Charles Bagot to Faraday   11 December 1842

Kingston | Decr. 11th 1842.

Sir,

I have to thank you very much for your letter of Novr. 3rd¹ which I received by the last mail and which very severe illness alone prevents my acknowledging in my own hand.

In your former letter of July 19th² in which you acquainted me of the unsuccessful offer which you had made to several gentleman in England of the Chemical Chair in our University of Toronto, you mentioned to me the name of Mr. Henry Croft, but as I understood without distinctly stating that you had made the same offer to him.

Conceiving as I perhaps erroneously did that in my first communication with you upon the subject, I had given you unqualified discretion definitely to make choice of any person whom you might think qualified for the post, I had expected to hear again from you acquainting me that you had finally arranged matters with Mr. Croft. Some weeks ago however I received a letter from Mr. W. Holmes³ (of Grafton St.) who has a deep interest in Mr. Croft⁴, informing me that he had learnt from him that you had had some conversation with him upon the subject of the Professorship, and that he was expecting the confirmation of his appointment directly from myself. Upon learning this and knowing your opinion of Mr Croft I immediately wrote to Mr Holmes authorizing him to conclude the affair and to urge Mr Croft to come out to this Country as soon as he conveniently could.

Under these circumstances I greatly regret that I am precluded for the moment from availing myself of your recommendation of Mr. Griffin. Should you however ascertain in England that any circumstances might still prevent Mr. Croft from undertaking the office I have only to request that you will lose no time in assuring Mr. Griffin of the pleasure which I shall have in appointing him to it.

I fear that some obstacles will stand in the way in this country of opening the University before the month of April next which however will allow some additional time either to Mr. Croft or to Mr. Griffin to make their arrangements.

A sum of £750 has been assigned by the Council of the University for the purchase of instruments &c which sum will be placed to the credit of Mr. Croft but upon this subject the Bishop of Toronto⁵ will communicate with Mr. Croft directly himself.

With repeated thanks for the trouble which you have so zealously and kindly taken to assist me in this matter.

(signed) Charles Bagot

To Faraday Esq | &c &c &c