William Snow Harris to Faraday   22 December 1855

6 Windsor Villas | Plymouth 22 December 1855

My dear Faraday

I was made very happy in the receipt of your most kind letter¹ by this mornings post: and you may rest assured that no one has a stronger hold of my affection respect, and esteem, than yourself; few very few so strong. I therefore fully appreciate the kindness & honor you have shown me by this communication and reciprocate with all my Heart your good wishes toward me -. It is as you say no recent recollections which thus associate us in the bond of friendship no events of yesterday - but our mutual esteem has been the growth and experience of many years[.] On my part it is the humble tribute of a pupil to the virtues and Talents of a if not the great Master of the Science of Modern Days - I think I might have done something more considerable in Science had my life been less embarrassed by the presence of worldly circumstances - “He that hath Wife and Children hath given hostiges to Fortune”² so says our great Philosopher³ the author of the Inductive Philosophy -. I have had much I do assure you within the last 10 years more especially, to distress and embarrass me - In a large Provincial Town like this as you may imagine, with station to maintain public duties to be fulfilled and a domestic establishment with all its attendant meteors to reconcile one has really not that repose of mind & Time at command requisite to the carrying out intricate important and expensive researches in Science - Thank God I am I hope somewhat more clear of this now and have lately commenced a renewal & revisit of all my Scientific Instruments - I have turned every thing out restored improved & arranged my apparatus - I have some things I should much like you to see - The long battle I had with the Government relative to my permanently-fixed Lightning Conduction for the Navy - was a source of great trouble and vexation to me especially the illiberal delay I experienced at the hands of persons who should have known better - It is after all some consolation to me to know that a good thing has certainly been done for the Navy and some light thrown on an interesting Department of Physics by my researches - It was an Herculean Task to hunt out all the dusty ships records deposited at the Admiralty - and obtain substantial evidence of the terrible loss of Life and property &c by strikes of Lightning at sea. Ten to Twenty men at a time more or less paralyzed whilst unfurling a topsail - The Admiralty would not believe all this at first and I was looked on as a sort of visionary in proposing to defend Ships from Lightning by a systematic application of a metallic Conductor of great capacity carried throughout the masts & Hull. It is all very well to say now that the thing is done how easy this problem & that all I accomplished was to nail a little copper to the spars.- but at the time when

M. Faraday Esq FRS. LLD