John Tyndall to Faraday   28 November 1851

Queenwood College | Stockbridge, | Hants. | 28th. Nov. 1851.

Dear Sir,

From a letter received yesterday from Col. Sabine I conclude that you are already aware of his kind intentions towards me¹[.] In that letter he tells me that your signature will be one of those from personal knowledge required by the Royal Society previous to the admission of a new member. For this allow me to return you my sincerest thanks; I do most fervently hope that the great kindness of which I have of late been the recipient from you and others will bear its proper fruit in keeping me faithful to my work. Few have had greater encouragement than I have had, and the greater will be my condemnation if it be not turned to suitable account. I owe you much - more perhaps than you are aware of. However sweet the instances of personal good will with which you have favoured me may be,- and sweet they are beyond a doubt - you have been my unconscious benefactor in other ways to an extent which, as far as the cultivation of my proper manhood is concerned outweighs those instances of private friendship. To me you have been a preacher of toil, courage, and humility - a preacher in the highest sense of the term, demonstrating by the silent power of example the possibilities which are open to the honest worker. This has been your relation to me and may it long continue so.

I remain dear Sir, | Your faithful and obliged servant | John Tyndall

Professor Faraday | etc. etc. etc.