Faraday to Benjamin Abbott   8 March 1813

Again I commence the pleasing occupation of writing to a friend and again are the hopes of anticipated pleasures reserved in the expectation of a recommenced & reinvigorated correspondence nor do I feel much allay from doubts of the certainty of my hopes as I now consider my self as being able i.e. being at leisure to support my part and am certain that you will if able maintain yours and knowing your industry I conclude that as you will it so you do it[.]

Since I have had a little leisure I have looked over our correspondence & I find I have at this time five letters from you by me unanswered[.] I shall not notice any other than the last at this time except to thank you for them and even that from me to you is unnecessary. As for the verses contained in the fifth I think them indeed beautifull & impressive and not only that but the subject itself or rather the reasoning that the verses contain is excellent & good - too often we find beauty & deformity linked together sublime language & an insignificant subject full & affirmative words & no matter but here each part will support that credit it appears to have in the whole and one part will bear as strict an examination as another[.]

It is now about 9 o clock & the thought strikes me that the tongues are going both at Tatums and at the Lecture in Bedford Street but I fancy myself much better employed than I should have been at the Lecture at either of these places[.] Indeed I have heard one lecture already today, and had a finger in it (I can’t say an hand for I did very little) it was by Mr. Powell¹ on Mechanics or rather rotatory motion and was a pretty good lecture but not fully attended[.]

As you know you will feel a pleasure in hearing in what I have been or shall be occupied I will inform you that I have been employed to day in part in extracting sugar from a portion of Beet root and also in making a compound of Sulphur & Carbon a combination which has lately occupied in a considerable degree the attention of chemists².

With respect to next wednesday, I shall be occupied untill late in the afternoon by Sr H Davy & must therefore decline seeing you at that time this I am the more ready to do as I shall enjoy your company next sunday and hope to possess it often in a short time[.]

You must not expect a long letter from me at this time for I assure you my hand feels somewhat strange in the occupation and my thoughts come but lazily this must plead in excuse for so uninteresting a compound & I entertain but little doubt that it will gain it[.]

If you feel incline to favour me with a letter let it be directed at present to Weymouth St[.] I call there generally every evening tho should you have to communicate any thing urgent your usual notification on the exterior will cause it to be conveyed to me immediately[.] Make my respects to all Friends & accept dear Abbott the best wishes of

Yours | M. Faraday

R. Institution | March. 8th. | 1813.

Address: Mr. B. Abbott | Long Lane | Bermondsey