Whitlock Nicholl to Faraday   31 October 1836

Cottage East Cowes (I.W.) | October 31 1836

My dear Friend,

Before I tell you anything of me & mine, I must express my hope that your knee has ceased to trouble you, and that Mrs. Faraday & yourself are well. Your kind call at Shanklin was sadly tantalizing - so short that I could scarcely enjoy the unexpected pleasure of seeing you. We went on that day to Southampton & thence on the day following to Guernsey where we spent a few days, after which we went to Jersey. We were soon more than tired of St. Helier's which we found to be anything but pleasant as a residence, so, hoping, by taking a shorter course homeward, to avoid a few hours' discomfort on the ocean, we came back to Weymouth at which place we arrived at the expiration of four weeks after quitting Southampton. Finding that the air of Weymouth agreed with the boy, we remained there seven weeks, at the end of which time change of weather hinted to us that we ought to seek quarters for the Winter. So we came to Southampton & thence visited Shanklin once again expecting to find a retreat there, but we could not find one. So we came to look at a cottage at East Cowes which I have taken for a year, and of which I took possession on the 25th inst. having waited at E. & W. Cowes during three weeks until the family in possession could give it up to us. It lies very prettily & cheerfully, at the distance of a quarter of a mile from East Cowes, on rising ground, in a gravelly soil, with excellent roads about it. The air is much more fresh & bracing than that of Shanklin & it will I think suit my young man very well. We are very accessible here, as steam-boats to & from Southampton & Portsmouth touch at West Cowes twice a day; & a person coming by mail-coach from London might be here at 10 o'clock on the following morning. It is very comfortable after a pilgrimage of three months to be once more quietly seated in a home. My boy has been very well during our wanderings & he is well pleased to be at liberty in a garden & to be surrounded with his playthings once again.

Pray let me have a line to tell me how you are - how Mrs. Faraday is, & how all are that you are interested about. I take for granted that you are busily engaged in questioning nature & in worming out her secrets, but I am pleased in thinking that you do not fatigue yourself so much <<as>> you were wont to do. I am quite sure, that, with my friend Mrs. Faraday at your elbow, you will be reminded sufficiently often that the bow must some‑times be released, & that you will be plied with Quinia & port wine when you need these restoratives. My kind regards to Mrs. Faraday, not forgetting the little Margery [Reid.] Pray offer my kind regards also to Frederic & Edmund Daniell.

Believe me to be with real regard & esteem | yours very faithfully | Whitlock Nicholl

Address: M. Faraday | &c &c &c | Royal Institution | Albermarle Street.