Faraday to Alexander Dallas Bache   2 October 18461

Royal Institution | 2 Octr. 1846

My dear Sir

I received your letter2 and in reply to it can only say that I am very happy to learn that there is a fit occasion & opportunity for the proper use of the talents of our friend Henry and I trust for the sake of science that it will not be lost[.] As far as I have any ability to judge I think that Henry is just the man to be placed in such a position as that you describe[.] His philosophical spirit would there find the proper occasions for its development and I have such trust in its unvarying nature & strong originality that I am confident its possessor would not merely justify but do honor to the appointment. There are not many men who like him give you that distinct character to their investigations which shews that they think & originate for themselves instead of merely treading in the paths of others. The state of my health does not allow me to read so regularly or to keep so correctly what I do read that I may pretend to judge of your scientific men, but I am satisfied that whoever the persons may be that are likely to be thought of in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute the appointment of Henry would be no mistake[.]

I write to you very freely and indeed hastily, as to a friend. I am not one who ever give public certificates or testimonials as all my friends know & you will never hear of or see any such. I must therefore beg you to consider this letter as in some degree private i.e. I do not object to your shewing it as my reply to your enquiry but I do not wish it printed & put forth as a public document. Such an appearance or use of it would be a serious ground of offence to the very many here whose applications I have always answered in the negative by reference to my universal rule.

I rejoice to hear from you & should be glad to hear from Henry now & then but that is a pleasure very rare in occurrence[.] Remember me to those who were with you in London. Your sister I think3

& believe me to be | Ever Dear Sir | Most Truly Yours | M. Faraday

Dr. A.D. Bache | &c &c &c


Address: Dr. A.D. Bache | &c &c &c &c | Care of Petty Vaughan4 Esq U.S. | &c &c &c

1
Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867, DSB). Head of the United States Coast Survey, 1843-1867.
2
Not found, but presumably similar to Bache to Forbes, 15 September 1846 in Reingold and Rothenberg et al. (1972-92), 6: 503-4 which solicited testimonials for Henry to be elected the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to which he was appointed. See French to Henry, 3 December 1846, ibid., 555-6.
3
Actually Bache's wife (Nancy Clarke Bache, née Fowler (1803-1870, ibid., 2: 112, who married him in 1828) and his sister in law (Maria Fowler) who both accompanied Bache on his tour of Europe, 1836-1838. See ibid., 3.
4
Petty Vaughan (1788-1854, ibid., 2: 429). Intermediary between scientific societies in London and Philadelphia.

Please cite as “Faraday1915,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday1915