Faraday to Margaret Barnard   5 September 1841¹

Lucerne: Sunday, September 5, 1841.

My dear Margaret,- I intended to send a page of this paper to you, and I will do something towards that intent, however imperfect, for I know that you will be glad to hear from me, and the more so as what I have to say is, we are coming home, hoping to enjoy all our happy circle again, of which you and yours make a very important part. It is all very well to come away from home when one is bidden, and when the end to be attained is a desirable one, and all very exciting to the imagination to talk of mountains, lakes, glaciers, &c., &c., but the best effect of a departure from home is to make us value home as it deserves to be valued; for I think with us, from the first day to the last, it has grown more and more upon us, whilst the things we came to diminished in their consequence in an equal proportion. I think our letters tell us you are all well, and it is a great happiness to hear such accounts. I have no doubt your fresh mind will have enjoyed the country objects you have been to, far more than many who come to these more Alpine parts of the world. True enjoyment is from within, not from without. Give our love to John²; I do not know how much he has been with you: I suppose William's³ necessary absence would affect his visitation to the country. Remember us to all the children;- such wonders we shall have to tell Anna⁴ and Frank⁵, and the others, too, if we do not forget them all - for wonders soon become common-place. If you can, think of us to Mr. and Mrs. Barnard, to our beloved Jane⁶, to Robert [Faraday] and Betsey [Gray], to William and Martha⁷ and to Edward⁸ and Caroline⁹.

We leave this place to-morrow, and then propose to go to Zug, Zurich, Basle, Strasbourg, Coblentz, Treves, Liege, Ostend, London, home. The last place we hope to see before the month is quite out. Our plan, however, may change, and my dear wife is the only writing authority that can well be trusted: I mean that writes sufficiently often for the purpose.

Ever, my dear Margaret, your most affectionate brother, | M. Faraday