Dionysius Lardner to Faraday   21 November 1833

8 St James Square | 21 Nov: 1833

My Dear Dr: Faraday

If you think my services for one of your weekly evenings at the R.I. can in any way promote your objects, it will give me great pleasure to devote an evening to you at any time in the ensuing season after Easter when you may happen to have nothing more useful or attractive to offer, if indeed that ever happens.

I have been thinking of getting up an illustrative contrivance to give some idea of Babbage's calculating machinery ¹. If I should succeed in doing so perhaps that would be as novel and striking a topic for an hours discourse as could be selected.

Let me entreat however that you may not think it necessary because I have made this offer to put aside any of your existing arrangements. My sole object is to render what benefit I can to the institution and to tender my humble aid to yourself and I should feel disappointment instead of pleasure if I thought that my offer produced the least derangement or embarrassment.

Believe me, with esteem | ever your faithfully | Dion: Lardner

Dr. Faraday

Address: Dr. Faraday | Royal Institution