James South to Faraday   10 February 1845

Castle Parsons-Town | Monday Feby 10, 45

My dear Faraday,

Owing to Lady South's¹ illness I did not quit Kensington till Tuesday last², and did not reach this place till Thursday, since when to the present moment we have had uninterruptedly bad weather.

As therefore I cannot admire objects seen with the Leviathan I have plenty of time to eulogise not only the boldness of the undertaking to construct such an Instrument, but the success of our Noble Friend³, in the invention of Machinery, which has given to the Monster Mass the means of being used with nearly as much ease, certainty and safety, as the smallest Telescope. The sun is now just peeping out for the first time since my arrival here, and I do hope that this evening will not pass away without our knowing more of the Nebula of Orion than we at present do. And should we, I will write you an account of what we have seen.

Now my Dear Faraday, how goes on the liquefaction and solidification of Oxygen? I daily expect a Bulletin from you announcing the interesting fact of the one or the other of both.

With Kindest regards to Mrs Faraday I remain

Yours very sincerely | J. South