William Whewell to Faraday   31 October 1849

Trin. Lodge, Cambridge | Oct. 31, 1849

My dear Dr Faraday

I had not answered Mr Barlow’s application sooner because I was not certain that I could comply with it to any good purpose. Your joining in it adds much to my wish to assent¹, but still I do not see the possibility of doing so. I could have wished to say something about the constitution of matter, but I dare not do so till I see my way better, or at least till I can bring out the difficulties more clearly. Your paper about axiality² is highly important in its bearing upon this point, but I cannot yet bring it into any definite relation with other things. I am at present in far too puzzled a condition to pretend to teach any one. If my ideas should grow any clearer I may perhaps beg to express them if you are willing to hear them; but I fear that will not be this year³.

Always my dear Dr Faraday | Yours most truly | W. Whewell

Dr Faraday