George Biddell Airy to Faraday   11 December 1854

Royal Observatory Greenwich | 1854 December 11

My dear Sir

The circumstances which determined my selection of the beginning of February¹ (at least my preference of a time not earlier than that to an earlier time) is this - that the last few days of December and a portion of January are the only time when I can have a slight remission of labour and a little country life. Great things are guided by little ones, all the world over; and these moments of mine are ultimately determined by my children’s school holidays.

It would upset my family arrangements very much, to engage to be in London on a definite day in January: although without doubt I shall have to come up on some days yet undefined.

I would do much to accommodate my movements to your wishes, but I am confident that the price which, in this instance, must be paid for it, is greater than you yourself would desire.

I am, my dear Sir, | Yours most truly | G.B. Airy

Professor Faraday