Faraday to Edward Solly   9 February 1832

Feby 9th 1832

Sir

I am very much obliged to you for your last favour. If I had known the circumstances as you describe them, I should (although having the same general impression) have probably not spoken at all, or at least not publickly; though I might perhaps have presumed to lay my view before you in private conversation[.]

I beg to point out to you that I am not an honorary member, nor can be. If I had been, I should have thought much less of the dignity of the class: I could not have said what I did about it; and I could not for a moment have appeared as opposing the certificate in question1[.]

I have only again to regret, most sincerely, that I should in any way have uttered things unpleasant to any member, and especially to one who has so long been a friend to that Institution, which it is my great pleasure and desire to assist and support by every possible means in my power.

I am Sir | Your Obedient Humble Servant | M. Faraday

Edwd Solly Esqr | &c &c &c

1
See RI MS GM, 6 February 1832, 165-6, where it was proposed by Solly and others that Julian Ursin Niemçewitz (1758-1841, NBU, Polish historian and statesman) should be elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Institution. The ballot for this was postponed. RI MS GM, 5 March 1832, 171-2, Solly withdrew his nomination. In the meantime the Managers had admitted him to the Royal Institution. RI MM 20 February 1832, 7: 440-1.

Please cite as “Faraday0545,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 1 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday0545