Faraday to William Robert Grove   5 June 1846

Royal Institution | 5 June 1846

My dear Grove

I thank you for your intended kindness but must not allow you to name me as a Committee man¹. My health will not allow it & I may not permit myself even now ever to attend any of the actual Committees on which my name stands. I rejoice to hear of any attempt to reinvigorate the Royal Society but I am afraid that any measures which would meet with my views would also be thought very strong. Nevertheless I do think that strong measures are required and above all a limitation of fellows². Where is the honor of being one of 800 men of Science? Above all it is necessary to renew the affection & if I may so say the loyalty of men of Science for the Royal Society & so to destroy & replace that growing indifference which I think now exists. This will be a very difficult thing to do and cannot be done without a change in the Society itself. But I ought not to say such things since I refuse to work in the cause. In former years I would gladly have been active but depressing influences in the Society itself were against it and my time is now gone by.

Ever Truly Yours | M. Faraday

W.R. Grove Esq | &c &c &c