Faraday to Sarah Faraday   21 July 1822

Paternoster Row: Sunday evening, July 21, 1822

Anxious as I have been to use the only means of communication with you that is left me for the present, yet I have delayed writing till this evening, though I felt certain you would have been rendered happy by a letter from me to-day; but I had left it doubtful whether I should write yesterday, and, when I got home, found many reasons for deferring it, though altogether they were hardly strong enough to counter-balance the single one of giving you pleasure a day earlier. But I must not, my dear girl, suffer my love to you to run away at all times with the prudential reasons which, though small, at various times offer themselves; so I resolved, notwithstanding my fingers tingled to write to you, and you, I knew, would be anxious for my letter, to delay it a day, as well for practice in forbearance as for the convenience.

I perceive that if I give way to my thoughts, I shall write you a mere love-letter, just as usual, with not a particle of news in it; to prevent which I will constrain myself to a narrative of what has happened since I left you up to the present time, and then indulge my affection. ... In the evening I walked up to the Institution; had a letter from Mr. Brande, which was as well as I expected, and gave me leave to go whenever it was necessary for my health’s sake; and then returned home.

Yesterday was a day of events - little, but pleasant. I went in the morning to the Institution, and in the course of the day analysed the water, and sent an account of it to Mr. Hatchett¹. Mr. Fisher² I did not see. Mr. Lawrence³ called in, and behaved with his usual generosity. He had called in the early part of the week, and, finding that I should be at the Institution on Saturday only, came up, as I have already said, and insisted on my accepting two ten-pound bank-notes for the information he professed to have obtained from me at various times. Is not this handsome? The money, as you know, could not have been at any time more acceptable; and I cannot see any reason, my dear love, why you and I should not regard it as another proof, among many, that our trust should without a moment’s reserve be freely reposed on Him who provideth all things for his people. Have we not many times been reproached, by such mercies as these for our caring after food and raiment and the things of this world?

On coming home in the evening, i.e. coming to Paternoster Row home, I learned that Mr. Phillips had seen C., and had told her we should not leave London until Monday evening. So I shall have to-morrow to get things ready in, and I shall enough to do. I fancy we are going to a large mansion and into high company, so I must take more clothes. Having the £20., I am become bold. ...

And now, how does my dear wife and mother do? Are you comfortable? Are you happy? are the lodgings convenient, and Mrs. O. obliging? Has the place done you good? Is the weather fine? Tell me all things as soon as you can. I think if you write directly you get this letter it will be best, but let it be a long letter. I do not know when I wished so much for a long letter as I do from you now. You will get this on Tuesday, and any letter from you to me cannot reach Swansea before Thursday or Friday - a sad long time to wait. Direct to me, Post Office, Swansea; or perhaps better, to me at <-> Vivian, Esq., Marino, near Swansea, South Wales. ...

And now, my dear girl, I must set business aside. I am tired of the dull detail of things, and want to talk of love to you; and surely there can be no circumstances under which I can have more right. The theme was a cheerful and delightful one before we were married, but it is doubly so now. I now can speak, not of my own heart only, but of both our hearts. I now speak, not only with any doubt of the state of your thoughts, but with the fullest conviction that they answer to my own. All that I can now say warm and animated to you, I know that you would say to me again. The excess of pleasure which I feel in knowing you mine is doubled by the consciousness that you feel equal joy in knowing me yours. Oh, my dear Sarah, poets may strive to describe and artists to delineate the happiness which is felt by two hearts truly and mutually loving each other; but it is beyond their efforts, and beyond the thoughts and conceptions of anyone who has not felt it. I have felt it and do feel it, but neither I nor any other man can describe it; nor is it necessary. We are happy, and our God has blessed us with a thousand causes why we should be so. Adieu for to-night. ...

All here send their love and affections to you both. Mine you can estimate perfectly. I constantly feel as if my love had been increasing continually up to the present moment, and yet could not possibly get stronger: such willing believers are we in the tales told by our passion.

You shall shortly hear again from your most affectionate and devoted husband, | M. Faraday