Faraday to Charles Bagot   19 July 1842

Royal Institution | London | 19 July 1842

To His Excellency | The Right Honorable Sir Charles Bagott <G.>C.B. | Governor General of Canada | &c &c &c &c

Sir

I had the honor of receiving your letter¹ in due time and instantly endeavoured to meet your wishes and find someone whose character and willingness to consider such a proposition as that your letter contained would justify me in naming him to you. I am sorry that I have not succeeded as I wished. I knew some whom I thought very worthy; able to do justice and honor to the station, and in a position to make such an offer very desirable: but some consciousness of their power to make their way by degrees at home, combined with family and friendly ties, induce them rather to deny themselves in present things, than give up the happiness of home and the hopes in prospect. I will tell Your Excellency, in few words, who these are for the guidance of future proceedings[.]

One whom I should have been proud to recommend is Dr. William Allen Miller, Assistant lecturer to Professor Daniell of King's College. His education, tone of mind, knowledge of Chemistry and power of lecturing [MS torn] have been satisfactory; but he declines and I sen<d his> own words². The next I should have recommended is Mr. Everitt ³ who lectures on chemistry at Middlesex Hospital - he declines. The next is Mr. Fownes ⁴ of Charing Cross Hospital; who from circumstances I expected, and for his character and knowledge I hoped, would have consented; but he declines & I send his note⁵. The next is Mr. Edward Solly ⁶; a young gentleman brought up, in part, in our own laboratory and now lecturing there in connexion with Mr. Brande;- he declines.

The refusal of so many to consider a proposition which would take them so far from home lessens the list of those whom I should feel inclined to recommend, and indeed takes away the chief:- and though I could still find many willing, and perhaps excellent, I cannot find many of whom I know enough personally, to become, as it were, evidence for them. There is a young gentleman, Henry H. Croft, to whom 4 or 5 years ago I gave letters to Mitscherlich of Berlin⁷, and he was consequently in his laboratory for two years and studied besides 1 1/2 years more in German laboratories; and having now returned home, he has written a brief paper or two⁸ and translated several with good judgment⁹, but I know not that he has lectured. I have spoken generally to his father¹⁰ who resides in Upper Gower Street: London:- he would be prepared to go to Canada and I have no doubts the offer would be very acceptable.

The application to these parties in succession took me some time; and I was at last constrained to leave town for my health's sake:- and, though I date from the Royal Institution as my place for letters, I shall not be able to return to London in less than a month. There is one other person there, Mr. Warrington [sic] of Apothecaries Hall to whom I should speak if I could have access, and then I think I could do no more.

I cannot but regret that my proceeding[s] are so unsatisfactory, but unproductive as they are, I thought the time was come when I ought to report them to Your Excellency that upon them such other steps might be taken as were thought desirable; and I believe that the most useful answer I could give to the letter which I received would be a short account of my proceeding[s.]

I have the honor to be | with the highest respect | Your Excellency's | Most Obedient & Most Humble Servant | M. Faraday

Address: His Excellency | The Right Honorable Sir Charles Bagot, G.C.B. | Governor General | &c &c &c &c | Canada.

Postmark: Newcastle