Faraday to Lambert-Adolphe-Jacques Quetelet   21 October 1841

Royal Institution | 21 Octr 1841

My dear friend

Though ashamed to put you to any expence in the way of postage for a letter so valueless as mine will be yet I cannot let your kindness and your letter to me pass without grateful acknowledgments¹[.] You would hear that I left England at the Very commencement of June and as I returned only on the 29th of September I lost every chance of seeing you here[.] I had many thoughts of seeing you at Bruxelles for we passed on the rail road from Liege to Ostend on the 27th of September but the extreme activity of the population on the Railroad & still more as they told me at Bruxelles in consequence of the rejoicings², with the necessity of getting home quickly after a long absence, and the doubt whether you were there all drove me home[.] Besides which my companions of whom two were ladies had need to return home quickly also & so I lost the sight of Bruxelles & probably of you also for I thought afterwards you were almost sure to be there at such a time[.]

I know you will be glad to hear that I am pretty well & though ashamed to speak of myself yet in answer to your kindness I may tell you that my quiet sojourne in the vallies of Switzerland where I have scarcely seen a person has been of great service to me. I am still idling, giving myself what I believe is necessary rest not merely refraining from working but even from reading as yet. This reminds me to thank you heartily for the volumes and papers you left for me[.] You are indeed a worthy example in activity & power to all workers in science and if I cannot imitate your example I can at least appreciate & value it[.]

But I must conclude | Being as ever Most Sincerely Your | Obliged M. Faraday

Professor Quetelet | &c &c &c

Address: Professor Quetelet | &c &c &c | Observatory | Bruxelles