William Vernon Harcourt to Faraday   5 September 1831

Dear Sir

I was extremely sorry to hear that your engagements would prevent your being able to attend the scientific Meeting at York¹ at which your presence both in your philosophical & social character, however you may disdain the latter, would have been especially acceptable.

Though you do not come yourself it may perhaps be in your power to send us some scientific novelties, some account for instance of Vanadium, the history of which its discoverers seem to be very slow in communicating². You may also have an opportunity of inducing the authors of any new inventions or discoveries which may be afloat to exhibit them on this occasion, and as the R. Institution is not sitting you are under no temptation to monopolise them; At this time of the year the Lions may be allowed to perambulate the country.

I hope however that at this meeting we shall do something more than shew or see the Lions. There are hopes I think of setting an Association on foot which may give a fresh & active impulse to scientific research in this country. The plan respecting which I am in correspondence with Mr. Herschel Dr. Brewster Mr. Whewell³ & others, is to form an association of all members of all the scientific societies in Great Britain to meet annually to receive & discuss Reports made to it by Committees or Individuals selected from among its number on the state of the several sciences & the points in each most immediately inviting investigation, & therefrom to charge such of its members with the proposed researches as may be most competent for the task, either severally or jointly. In particular cases the expense of experiments may be defrayed, or prizes may be offered; & supposing the Association to possess not only numbers but character & also some courage & freedom of discussion it might obtain more influence with the Government of the country than science has hitherto enjoyed & command for it some degree of national encouragement.

To give efficiency to such a plan as this it must have the active support of all or the greater part of the most eminent cultivators of science & without some promise of that support it would be in vain to propose it[.] Will you assist in carrying it into execution? Would you for instance make one of a Committee to report on the state of Chemistry the points of theory most requiring investigation & the experimental data to be first established or supposing such a report made, would you take part in conducting the researches so designated & resolved upon?

If it strikes you that this plan or any modification of it may help to raise a spirit of enterprise & exertion in science & give a systematic direction to its present loose & disjointed efforts, pray give your mind to it and write me any suggestions which may occur to you as soon as you can, either as to the constitution of the proposed Society, or as to the points in science coming under your own observation which it should undertake to have investigated.

I am dear Sir | Yours truly | Wm. Vernon Harcourt

Sept. 5. 1831 | Wheldrake | near York