From Michael Faraday   1er juillet 1823

Every letter of mine to you either is, or ought to be, a letter of thanks for I constantly find myself indebted to you for actual kindness and expressions of your good opinion. It is very delightful to enjoy the approbation of those who are themselves worthy of all praise and, whether worthy or unworthy myself, I certainly have that enjoyment on reading your letters. I am afraid that those around me will become jealous if you continue still to express yourself as you have done; at the same time it shall not be for want of exertion on my part in doing all that I can that you shall have cause to cease to do so.

I have before complained to you of my want of understanding in the high branches of science with which you can delight & instruct yourself and you will, I am sure, therefore forgive me for not being able at once to follow you in the beautiful train of reasoning & demonstration which you have pursued and given rise to. I am really almost ashamed of the objections I made to the free admission of your theory for it accords so well with all the facts I can see that I ought perhaps to have allowed that what I could not see was invisible to me merely through the imperfection of my own perceptive powers.

I have lately received many presents from you and one not many days ago from Mr. Underwood. I prise them very much and again offer my thanks for them. I wish I had other papers of equal consequence to return for them but from their scarcity you will be content perhaps to wait a long time for one. Mr. Underwood spoke in warm terms of your kind feelings towards me inasmuch that I could hardly have thought it possible to be as he said for I fell no merit on my part that can claim such good will. I may however well comprehend the cause in your own liberal feeling and I may easily admit that to be the source of your good opinion from the constant liberality of sentiment I have experienced in all the French Philosophers. Though comparatively young in science, I have still had occasion to experience something of the influence of those around me and I am compelled to say I have not found that kindness candour and liberality at home which I have now on several occasions uniformly experienced from the Parisian men of Science.

I have written you rather a long letter considering there is no scientific news in it but I was anxious to acknowledge justly the favours I owe you and to say how highly I do esteem and shall esteem every mark of your kindness and friendship. Considering the very subordinate situation I hold here and the little encouragement which circumstances hold out to me, I have more than once been tempted to resign scientific pursuits altogether but then the remembrance of such letters & expressions as yours cheers me again and I struggle on in hopes of getting results at one time or another that shall by their novelty or interest raise me into a more liberal and active sphere.

I am Dear Sir your very obliged & faithful Servant M. Faraday