John Millington to Faraday   19 September 1836

187 South Third Street Philadelphia | 19th Sept. 1836.

To Michl Faraday Esq | &c. &c.

My Dear Sir

I wrote to you the beginning of June last¹ for the purpose of introducing my friend Dr. Robt Hare the Professor of Chemistry in the Medical department of the University of Pennsva in this city to your personal acquaintance, and did so at his request, for I stated to him that I felt sure that his name was a more powerful introduction to all the enlightened parts of Europe, than any thing I could say in his favor. - The same observation will apply equally in the present instance, for I now write to make you acquainted with another of my friends in Philada who will deliver this to you - Mr Alex Dallas Bache who has for many years held the important office of Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in the Opposite Wing, or Classical department of the same university with Dr. Hare, and whose name will I am sure be familiar to you not only from his published labours in Chemistry Magnetism² &c but from the honorable mention that is made of him in the last Edition of Turners Chemistry³, of which he is the Editor and commentator in the republication of that work in this country⁴, as well as of Brewsters Optics⁵, and several other Scientific works of high character⁶ that are used as text books in most of our colleges here. Mr. Bache has resigned his Professorships in the University of Pennsva on account of his having been lately appointed the President of the Girard College now building in the vicinity of this city on a most magnificent scale, corresponding with the splendid endowment given it by the will of the late Stephen Girard⁷, and it bids fair to be one of the most conspicuous & useful institutions of this country, if not of the world; - at any rate no pains is spared to make it so. Mr. Bache is now visiting Europe to investigate the mode of conducting Colleges and Education there - I know you will be pleased with him, and any kindness and attention you may show him, or any introductions and assistance you may be kind enough to render to him, will be thankfully acknowledged by him, & particularly by myself. I address you first, and most urgently, because I am so well acquainted with your power and readiness to be of use to any enlightened stranger. - My time will not permit me to write many Letters, but I particularly wish him to be introduced to Prof Turner & the London University to Prof Daniel[l] and King's College.- To Mr. Pepys⁸ & the London Institution to Mr. Children & the British Museum, to the Royal Society and to the Universities of Cambridge & Oxford all which you can do for him much better than I can, provided you will not think that I am heaping an unconscionable load of Trouble upon your shoulders. - Mr. Bache would also I know feel highly indebted to you for introductions in Scotland Ireland & the continent of Europe. -

As for myself, I am happy to say I am quite well in health, but rather dull at this period, on account of loosing my only son who leaves me tomorrow by the same vessel that conveys this, & Mr. <<Bache>> & his Lady to Liverpool - and thus I am cut off from all my grown up children - My second daughter is married well and with her husband resides at Zacatecas in the north part of Mexico.- My eldest daughter, Mrs. Bates⁹, with her husband left the city of Mexico last year & they now reside at Liverpool where Mr. Bates¹⁰ is a merchant of great eminence & my son Thomas¹¹ goes to join his counting house.- I have been about 3 months in Philadpa for the purpose of winding up all my business and concerns there, as I am retiring from Trade altogether, and shall give up the remainder of my life wholly to science and the duties of the Professorships of Chemistry & Natural Philosophy which I hold in William & Mary College at Williamsburg in Virginia with which I am much pleased, and have not been so happy & comfortable for many years, tho I confess I rather yearn after old England and hope to see it again before I die.- indeed I shall make an exertion to visit it in our next vacation between the 15th of July & 10th of Oct in next year.- The last day of this month I return to Williamsburg where I commence duties on the 10th of Oct & from that day have to lecture twice on one day and once on the alternate one for 8 1/2 months without a days Intermission except Sundays, so that I have not much idle time. I left a heavy Iron turning lathe at the Royal Institution, and about 3 years ago applied thro' Mr. Christie¹² to have it sent to me¹³, he did accordingly send the puppet heads¹⁴, and various other parts which I received safely, but the 2 parallel Iron Cheeks that form the bed of the lathe never came - consequently the parts that were sent to me were completely useless & I never put it up - I am now selling all my tools and have the offer of 110 Dollars for this lathe, if I will furnish the Iron Bed, but no one will give any thing for it in its present state - If therefore the remainder of this lathe should be at the Institution, you will greatly oblige me by having it put on board of a vessel for Philadpa addressed to the care of Mr. Judah Dobson¹⁵ of that city for me - In that case I do not want any of the woodwork sent or the Iron wheel & crank, but merely the top bed which the puppets rest upon & the Iron screw pins that fix it to the wood.- I gave about 26/ for the wheel & crank & if that were sold it would repay any expence you may be at for taking down carting &c. if not I will remit the amount. I beg my best regards to yourself Mrs. Faraday and all friends & remain Dear Sir yours very truly John Millington

My future address will be Professor Millington, Willm & Mary College | Williamsburg Virga

Address: Michael Faraday Esq | Fullerian Professor of Chemistry in the | Royal Institution of Great Britain | Albemarle Street | St James's London