Faraday to Benjamin Collins Brodie   16 July 1849¹

Filey | Yorkshire² | 16 July 1849

My dear Sir

I do not at all share in your feeling as regards the Managers & their judgment³[.] If their Professor of Chemistry⁴ neither asks for nor suggests any change either in the general system or the assistants it is hardly possible that they can imagine or have any reason for making a change without also having a strong judgment against him; and that I suppose they have not[.] Whatever prosperity the Institution now has has been acquired during his Professorship and he would have a right to say so supposing that any difference of opinion or discussion arose. I conclude that such thoughts as these must be on the mind of several of the Managers & I do not wonder at it, and though I may wish to very earnestly to infuse young blood & new Science into the chemical part of the establishment; I cannot overrule what others may think the common sense view of the case. To those who see the surface or even who may see some depth beneath the surface, it may appear quite unnecessary to make a change whilst the men who have thus far brought the Institution on its way are in their places: and who shall say they are wrong.

As regards the proposed lectures you write that your first impulse was to throw them entirely up, and I would say now do not give them unless you in your mind leave the Institution authorities as free to close them at the end of the season as you feel yourself to be either now or at any other time. There are probably three views of these lectures:- your own which is to make them strict logical expositions of chemical science & by that useful & very important:- then mine which is that though strict logical accurate & excellent, they are of little practical or influential character except in association with a practical school; which you admit cannot exist in the Institution - & thirdly the possible view of the Managers who have I think wished only for such simple elementary developments of chemical principles as should, like Mr Brandes former lectures, give a correct but popular idea of chemistry to their members who not being students are amateurs only & hardly that[.]

Remember also as respects your judgment of the Managers that your letter⁵ was a private letter to me & that though I read it to the Managers they have it not in their possession and could not even lay it before their Professor of Chemistry if they desired[.] You can of course make it a letter to them by referring to it & expressing your wish; if you saw any end to be gained by that: but of that I must leave you to be the judge.

Ever Very Truly Yours | M. Faraday

B.C. Brodie Esq | &c &c &c

Endorsed by Barlow: Withdrawn See Man Min Feb: 4 1850 par J.B. Sec. RI⁶