James Walker to Faraday   13 January 18391

My dr Sir

We are told not to ‘weary in well doing’2 - The question is can I do Mr Buchanan service? My opinion of his abilities is very favourable – His report on Montrose Harbour3, his sections &c. very good, but their value little known - if Mr B - has heard lately enquiries about them & for the copper plates it is from my [word illegible].

Now touching Leith – Cubitt4 is app. I expect to be there next Monday5. Before he went D. Stevenson6 was named to do any thing we might want – C. may not be there until the end of the week. I can only say that your recommendn of Mr B - shall not be forgotten7 by

Your’s very | faithfully | Ja Walker

13 Jany

1
Dated on the basis of the reference to Leith Harbour. See note 7.
2
Galatians 6: 9.
3
Buchanan had written this report in 1827.
4
William Cubitt (1785–1861, ODNB). Civil Engineer.
5
That is 21 January 1839. The government had appointed Cubitt and Walker to draw up a report on possible plans for the improvement of Leith Harbour.
6
David Stevenson (1815–1886, ODNB). Later, engineer to the Northern Lighthouse Board, 1853–1883.
7
Buchanan was employed to survey Leith Harbour. See Walker to Faraday, 4 February 1839, letter 1138, volume 2.

Please cite as “Faraday1129a,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday1129a