Faraday to John Tyndall   25 July 1853

Royal Institution, | 25 July, 1853.

My dear Tyndall,

I have received your letter without date¹, so do not know whether you have been expecting to hear from me; I rather waited to learn your address, but by Dr Bence Jones’ advice intend to send this to our friend Du Bois-Reymond’s house. I really have nothing to say, but to convey my kindest remembrances and wishes to your and my friends at Berlin, and to set your mind free in every point however slight. I think your proposed course here will be excellent, and know very well that I shall enjoy it, and believe that all others will do so with me. I thought I saw Du Bois-Reymond’s face in the Railway the other day, on the Northern road, but it must have been a mistake. Give my heartiest remembrances to him. Also to M.M. Magnus, Rose, and such other friends of mine as you may meet. In thought I send my homage and respects to Humboldt, (and through him even to the King², who has honoured me with the Order of Merit³), but I refrain from troubling him. Though very much his junior in years, I feel the burden of formalities, and so think I ought to spare him and such as him. Sometimes I fear I may carry this too far, and that it may assume the appearance of indifference on my part; but I hope that will not be the case and that I am favourably interpreted, especially in the case of the man whom I most deeply venerate.

I was with Dr. Percy on Saturday night⁴, who tells me they have been building an enormous geyser at Woolwich - not on purpose, however, but accidentally. The fact is that they have been building a new boiler which, as far as I understand it, consists of two tall concentric iron cylinders, having water between them and fire in the centre. Percy compares it to the geyser, and thinks of it with some degree of apprehension.

I wish I could transport myself suddenly to Berlin, and be with you in some of the Laboratories and Workshops. I should luxuriate in some of the manufactories of philosophical instruments, but - but such wishes remain long after the ability or fitness to satisfy them has passed away. A single day of such would set my head a ringing, and I should have to run away.

Ever, my dear Tyndall, | Yours very truly, | M. Faraday