Faraday to Jacob Gisbert Samuel van Breda   22 March 1851

Royal Institution | 22, March 1851

Sir

I have been greatly honored by the receipt of Your letter¹; and though proud of such a mark of confidence fear that I shall hardly prove deserving of it. If I understand rightly you desire me to say what great experiment or research there is, which, being important to science, is in the matter of expence beyond the reach of an individual, and deserves the assistance of the Royal Society of Sciences. For my own part I am so happily situated in this Institution, that I am sure if I could say that I needed even a very large sum up to £1000 or even £2000 to decide a great enquiry; I could raise it amongst our members, for my personal use, in a week. I therefore have every want satisfied; and am not able to mention a subject from amongst those which form the object of my own especial studies.

But there is a research which I will venture to suggest to your consideration for its importance which is to a large extent proved;- because of the character of the philosopher who has already entered into it;- and because of the circumstances which, as I have reason to suppose, have in part caused its cessation:- I refer to that on Respiration by Regnault - which he has carried so far already; and the first fruits of which he has published²[.]

I cannot doubt that your meeting of 1852 will be important for Science, not merely as respects your own country but as regard[s] the world. Such determinations for the advancement of knowledge do good every where not only by the direct fruits but by the example. I doubt not the meeting will be a happy one for the Society as a body & for its members individually: and in that happiness though at a distance I shall feel that I have the honor to share[.]

I am Sir | With every respect | Your Most Obliged & Humble Servant | M. Faraday

To | J.G.S. Van Breda | &c &c &c &c

Address: A Monsieur | Monsieur J.G.S. Van Breda | Secretaire Perpetuelle | &c &c &c &c | Societe Royale Hollandaise des Sciences | Haarlem