Henry Holland to Faraday   2 December 1835

L Brook Street Dec 2

My dear Faraday

I very reluctantly write anything further on a subject which I know to be harassing to you; but I cannot do otherwise than forward this letter of Lord Holland's, which I have just received. It is manifest that he considers (as Miss Fox, & some others have done) that Lord Melbourne's indifference to his own public vindication from this injurious paper¹, is not to be taken as a justification for omitting this - and possibly they are right; though I still incline to think that such explanation of the truth might have been attained by private statement, made fully & explicitly whenever occasion occurred[.]

But as there is doubt on the subject, might not a very brief letter be written, under some such form as Lord H. suggests?- or beginning thus "That a published statement had been put into your hands, very inaccurate in many respects, & likely to convey impressions very different from the truth. That though not entitled to state the details of what had passed between Lord M & yourself in the progress of this transaction, yet you felt it right, &c"- and then to state briefly your sense of Lord M's honourable & generous conduct, & of the satisfaction it gave to your own feelings in the transaction.

I do but simply suggest however, what if you judge it right to do this, you will much better express in your own words. There would be this advantage in doing it, that I think it would assuredly & completely close the whole business. Everything privately said by us, would be in full concurrence with it, & at the same time with still more explicit declaration of the high sense of honour shown by yourself in every part of the transaction[.] Nor do I think another word could be said elsewhere on the subject[.]

I state everything as it occurs to me; & would rather have sought opp[ortunity] of doing it by calling upon you, had I not been engaged with patients in other directions this evening. You must excuse therefore a hastily written note, & believe me ever

Yours my dear Faraday | H. Holland

I presume Lord H will see Lord Melbourne today or tomorrow; but he speaks as if he perceived with certainty that Lord M. would not object to what he himself suggests[.]

I trust you will not hesitate from fear of troubling me, if you wish that we should meet for further communication on the subject - or to arrange a meeting with Sir J. South.

Endorsed by Faraday: Dr Holland to me 2n Dec 1835

Address: Private | M. Faraday Esq | R. Institution | Albemarle Street