Faraday to Caroline Deacon   12 July 1852

Lowestoft | 12 July 1852

My dear Caroline

I write with a mind thoroughly empty of news but still containing a little affection for my friends and some for you. Writing seems but a very poor way of communication for thoughts which are scarcely representations of facts but concern the feelings & though I should dearly like to have a long & close chat with you about many things I cannot replace that by a letter & I really find the difficulty greater in trying to do so because I find that I am now rather apt to forget what the former part of a sentence is and so often make it awkward in its construction & what is worse confused in its meaning & mere nonsense[.] But though we cannot see as yet how things will turn, I hope that in one way or another we shall have the opportunity of personal chat & then we will talk. In the mean time let me say cheer up. It is a very common place phrase but still is not quite so common place with us as it is in the world:- or ought not to be. We were at Old Buckenham yesterday and our thoughts were led to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and the infinitely great compensation it gives for the tribulations of this life and though we must feel the tribulations whilst in the flesh, yet still the prize set before us enables one of Christs people to say to another Cheer up with far greater effect & power than could accompany such words and without reference to the prize[.]

I hear of your worldly concerns by the letters of one & another & think I understand them as far as they are settled. I hope matters go on somewhat as you would wish. Remember me affectionately to Thomas and the little one¹ and think me.

Your Very Affectionate Unkle | M. Faraday