Faraday to Napoleon III   19 January 1856

Royal Institution | 19 January 1856

To His Imperial Majesty | The Emperor

Sire

I fear to intrude yet I also fear to seem ungrateful; and before Your Majesty I would rather risk the former than the latter. I know not how to return fit thanks for the high and most unexpected honor which your Imperial Majesty has conferred upon me in the gift of the Degree of Commandant of the Legion of Honor¹. I cannot promise to deserve it by the future for the effects of time tell me there are no hopes that I should hereafter work for science as in past years[.] I can only offer a most grateful & unfailing remembrance of that which to me is more than honor - of the kindness of Your Imperial Majesty to one such as I am:- and I feel deeply affected by the thought that even I, by Your Majestys favour form one link, though a very small one, in the bonds which I hope will ever unite France & England[.]

Hoping & believing that Your Majesty will accept my earnest thank[s] & deep seated wishes for Your Majesty in all things I venture to sign Myself as

Your Imperial Majesty’s | most humble & most Grateful Servant | M. Faraday