Faraday to Thomas Andrews   14 August 1852

Royal Institution | 14 August 1852

My dear Andrews

I look rather anxiously at my remembrancer as the time passes on & the 1st Septr. draws nigh, and the sanguine hopes I entertained in the distance fade much as the period approaches when I thought of enjoying myself with you & Mrs Andrews. There is no chance of my dear wife being with you for her inability to walk much increases and without the power of moving about rather freely there could be no ability to use the privileges of the meeting¹. A walk even of a few hundred yards makes her require a little rest. Our medical friends think it is rheumatism, but Sir B Brodie & some others think it rather a deficiency of energy in the nerves of the limbs[.] She is very thankful for your kind invitation but dares not accept it[.] For myself my obstruction is just the old one and as I had to run away from Oxford² after three days so I fear it would be at Belfast[.] I find in myself an illustration of one of the chapters of Dr. Hollands late volume on physiological subjects namely that on the time essentially required in mental operations³[.] That time is now with me considerable in proportion to what it was naturally & the consequence is that I can only hold my way in a quiet progression of things[.] When I am involved in rapid changes of thoughts or persons then I have to use extra exertion mentally & then confusion & giddiness comes on. All this I forget when I have been in the country for a few weeks doing nothing, & then I think myself as able as ever to race with others. But having come home and gone to work upon oxygen & a magnetic torsion balance for a little while⁴ I find the old warning coming on & I have to suspend my occupation. Formerly I thought that to enter into such a thing as the Association meeting would be rest in comparison but found that it was equivalent to work & that under pressure, and so may not look to my visit to Belfast in that point of view.

However I mean to do the best I can between this and the end of the Month, and have not yet given up hopes of seeing you[.] Do not suppose however that the association would be so chief a reason for my coming as the earnest desire to thank you for your kindness by enjoying it; and when I think of giving up Belfast my regret is to lose the pleasure of seeing you & Mrs. Andrews at home[.] Remember that if I come any closet or corner will do for me to sleep in[.] I will write again in the course of 12 or 14 days[.]

Ever My dear Andrews | Affectionately Yours | M. Faraday