Faraday to Thomas Spring Rice   1 December 1837

Royal Institution | 1 Dec 1837

Sir

I am honoured and much obliged by your communication, but have little to say in reply¹. When Lord Melbourne favoured me with a letter on the su‑bject he was pleased to say, that, "the distinction so be‑stowed" was with the "desire to reward acknowledged desert and to advance the interests of science"². I am no judge whether that, in the present instance, be the case or not; but if the grant do not retain the same feeling & character as that which His Lordship attached to it, I should, though with all respect to the Government, certainly have no wish for its continu‑ance.

I have the honour to be | Sir | Your Very Obedient Humble Servant | M. Faraday

Right Honorable | T. Spring Rice Esq | &c &c &c &c