William Robert Grove to Faraday   19 December 1842

Hampstead Monday | Dec 19 1842

My dear Faraday

In forwarding you a copy of my paper¹ I am anxious to say a few words on the subject of our conversation of Saturday last². I was much impressed by your remarks & am convinced that I have been to blame in expressing myself in too few words, in aiming at brevity I have not steered clear of obscurity[.] This did not proceed from thoughtlessness[.] My reasons were twofold 1st I have observed many writers on physics who having in the early part of their career expressed at length theoretical notions have been subsequently obliged to abandon them thus weakening their own authority & giving a character of uncertainty to science or else, which is worse, they have been induced by 'amour propre' pertinaciously to adhere to erroneous conclusions[.] I was anxious to avoid this to be able thoroughly to mature my judgement before I attempted generalizations which might prove fallacious[.]

2dly I observe in the present day a tendency to diffuse verbiage & to an accumulation of obvious results, quality diluted & weakened by quantity. I feel now however certain that I have carried the opposite principle too far & I will endeavour to amend in future[.] But although convinced that you are right as to this point of brevity I am not so convinced with respect to the Royal Society. Having contributed one paper which was not published³ & the reason of their rejection of which I cannot see I do not wish this to happen a second time⁴[.] Unless I strangely misjudge myself it is no sullen vanity which renders this view[.] My experience, such as it is, leads me to believe that had I contributed to the Royal Society this paper even in an improved form it would also have been rejected unless I had made interest for its insertion & this I will not do. My contributions to science have spoken & shall speak for themselves, if this be pride it is at worst an honest pride. I have made no rash vow on the subject but my present feeling certainly is to have nothing to do with Scientific societies but to publish in periodicals whatever researches appear to me of sufficient importance[.] I conceive that every man has a duty to perform in standing his own ground, if I err it is an error of judgement not of temper[.] I trouble you with this note as I most truly value your esteem & would not have you think meanly of me either as a philosopher or as a man[.]

I remain My dear Faraday | yours very sincerely | W.R. Grove