Faraday to Angela Georgina Burdett Coutts   12 June 1845

Royal Institution | 12 June 1845

My dear Miss Coutts

Your little "home" note embarrasses me and yet you will think it need not neither indeed would it if I were to consider it a usual & mere matter of course thing, for then I should have nothing to do but consider myself & in very polite terms acknowledge the honor & excuse my absence. But I am not quite willing to think your note a mere matter of form having reference only to your own habits and desires. On the contrary I am sure there is some little degree of kindness & thought for me and with such feelings I have always found it hard to say no to the voluntary favour shewn me; and am always more or less distressed in making myself understood. But I may not accept such kindnesses as you offer me they do not suit my health or my occupation, or my taste: they would eat up in the mere forms of Society all the time I can spare for friendship: and would in my case replace the latter by the former. Now I venture to hope that you will interpret kindly this my note and believe, as you may do truly, that it owes its origin in my great respect for you and thanks for your present and former kindness. I would not have answered thus to one I did not greatly esteem - but would have staid upon my dignity; which in my own walk I have no doubt I esteem as sufficiently great. But kindness with me breaks down every feeling except such as have origin in it & hoping that for once & in my favour you also think the same[.]

I remain with | great respect | Your Grateful Servant | M. Faraday

Miss Coutts.