34 Paternoster Row | Wednesday 3 o clk | 23rd1 [sic] April 1835
My dear Sir
I received your letter2 but a short time before I quitted Brighton for Woolwich where I had to lecture this morning. On coming to the Elephant & Castle I wrote to Anderson to bring all letters here to day and have just looked them over. There is not the one to which you refer & as I am very anxious to return to Brighton because of the unarranged state of matters there I shall leave by the 4 o clk coach - concluding indeed that as Sir R Peel's letter has not arrived I may do so without impropriety. I am at 38 King's Road, but shall return to London for good on Saturday next3[.]
I now understand the full force & value of your kindness & in all that you have been striving to do for me and most sincerely thank you for it and still more for your your good opinion without which I know I should not have had your exertions in my favour[.]
I hope you will not think that I am unconscious of the good you intend me or undervalue your great exertions for me when I say that I cannot accept a pension whilst I am able to work for my living[.] Do not from this draw any sudden conclusion that my opinions are such & such. I think Government is right in rewarding & sustaining science. I am willing to think, since such approbation has been intended me that my humble exertions have been worthy, & I think that Scientific men are not wrong in accepting the pensions, but still I may not take a pay which is not for services performed whilst I am able to live by my labours.
I am anxious to see you that you may really understand my feelings on this point, for I know that a letter can not truly represent them. I will seek for you as soon as I possibly can on coming to town.
My most grateful thanks are due to and are with Lord Ashley for his extreme kindness in this affair. The moment I come to town you will I trust help me to pay my respects personally4[.]
I am | My dear Sir James | Most Truly Yours | M. Faraday
Sir Jas South | &c &c &c
Endorsed by Faraday: The letter I had written in reply to Sir J. South (Mr Barnard5 prevented me from sending it & I sent another of which I have no copy) | 23 April 1835
GRIMWADE, Arthur G. (1982): London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837: Their Marks and Lives, 2nd edition, London.
Please cite as “Faraday0782,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday0782