Faraday to David Ramsay Hay   29 October 1846¹

Royal Institution | 29 Octr. 1846

Sir

I have again the duty & the pleasure of thanking you for a work of yours the First principles of Symmetrical beauty ². I feel on every occasion somewhat ashamed that I cannot profit more than I do by your works but indeed my time is limited & the scope & course of my own studies so extensive & yet peculiar that I hope you will admit it in some degree as a reason why nearly all my thoughts are directed towards them. Again thanking you for your kindness I am Sir

Your Very Obliged Servant | M. Faraday

D.R. Hay Esq | &c &c &c