Faraday to Ellen Giles1   19 January 1855

Royal Institution | 192 Jany 1855

My dear Ellen

I had just heard the sad news3 when your note came – I will be with you tomorrow about 2 o’clk. I think, & we all here think, it would be better for James4 not to mix with the mourners[.] Poor fellow he will mourn enough; but for there [sic] sakes it would be better not[.] I have no personal objection but the Mrs. Giles’ might and all of us ought to think of others. Perhaps he James would not desire to go to the ground, but will let us do that duty, - or if he walks to the ground I will walk back with him. But I think & Dr. Bence Jones thinks that very great care ought to be taken as to communication. These who escape the infection frequently take it to others.

I am very sorry to hear that William5 is too thoughtless about these matters & was in your house after being in No. 346[.]

Think of us to your husband7 very kindly – my wife is continually talking of your families[.]

Ever Your Affectionate Uncle | M. Faraday

1
This letter is black-edged.
2
Faraday overwrote ‘20’ with ‘19’.
3
This was the death from scarlet fever the previous day of Faraday’s niece and Ellen Giles’s sister, Jane Giles, née Gray (1817-1855, GRO). Her husband Albert Giles (d.1855, age 36, GRO), a cornfactor, had died on 17 January 1855 whilst their youngest son David Giles (1853-1855, GRO) had died on 13 January 1855.
4
James Gray (b.1819, TNA RG4/4664, f.7). Brother of Ellen Giles and Jane Giles and a bank clerk according to the 1851 census, TNA HO107/1494, f.113, p.4).
5
William Brantingham Giles.
6
Number 34 St Paul’s Terrace, Islington, where Albert and Jane Giles had lived, next door to William and Ellen Giles (1851 census, TNA HO107/1502, f.431, p.31).
7
William Giles.

Please cite as “Faraday2933a,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday2933a