Faraday to Charles Giles Bridle Daubeny   13 July 1836

Royal Institution | 13, July 1836

My dear Sir

It is with much sincere regret that I write to you at present - my object being to say that I shall not be able to see Bristol at the Meeting of the Association in August. I had counted on the pleasure of being there with you all; so long and to such a degree that I can hardly even now consent to give up the hopes. But the cause constrains me to give up with it much else that I desire to retain[.] The cause is this[.] My right knee has gradually declined in strength and on consulting the Surgeons I find there is fluid in the joint[.] Under Sir Benjn Brodie's directions it has been blistered and leeched and now I am under the painful influence of irritating lat[t]ices applied to the part. I am allowed to go into the country to a very quiet place for my healths sake: but otherwise I am ordered to lay up under the penalty of a serious & lengthened confinement in future. It is unfortunate that just as my leisure time for experiment came on this came with it and all my occupations close with it for the present. Now do not imagine that I am dull about it - for though I do not like the pain & though I may lose six or twelve months or perhaps more yet all give me hopes of a good recovery and I am sure that I have no cause to think that an undue proportion of such troubles falls to my lot.

Will you my dear Sir make this known to Mr. Harcourt to whom I think I made a kind of promise or arrangement to be at Bristol. I write to you both as Secretary & friend. I promised Dr. Hare¹ of Philadelphia to meet him at Bristol but it is of no use thinking of the many pleasures I shall lose though I do think of them as trusting you will have an abundant stock[.]

I think I shall put this letter into a packet with a few small papers that I have for some time intended to send you[.] I was thinking of something greater but this affair stops all[.]

Ever My dear Sir | Your faithful Servant | M. Faraday

Dr. Daubeny | &c &c &c