George Merryweather to Faraday   31 March 1851

Whitby, March 31, 1851.

I do indeed feel myself exceedingly obliged to you for pointing out to me a grave error that I have copied from the “London Medical Gazette.”¹ Although it was with perfect innocence on my part, yet, at the same time, as I appear as the ostensible party, in charging M. Quetelet with an hypothesis that I myself should not wish to be charged with, I shall certainly take immediate measures to correct this most unfortunate mistake.

Your kind letter has just arrived in time to save me from a world of trouble. As it is my intention to present a copy to each of the learned societies on the Continent, for which object they are now binding, I should esteem it a great favour if you would allow me to publish your letter, or to quote those parts of it relating to the errors, which I would prefix to each Essay, and thereby avoid a multiplicity of explanation. I could also pursue those copies already delivered to the learned institutions of this country, and neutralize at once the errors.

George Merryweather