
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