George Biddell Airy to Faraday   13 November 1848

Royal Observatory Greenwich | 1848 November 13

My dear Sir

Your offer of two ladies Tickets for your juvenile lectures¹ was too important a thing to be dispatched in a summary decision. After due consideration, Mrs. Airy, with many thanks to you thinks it best to decline it. Our family is usually broken up at the post-Christmas season, for I have a labourer's cottage in the country to which a good proportion of my children are usually transported, with a corresponding draft of superiors: and this makes it difficult for the residuals to take frequent journeys to the West End. Pray receive our thanks for your kindness in giving us opportunities which, if circumstances had permitted us to use them, we should have valued highly.

I stated to Mr. Barlow that if any subject occurred to me on which I could advantageously say a few words at the Royal Institution I should be quite willing to do so². At present I have nothing specific in view, and can scarcely say that I am likely to have any thing. I have given no lectures lately on subjects of novelty or of interest for a London audience except a few occasional remarks on Astronomical subjects to the R. Astronomical Society. I will however bear the matter in mind, and will give you notice when any thing feasible occurs to me but it will scarcely be possible to make any distinct arrangement for me at present.

I am, my dear Sir, | Yours very truly | G.B. Airy

Michael Faraday Esq | &c &c &c