Dionysius Lardner to Faraday   16 January 1835

Paris, | 16 Jany 1835

My Dear Faraday. In case you continue to desire that I should endeavour to give some sketch of the circumstances attending Halleys comet I should wish to do so if it be convenient to you on either the first or second friday in february¹. I have however some fears that the subject will want novelty since there is a very able article on it in the companion to the British almanack for the present year from the pen I suspect of Lubbock². If however notwithstanding this you think the matter will not have the flatness of a twice told tale I will do the best I can with it.

If you should decide to have it, there are one or two little matters which being previously prepared would greatly facilitate the explanation and as I shall most probably not arrive in London till a day or two before the time fixed for the lecture you will perhaps have the goodness to cause the things to be prepared by some one connected with the institution.

I enclose a paper describing what I think would be desirable. The little contrivance of circular & elliptic rings of wire will save a world of explanation and will indeed do what no explanation could equally well effect. I fear you will think the figures to be written on paper too long, yet I do not very well see how we can either dispense with or abridge them. Indeed in addition to them I shall want the use of rather a large black board.

If you thought that two evenings on comets would not be wearisome, we might with very interesting matter respecting Encke's comet, and the comet of 1770, the comet of 1680 (supposed to have been the proximate cause of the deluge &c) in addition to Halleys, occupy the two first fridays in feby. I could not at present undertake any friday evening except one or both of these because I am not certain when I shall be in town. I shall be obliged to leave town the third week of feby.

ever yours faithfully | Dion: Lardner

Any letter addressed to St James Square will be forwarded to me thro the embassy[.]

Address: Dr. Faraday | Royal Institution | Albemarle St.