Samuel Hunter Christie to Faraday   14 April 1833

Woolwich Common | 14th April 1833

My dear Sir,

I thank you for your early communication of the announcement of Keil's discoveries ¹, and in return send you a Letter to the editor of the True Sun. I will thank you to read it over, and if you think any part will be better omitted, to strike it out after which I must trouble you to get it conveyed to the office of the True Sun. I have taken the whole upon my own shoulders for I considered that having introduced the learned & modest Professor at the meeting², a simple denial of my sanction of his discoveries was not sufficient. I agree with you that the True Sun is not the paper best calculated for the contradiction of Keil's statement to produce effect, but still it ought to be contradicted in the paper in which it appears³. I have however no objection to my statement or any part of it being published in any other paper. I think it would be proper that a joint contradiction of the last paragraph should be drawn up, and sent to the Times and another morning paper. If you will have this done I shall be quite ready to sign it. Mr Barlow, to whom I have shewn the modest puff, would I think likewise do so. I say that we shall have the odium of attempting to stifle discovery Keil & Co the credit of making it; and, what is more, I suspect after all, they will have the profit, not that their "acknowledged scientific attainments and veracity" merit, but which "interested empires" generally reap. Perhaps you will be able to call on Tuesday evening. I trust you have before this quite got rid of cold &c. With best compts to Mrs Faraday, I am

Ever yours truly | S.H. Christie

Michael Faraday Esq