Faraday to William Buchanan   2 May 1850

Royal Institution | 2 May 1850

My dear Friend

I received your letter & the check yesterday. Mr. David¹ has been a very pleasant inmate in our house and gained much upon us by his kind manner good intentions & earnest desire as I firmly believe to do something for himself. All that class of anxieties which you may have seen that I had at first have been entirely removed and my only sorrow is that having so strong & proper a desire to take any employment that might offer he still cannot obtain it. Poor fellow I pity him very much for I see that his present position is a serious drawback to his happiness[.] He does not appear to know any thing of book keeping or of any other branch of knowledge which one might use as a means of adding weight to ones enquiries but he seems determined to acquire such knowledge. He is still to look about him but we have encouraged him to stay with us a little longer if he sees any hope of its being useful (and we are very glad to have him in such case) so that perhaps he may not leave next Saturday² but remain with us until the middle of next week[.]

Our family troubles are progressing[.] Mrs. James Faraday³ died last Saturday⁴ I think & I attended her funeral to day[.] My nephew is in deep grief. Poor Thomas Deacon is worse in mind - knows no one about him - & is at times violent. We are constrained to transfer him to an Asylum to which he will be taken this morning. We have also reason now to fear for his bodily strength which at present is failing[.] His wife⁵ is a very great example of Patient suffering & yet of active help & action where needed. She is with her Grandfather⁶ & the Aged & the Young, mutually & beautifully support & help each other having that hope to speak of which can cheer in every trouble that comes over us in this life[.]

Ever My dear friend | Yours Affectionately | M. Faraday

Wm. Buchanan Esq | &c &c &c