Faraday to T. Huxtable   18 October 1812

London, October 18, 1812

Dear Huxtable, - You will be at a lost to know what to think of me, inasmuch as near two months have expired, and you have not, in that time, received any answer to your agreeable communication. I have to beg your pardon for such delay, and scarce know how satisfactorily to account for it. I have indeed acted unadvisedly on that point, for, conceiving that it would be better to delay my answer until my time was expired, I did so. That took place on October 7, and since then I have had by far less time and liberty than before. With respect to a certain place I was disappointed¹, and am now working at my old trade, the which I wish to leave at the first convenient opportunity. I hope (though fear not) that you will be satisfied with this cause for my silence; and if it appears insufficient to you, I must trust to your goodness. With respect to the progress of the sciences I know but little, and am now likely to know still less; indeed, as long as I stop in my present situation (and I see no chance of getting out of it just yet), I must resign philosophy entirely to those who are more fortunate in the possession of time and means.

Sir H. Davy is at present, I believe, in Scotland². I do not know that he has made any further advances in Chemical science. He is engaged in publishing a new work, called “The Elements of Chemical Philosophy,” which will contain, I believe, all his discoveries, and will likewise be a detail of his philosophical opinions. One part of the first volume is published³. It is in price 11s. or 12s. 6d. I have not yet seen it. Abbott, whom you know some little about, has become a member of the City Philosophical Society, which is held at Tatum’s house every Wednesday evening. He (Abbott) has sent me a ticket for admission next Wednesday to a lecture; but as you know their rules, I have no need to enter further into them.

With Abbott I continue a very intimate and pleasing acquaintance. I find him to be a very well-informed young man. His ideas are correct, and his knowledge, general as well as philosophical, is extensive. He acts too with a propriety of behaviour equal to your own, and I congratulate myself much on the acquisition of two such friends as yourself and him.

How are you situated now? Do you intend to stop in the country, or are you again coming up to London? I was in hopes that I should see you shortly again. Not that I wish to interfere in your arrangements, but for the pleasure it would give me. But I must not be selfish. It is possible that you may be settled where you are at present, or other strong and urgent reasons may exist that will keep you there. If it is so, I wish they may be such as will afford you pleasure, and tend to increase the happiness and comfort of your life.

I am at present in very low spirits, and scarce know how to continue on in a strain that will be anyway agreeable to you; I will therefore draw to a close this dull epistle, and conclude with wishing you all health and happiness, assuring you that I am sincerely yours, | M. Faraday.

Address: Mr. T. Huxtable, at Mr Anthony’s⁴, | South Moulton, Devonshire.