George Biddell Airy to Faraday   21 September 1843

Royal Observatory Greenwich 1843 Sept 21

My dear Sir

I have to acknowledge your letter of this morning¹ and I reply immediately only to remove the chance of misconception of my reason for asking your assistance. I am acting entirely in concert with (or rather under the direction) of Mr. Wheatstone and Mr. Ronalds, and am expecting them daily to come to Greenwich in order to prescribe for me in electrical matters. But our objects are very different, and this is properly understood by both parties. Their object is, to indicate time of observation and to devise apparatus adapted to it. Mine is, to work myself and to set my people to work like horses in a mill, when the proper observations are indicated. Permanency of results is unimportant to them but indispensable for me. I do not suppose that they have thought of immortalising their electric register, or would do so if they had the methods; but I should not even mount the apparatus unless I had some such method. So you see that, with my belief, it was highly desirable that I should consult the first of authorities on this matter.

But it will be extremely agreeable to me to receive instruction on the point from or through Mr. Wheatstone to whom I owe all my best practical knowledge on electrical matters. If you see him within a day or two, pray talk over the subject for the benefit of all, but especially for mine. I do not know on what day he is coming here, but I believe very soon.

I am my dear Sir | Yours very truly | G.B. Airy

Dr. Faraday | &c &c &c