Faraday to Richard Phillips   21 June 1831

Royal Institution | June 21, 1831

My dear Phillips

I have been trying hard to get time enough to write to you by post tonight but without success; the bell has rung and I am too late. However I am resolved to be ready tomorrow. We have been very anxious & rather embarrassed in our minds about you anxious to know how things were proceeding and uncertain whether reference to them would be pleasant and that has been the cause why I have not written to you for I did not know what character your connexion with Bad[h]ams¹ had. I was a little the more embarrassed because of my acquaintance with Mr. Rickards² & his family & of course with his Brother in law Dr. Nicholl of whom I have made numerous enquiries to know what Mr. Rickards intended doing at Birmingham. He (Dr Nichol[l]) hoped it would be nothing unpleasant to you but was not sure. Our only bit of comfort in the matter was on hearing from Daniell about you a little; he was here to day & glad to hear of you through me. But now that I may write let me say that Mrs. Faraday has been very anxious with myself and begs me earnestly to remember her to Mrs. Phillips[.] We have often wished we could have had you here for an hour or two to break off what we supposed might be the train of thoughts at home[.]

With regard to the five guineas, do not think of it for a moment[.] Whilst I supposed a Mercantile concern wanted my opinion for its own interested uses I saw no reason why it should not pay me but it is altogether another matter when it becomes your affair[.] I do not think you would have wished me to pay you five guineas for any thing you might have done personally for me. “Dog dont eat dog” as Sir E. Home³ said to me in a similar case. The affair is settled[.]

I have no doubt I shall be amused and as you speak of new facts instructed by your letter to Dr Reid⁴ as I am by all your letters⁵[.] Daniell says he thinks you are breaking a fly upon the wheel. You know I consider you as the Prince of Chemical critics[.]

Pearsall⁶ has been working as you know on red Manganese solutions[.] He has not proved but he makes out a strong case for the opinion that they owe their colour & other properties to Manganesic acid[.] His paper will be in the next No of the Journal⁷.

With regard to the gramme wine pint &c &c in the Manipulation I had great trouble about them for I could find no agreement and at last resolved to take certain conclusions from Capt. Katers paper⁸ and the Act of Parliament⁹ and calculated the rest[.] I think I took the data at page 67 paragraph 119 as the data but am not sure and cannot go over them again¹⁰[.]

My Memory gets worse & worse daily. I will not therefore say I have not received your Pharmacopoeia¹¹ that of 1824 is what I have at hand & use[.] I am not aware of any other¹². I have sent a paper to the RS but not chemical it is on sound &c &c¹³. If they print it, of course you will have a copy in due time[.]

I am, my dear Phillips | Most faithfully & sincerely Yours | M. Faraday

Is it right to ask what has become of Bad[h]ams. I suppose he is of course a defaulter at the R.S. ¹⁴

Address: Richard Phillips Esq | &c &c | Dartmouth Street | Birmingham