Faraday to Samuel Morison Brown   26 December 1842¹

R Institution | 26 Decr. 1842

Dear Sir

That which made me inaccessible to you makes me so in a very great degree to all my friends ill health connected with the head & I have been obliged (& am still) to lay by nearly all my own pursuits and to deny myself the pleasures of Society either in seeing myself at my friends houses or them here. This alone would prevent me from acceding to your request². I should, if I assented, do it against the strict advice of my friends medical & social.

The matter of your request makes me add a remark or two which I hope you will excuse[.] Anyone who does what you ask of me i.e certify if the experiment is successful, is bound without escape to certify & publish also if it fail & I think you may consider that very few persons would be willing to do this. I certainly would not put myself in such a most unpleasant condition[.]

Again why not test the experiment in Scotland for there you have published it? If Professor Christison³ has given you letters let him be your companion in an experiment &, if he likes, tell the world his judgment on the matter[.] His character is such that if you satisfy him & he conjoins his testimony with yours I should think you would not have much to fear as to the truth of the discovery[.]

I am my dear Sir | Very Truly Yours | M. Faraday

Dr. S.M. Brown | &c &c &c

Address: Dr S.M. Brown | &c &c &c | 3 Dartmouth Row | Blackheath