Faraday to Alexander Dallas Bache   5 May 1840

Royal Institution | 5 May 1840

My dear Sir

I recently received your letter¹ and also the Diploma of the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia. Though unworthy of such honor I feel most grateful for it and beg you in my name to express to the Society my humble thanks for the good opinion it has formed of me and my earnest desire to deserve it. I continue to work away but every year feel as if I were less able however it does not become a man to be idle for though he may fail in ability he ought not also to diminish in industry. And you:- I continually read in the American proceedings of your name & rejoice to see it for though I am a very bad correspondent I often think with great pleasure of the visit of you & Henry to this country².

I am at present much occupied with the duties of the season here besides which I have been at Brighton to strengthen health so that I must now write only shortly. Perhaps I ought to have made my letter still shorter considering to what it is a reply. But I hope the friend will forgive the want of respect to the Secretary[.]

With respectful remembrances to Mrs Bache

I am My dear Sir | Your Obliged & faithful Servant | M. Faraday

Prof A.D. Bache | &c &c &c

Endorsement: A.P.S. | St[ated] meeting, July 17, 1840, read.

Address: Professor A.D. Bache | Secretary | &c &c &c &c | American Philosophical Society | Independence Square | Philadelphia | U.S.