Text Online
From:
Michael Faraday
To:
James South
Date:
3 February 1865
Source of text:
IET MS SC 3
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Faraday Project
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Looked for JS to talk with him about the secretaryship of the R.S.L., specifically discussing Charles Babbage's position. JH would prefer to have JS nominate Babbage.
Urges JS not to insist on a minor point of dispute about the title of a prospective member. JH feels it is inappropriate and will simply reflect against Charles Babbage, who proposed this person for membership.
Informs JH that in a letter to The Times signed by Richard Sheepshanks JH's name appears. JS wants to know if JH is aware of this fact.
JH has seen the letter in The Times [see JS's 1838-11-12]. As JS only asked if JH's name was there, JH responds to the question of fact and does not wish further communication on the matter.
Someone has written to The Times as JH's 'champion' and has impugned the conduct of JS towards the R.S.L. To clear his name, JS wants to make public JH's letter to JS of 1826-11-14, which JS quotes.
As JH is not aware that JS has been attacked because of the incident referred to in JH's 1826-11-14, JH is unwilling to give permission for the publication of that letter. It seems to JH that JS is being attacked for unsubstantiated attacks he made on the President and Council of the R.S.L.
As JH will not allow the publication of the letter [see JH's 1838-11-24], JS will provide a plain narrative of the facts to justify his conduct.
Would like JH's permission to make public JH's letter of 1826-11-14 in defence of the conduct of the late Humphry Davy.
States unequivocally that the letter referred to in JS's 1864-10-11 has not 'a syllable' that can in any way affect the question of the conduct or character of the late Humphry Davy. JH could not conceive of publication of the letter without the express consent of the other person mentioned in it [Charles Babbage].
Received JH's letter of 1864-10-14 'with grief almost inexpressible.'
As JH has been approached by Charles Babbage for permission to publish certain portions of JH's correspondence, JH is writing to say that he gives both Babbage and JS permission to publish what they will.
Writes a very kind letter, encouraging JS to remember the good days when JS and JH worked together in astronomy, and to forget less happy events. [This letter was enclosed in JH's 1865-5-31 to John F. South.]
Sends three chronometers set to Blackman St. time. Confirm them by a transit of Arcturus tomorrow, then return them to JS at Blackman St. Gives times for next rocket firings.
Coordinates plans for firing rockets at Blackman St. and Slough. Problems with chronometer errors. [JH annotation: Longitudes of Slough, Greenwich, and Blackman St. Will fire rockets next on 10 July.]
Concerning calculations for the parallax of Mars.