Faraday to Robert John Kane   5 September 1838

Royal Institution | 5 Sept 1838

My dear Sir

I write to you in great haste for I am but poorly, have just returned to town and intend immediately to leave it again[.]

I suppose you do not know that I have for many years past refused to write letters having the character of certificates and have consequently had to return answers to that effect to many of our mutual friends upon different occasions. Were it not so I would gladly say how well I think of you and express my firm conviction that you would be sure to honour any situation of a chemical nature in which scientific trust should be placed in you. But as it is I may not do this for it would be unjust to those I have in this manner refused. I cannot give way in one case without giving way in many[.]

Still trusting that you will obtain what you so well deserve and hoping you will thus have the means of still more rapidly advancing science[.]

I remain | My dear Sir | Most truly yours | M. Faraday

I have no right to object to your shewing this as a private letter¹.