Faraday to John Barlow   21 April 1851

R Institution | 21 April 1851

My dear Barlow

I am glad you think the regulations are not improper & may be useful - alter them at your pleasure¹[.] As to the title of Secretarys list, it can be called the President’s ² or the Evening or the list - only care must be taken from the first to prevent folks thinking that any body may write a name down on it. Even managers individually ought to have no power of the kind but just one or two persons as the president or Secretary. The numbers of the list combined with that of the managers ought perhaps to be limited so that on occasions even managers might have to give place & I am sure in case of need would do so. When we come together we will see how many the reserved bench seats of the front row can contain and then that number with something additional for chairs upon very especial occasions ought to make up the whole number.

Perhaps a good additional regulation would be to place no chairs except for distinguished visitors or if that be too strong we can talk of such a rule.

Ever Yours | M. Faraday