Faraday to Charles William Pasley   26 June 1829¹

Royal Institution | June 26 1829

Dear Sir

I am very much obliged to you for your letter and beg to thank you for the good opinion which induces you to think me worthy of being trusted with what always must be if properly filled a responsible office. But I am not clear that I gather your meaning correctly: from the beginning of your letter I am led to believe that I am thought worthy by others as well as yourself, but towards the close I think you say that probably economy will guide the selection, & some second or third rate person be appointed; so that I hardly know whether to consider your letter as an offer or not[.]

If those who have the power to appoint the lecturer were to think it would be expedient to have my services, and were to offer me the option of accepting the situation, I should be very much inclined to do so because of its taking me more frequently into the air than my present arrangements do, and so I trust benefiting my health. As to fulfilling the duty I shall say nothing to you, who know my manner of lecturing and my general character; & can therefore judge for yourself. But I should want to know, what pay would be allowed; what extent of Course and if duties would be required; what kind of laboratory & establishment there is upon the spot; what assistance would be allowed in preparing the lectures; (you know they are not mere talk but involve if properly illustrated a great deal of experiment & labour,) and what other circumstances there are bearing upon the question.

However if there is any possibility of my being called upon to undertake these lectures, I would, after hearing the extent of course & the pay allowed, and finding them consistent with my views, I would, I say, come to Woolwich and we would look at the Laboratory & establishment together. But it is not worth while anticipating so far in advance at present.

I am going out of town in about ten days & shall be absent for a month or five weeks.

I am dear Sir | Yours Very faithfully | M. Faraday

Coll C.W. Pasley | &c &c