Faraday to Thomas Joseph Pettigrew   9 October 1830

Royal Institution | Oct 9. 1830

My dear Sir

The matter1 about which you & I were talking frequently arises in conversation with others and I do not like to hear mistakes without the desire to correct them. I have no wish or intention to forestall the choice of the fellows of the R.S. for of course they have the right of choice but a Duke is as much entitled to fair representation as another man & ought to have it. I frequently hear the matter spoken of as though the Duke were thrusting himself forward of his own accord and to the displacement of the present President2. Now have you any objection to me having copies of the letters you showed me that I might in such cases put the affair right. It will not be anticipatory because I have heard from Mr Gilbert himself what his intentions are[.]

Ever Truly Yours | M. Faraday

- W. [sic] Pettigrew Esq | &c &c

1
The election of the Duke of Sussex as President of the Royal Society (with John Herschel as his opponent).
2
For the controversy over this election see Hall, M.B. (1984), 52-62. Pettigrew was the Duke’s political agent in this election (ibid., 52) For Faraday’s continued involvement see letter 467.

Please cite as “Faraday0462,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday0462