Charles Bagot to Faraday   1 June 1842

Montreal | June 1st 1842.

Sir,

Not having the honor of your personal acquaintance I should feel that I owed much apology to you for troubling you with this letter, if I were not well aware of your constant desire to advance, by every means in your power, the science in which you have attained to such preeminence.

Without therefore trespassing further than may be absolutely necessary upon your time, I would briefly state, that I am now engaged in putting into active operation The University of King's College in Upper Canada - an Institute of the highest importance to this Province, and which, from various causes, has had but a nominal existence since its original endowment, 12 or 14 years ago by George IVth¹[.]

There are some few of The Professorships in this University which I think that I may be able to fill sufficiently well by persons already residing, and advantageously known in the Province, but there are others which I am sure can only be properly filled by persons whom I may be able to induce to come out from England for the purpose.

Of these, I consider the Professor of Chemistry to be among the first; and the object of this letter is to request your kind assistance in endeavouring to ascertain for me, whether they may not be in England, some person of whose knowledge, acquirements, and power of lecturing you entertain such an opinion, as might incline you to recommend him for a situation of such importance in The Institution in question, and who might be tempted to give to This Country the benefit of his services in such a cause.

The situation is one which I cannot but think might be well deserving for the consideration of some person within the circle of your scientific acquaintance. The amount of his salary, and of the emoluments arising to the Professorship may be reasonably estimated at not less than 450£ per annum, with a house, and garden and such minor advantages of the kind as are usually attached to Collegiate Establishments. The Professor will have to reside at Toronto, where he will find a society composed of many of the most accomplished men whom the Country affords; and it may be as well to add that, in his capacity as Professor, he will form one of the Council of The University, which will consist of The Bishop of Toronto² as The President - A Vice President holding the Professorship of Classical Literature, with the active superintendence of the management and discipline of The Establishment - A Professor of Medicine - a Professor I believe of Surgery, Professors of Chemistry and of Mathematics, with such other Professors in other Faculties as the improvement of our funds may hereafter enable us to establish.

Having stated thus much, I will only add that, if it should be in your power to find a person whom you can confidently recommend as eminently qualified for the discharge of the duties of such a station, and also who is at the same time willing to undertake them you will, by endeavouring to secure for us his services, confer a signal benefit upon This Country and a great obligation upon myself[.]

A sum of money has been recently appropriated by The College, for the purchase of such instruments and utensils as may be necessary for its Laboratory, and the Council will be disposed to listen with great deference to the suggestions, and to avail themselves of the assistance of the person whom you may recommend for The Office as to the manner in which the sum destined for the purchase of this apparatus should be expended. As I confidently hope to be able to put The University into operation in the course of this year - if not by the month of October, at all events by Christmas next - it will be necessary that The Professor should be prepared to arrive at Toronto before the expiration of the latter period.

(signed) | Charles Bagot

Michl Faraday Esq | F.R.S.