Faraday to Jean-Baptiste-André Dumas   15 November 1855

A Monsieur | Monsieur le M. Dumas. | &c &c &c &c

Brighton | 15. November 1855.

My dear & most esteemed friend

You can hardly conceive the pleasure your letter¹ gave me;- the sight of the hand writing, the old kind remembrances, and the present affection - all contributed to move me greatly. The honor had little or nothing to do with the matter;- it was the feeling that you had not forgotten me, but that I was on your mind as I had been;- and for this I must truly thank you:- and before I leave this ground of true pleasure must ask you to join it with my most respectful remembrance to Madame Dumas; to whom also my dear wife sends her kindest remembrances as well as to yourself.

I have not been well; and having been ordered out of town, did not receive your letter until yesterday and as it bore no date, was not aware that I ought to have written on the instant. This morning I have received a letter from Mr. Cole², which leads me to suppose the great day of the Exposition is to day. In any case I could not have been present.

You must not think that I do not esteem very highly the great honor, which you, and the Council have done me; and could I have been present on the great occasion, and so had the opportunity of beholding the Emperor, a flood of remembrances would have come back upon me (as they do now) of his extreme kindness on former occasions³. I do not suppose that he can ever think of me; there is, now, no occasion; but if the circumstances now existent should cause any sound of my name before him in your presence, I hope you will (if proper) express to him the deep feelings of my heart; both in former things and in the present happy & I trust enduring union of France & England under his reign[.]

I am My dear friend | Most truly Yours | M. Faraday