Faraday to Benjamin Abbott   28 October 1816

Royal Institution Octr. 28 1816.

Dear Abbot[t]

I scarcely know how it is and yet there is no one kind of employment whether of pleasure or business that falls to my share which more frequently and strongly impresses on my mind the truth of the old saying “delays are dangerous” than that of letter writing[.] On the eve of scribbling I am frequently diverted from my purpose and it is very seldom that I perform this duty at the exact time I intended[.] Now though this is the fact yet I know no direct way of accounting for it for I do not perceive clearly the cause[.] I am very much amused by writing when once engaged and am never in a hurry from inclination to leave off - The defect appears to have some connection with habit perhaps that which induces some and it may be amongst them myself to imagine that to write a letter previous study & thought is requisite[.] My reason for supposing this to be the case is that on receiving a letter yours for instance I form answers in my mind to the various parts as I read them & incontinently determine to send those answers to you in the evening - the evening comes but the time appears to be barely sufficient to recollect the matter & not enough to write it also & the affair is therefore deferred to a more convenient time and thus a number of little delays occur each one in itself insignificant but together making us [sic] a tremendous sum[.] It is for one such a sum that I have now to apologise for by referring to the dates I find it is as much as 17 days since I received your last and the delay is aggravated by the circumstance that the nature of that letter in some manner required an immediate answer - I have but little to urge in palliation of my offence but one circumstance that may lessen it in your eyes is or rather was my repeated determination to substitute verbal for written communication[.] I intended to have seen you Sunday week[.] I intended it also last sunday and I positively determined to come this evening but preparations for the morning’s lecture have turned my occupation from walking & talking into writing i.e. * unless you will come and see me and my uncertainty respecting the health of Mrs. Abbott makes me uncertain whether I should ask you (I am too lazy to scratch out and correct you must therefore put in the * “and I do not know when I shall see you”) - I have made up my mind to be in Long Lane next Sabbath day.

I trust that the bad news contained in your last will be compensated for by an excellent account in your next of the health of Mrs. Abbott & the rest of you and that there will be no alloy of that kind in any future communication for a long time to come - With respect to the blow pipe I asked Mr. Newman at the time that you wrote but he happened not to have one made and at present I am not aware whether he has or whether you continue to want it. He gave me to understand that he did not let out apparatus in general - I suppose you are aware that the flame is very small and quite insufficient to heat a large mass of matter with oxygen & hydrogene you cannot ignite a piece bigger than a pea or small horse bean but with common air & the flame of the spirit lamp the flame is somewhat larger[.]

I do not know that there is any thing new in the Chemical world and having been very dry throughout the whole of this letter I shall end by my remembrance to all friends &

sign myself Yours truly | M. Faraday

Address: Mr B. Abbott | 4 Long Lane | Bermondsey