Humphry Davy to Faraday   3 April 1819

Rome April 3d | 1819

I have an opportunity of sending this letter by a private hand & I shall therefore inclose a note which I beg you will have the goodness to leave at Sir Jos: Banks & to call for a sealed paper which I left in Sir Jos:s hands & of which I have no other copy & which I wish to remodel for the Royal Society. I will trouble you to put this paper in the next packet you may send to me & address it Florence.

There is another commission which I shall be obliged to you to execute for me. Mr Francis Humble editor of a Durham paper¹ has a claim upon me for 2ú 10; which I did not pay because Mr Buddle² told me it was to be paid by the coal committee. Will you have the goodness to write to this Mr Humble Durham & ask him if the two Pounds 10s was paid & if not pay them to anybody He may appoint in London. I inclose an order on my Bankers for ú5 which may be necessary for this & for the postage of letters &c.

The Cavalier Monticelli³ has given me a list of substances wanting for his collection most of them are common substances, it is not necessary that the specimens should be large & I wish to make him a present of such of them as Mr Newman has or can be easily obtained & the expence of which will not exceed four or five Pounds. I shall enclose the list & if Mr Newman will be so good as to send them to Naples, I shall be obliged to him & will pay him. He had (i.e. Monticelli) made a magnificent collection for me which I have desired him to send to the Royal Institution for our museum, so that if there are any of the duplicates that He has named in our collection they may be in [word illegible] conscience if the Managers should approve of it sent in exchange for what He is about to give to us.

I know not yet what government will do with respect to my propositions regarding the MSS. I know that they have been received & that the private report which I sent on the subject has been favourably considered.

Pray when you write me give me any scientific news, for neither journals nor transactions reach this place.

Will you take the trouble to ask for me at the Medical Board Berkeley Street whether my Brothers appointment which it was promised me should take place last summer has yet been made. My eye may have missed the Gazette but I have looked anxiously for it⁴.

Believe me Dear Mr Faraday | Your sincere friend & | Well wisher H. Davy

Endorsed: Recd May 13th. 19

Address: Mr Faraday | Royal Institution | Albemarle Street | London | Angleterre