Faraday to Arthur-Auguste De La Rive   7 April 1855

Royal Institution | 7 April 1855

My dear friend

I must just write you a letter though I have nothing to say; i.e nothing philosophical; but I hope to feel with you that when philosophy has faded away, the friend remains. Do not think that I cannot & do not rejoice in reading and understanding all that your vigorous mind produces, but for myself, I feel I have little or nothing to return; and though when my sluggish mind is moved, I can think determinately & write decidedly, yet being once written I fall back into quietude, and leave what has been said almost uncared for or unthought of; & so it is that I do not teaze you in letters with much of my philosophic opinions.

I am afraid too of the Post, for though I send you now & then a report of a Friday Evening meeting, being assured that they will go without charge to you, yet as to Papers from the Philosophical Magazine I am in the greatest uncertainty. I receive daily papers from abroad which are charged two, three or four shillings, and am absolutely obliged to refuse many:- and when they tell me at the post office here that such a paper can go to the continent at so much, I am in fear of some mistake, &, that inadvertently I run the risk of taxing my friends beyond their patience. However I have sent you, by a friend, a paper from the Philosophical Magazine¹, which perhaps you have seen already; & so I will say no more about it:- except that Mr. Twining (the friend) is an excellent Gentleman as you will find if he personally comes in your way[.]

But of other matter:- I hope & desire that you should enjoy good health & spirits and that your work will be a cheerer to you;- and further, that as you turn from it to graver thoughts & back again, both should minister peace & contentment to your mind. What a world this is! How the whole surface of the earth seems about to be covered with the results of evil passions. - Ambition - contest - inhumanity - selfishness. - Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself²; - how the extreme reverse of this shapes its self into the forms of Honor Patriotism: Glory, Loyalty, Reverence, &c &c³. Happy for us that there is a power who overrules all this to his own good ends, and who will one day make manifest the truth & cause the Light to shine out of the darkness⁴.

I shall hope soon to hear of the volume of the work⁵,- & shall rejoice to know that you are yourself in good strength; &, whilst in the flesh, still working on your way.- I am very well, but as before, continually failing in memory; but since I have given up lecturing & the occupations which require memory, I have been very well & cheerful, & free from giddiness.- My dear wife also, though infirm, is in good mind & we go on our way rejoicing in each others company.

Ever My dear friend | Yours faithfully | M. Faraday

M | Auguste de la Rive | &c &c &c

Address: A Monsieur | Monsieur De la Rive | &c &c &c | à Geneva

Postmark: Hastings