Thomas Andrews to Faraday   4 July 1853

Queen’s College Belfast | 4h July 1853

My dear Dr Faraday

I feel greatly obliged by your kind note but regret you should have considered it necessary to explain when the explanation should have rather come from myself. In calling the first evening I enquired particularly both for Mrs Faraday and yourself, and when I learned to my regret next day that you had left London I took it for granted that Mrs. Faraday had accompanied you. My visit to London was a very short one, and I hope on the next occasion to be more fortunate.

Since my return I have read your very interesting letter in the Times on the table turning exhibitions¹. I am afraid even the example you have given of the mode of investigating such a question will scarcely check the desire for marvels of this kind which under different forms has of late been manifested by a large portion of the public mind. The extension of education has apparently had very little influence in preventing these delusions: but has it not limited their duration. I mean the period during which they have been received as quasi-established truths? The belief in witch-craft maintained its ground for centuries; while clairvoyance has already run its brief career.

Excuse these speculations which have sometimes occupied my thoughts and were recalled by the concluding observation in your letter.

Please give my kind regards to Mrs. Faraday & express the regret I have experienced in not having seen her & believe me to be yours very truly & obliged | (signed) Th. Andrews.