Faraday to Margaret Faraday   10 November 1814

Rome: November 10, 1814

Dear Mother, - Time goes very strangely with me - sometimes it goes quick, and at other times the same period seems to have passed slowly; sometimes it appears but a few days since I wrote to you, and the next hour it seems like months and years. This is owing to the nature of the mind of man, which, looking to what is at a distance when occupied by present circumstances, sees it not in its true form and state, but tinged by its own cast and situation. But though thus volatile and apparently unstable, yet I am at all times, dear Mother, glad when I can by any means make an opportunity of writing to you; for though however short the distance of time since the last letter may be, yet I have always something I should like to say; and, indeed, the moment a letter is out of my hands I remember something forgotten. It is now a long time, if I may trust to my feelings and the mode of measuring time, since I last had any communication with you except by thought, and indeed longer than I expected, for I was in hopes of finding at the post-office here at least three or four letters for me; but they are not come, I content myself with anticipating the pleasure yet to be enjoyed of perusing them. Since I wrote to you or to England, we have moved over a large and very interesting space of ground. On leaving Geneva, we entered Switzerland, and traversed that mountainous and extraordinary country with health and fine weather, and were much diverted with the curious dresses and customs of the country. When I come home (unless M[argaret]’s knowledge in geography, &c. anticipate me), I shall be able to amuse you with a description, but, at present, time (excuse the excuse) will not allow me.

From Switzerland was passed through the States of Baden, on the lake of Constance (they are very small), across an arm of the kingdom of Wurtemburg, and into Baveria. In this route we had seen, though slightly, Lausanne, Vevay, Berne, Zurich, Schaffhausen and the falls of the Rhine in Switzerland and Munich, and many other towns in Germany. On leaving Munich, we proceeded to and across the Tyrol, and got to Padua, and from Padua to Venice. You will remember very well, I have no doubt, the picture which hung in the parlour over the fireplace, and which represented the Rialto and the Grand Canal of this town. The first I have had the pleasure of crossing several times, and the second I have partly traversed in a Venetian gondola. I cannot refrain from describing very shortly this city, which is certainly unequalled for situation and peculiarity in the world. On approaching it by water - the only mode, for it is three or four miles from land - the houses appear to actually rise out of the waves, for not a bit of ground is to be seen. The walls of the houses pass into the waters, and there seems no landing-place. We entered the city up a canal, and went to the hotel, even to the very door, in our boat. We saw very few places where it was possible to walk, but the number of bridges which passed over the canals showed that there were some means of moving about on foot. On walking out next morning, I found an immense quantity of alleys and narrow passages, by which communication was made from one part of the town to another; and at the Place of St. Mark Venice is beautiful. But I find I am going to extend my description too far, and therefore, to be brief, this place, before it was built upon, was a collection of small flat islands over which the sea would wash in a high storm. When the Venetians built upon them, they laid the foundations of the houses upon piles. The number of inhabitants increased, the city was enlarged, until they had on all sides built into the water. Instead of streets they formed canals - one, called the Grand Canal, runs windingly through the town, and others, smaller, intersect it in all parts. All the houses on the edges of these canals have water doors with steps, where people can pass into and out of gondolas: and it is by these gondolas that all heavy things are conveyed. The internal part of the town is, as I have said before, intersected by alleys and passages paved with flagstones. One large place is to be found (of St. Mark), but no street, and a horse is not to be found in Venice. The people talk Italian generally, though they have a pure Venetian tongue. Their government is very peculiar, and complicated, and curious. After seeing Venice for three days we left it, and came towards Italy, passing Bologna and Florence.

I am always in health, generally contented, and often happy; but, as is usual in every state of life, wish for that I have not, but most for my return home. I envy you the pleasure you must enjoy in each other’s conversation, and from which I am excluded; but I hope you will ameliorate this deprivation as far as you can by thinking at home of me. I mean quickly to write to <-> <->, but, in the meantime, I should be happy to express through you my feelings to them: they cannot for a moment doubt me, but at all times the testimony of remembrance is grateful and pleasing. When you see <-> <->, give them my love in the most earnest manner you can; though, indeed, it is scarcely necessary, for they, and <->, and yourself, dear Mother, must be conscious that you constantly have it when anything, as a letter, &c., reminds you and them of me; but paper is now scarce, and time advanced, and I must quickly leave this letter that it may come to you. But again, dear Mother, I beg of you to let me know quickly how you are, and how situated, as soon as possible. If right, present my humble respects to My. Dyer¹, and my remembrances to Mr. Riebau and other friends, not forgetting <-> <->.

Adieu, dear Mother, for a short time. As ever, your dutiful affectionate son, M. Faraday

Endorsed: Received January 17.