Caroline Fox to Faraday   22 November 1835

Little Holland House | Sunday night

Dear Sir,

I learnt with great satisfaction this morning that Dr Holland had called upon Sir James South by appointment, as I conclude the business could be no other than that of settling a second interview between you & Ld Melbourne1 in which I feel a security that all the misunderstandings of the first will be cleared up, & the result an increase of esteem & respect on both sides2.

And now I have to tell you that I have opened a little negotiation with Sir James[.] I have requested him to use his influence to persuade you to give me the pleasure of your company at dinner here with him next Thursday3 at 1/2 past six. You need not fear a large party, for I am not yet equal to the fatigue of receiving many guests - but one or two persons desirous of making Mr Faraday's acquaintance & whom I think worthy of being known, it would please me much to have such an opportunity of introducing to him. I beg my compliments to Mrs Faraday & hope in better health & a brighter season to ask the pleasure of her company too when my little garden looks in flowering beauty[.]

I am dear Sir | with sincere esteem | yours | Caroline Fox


Endorsed by Faraday: To MF | 23 Nov 1835 | From Miss Fox | 23 Nov

Address: Michael Faraday Esq | Royal Institution | Albemarle St

1
See letter 825 for details of the first interview.
2
According to Tyndall (1868), 269 "An excellent lady, who was a friend both to Faraday and the Minister, tried to arrange matters between them; but she found Faraday very difficult to move from the position he had assumed. After many fruitless efforts, she at length begged of him to state what he would require of Lord Melbourne in induce him to change his mind. He replied, "I should require from his lordship what I have no right or reason to expect that he would grant:- a written apology for the words he permitted himself to use to me."". See letter 837.
3
That is 26 November 1835.

Bibliography

TYNDALL, John (1868): “On Faraday as a Discoverer”, Proc. Roy. Inst., 5: 199-272.

Please cite as “Faraday0834,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday0834