Faraday to Justus Liebig   1 May 1856

Royal Institution | 1 May 1856.

My dear Liebig

I have long been desirous of writing to you, but laziness or weariness (and I think more of the latter than the former) have until now hindered me. I want to thank you for your great kindness shewn to my nephew Mr. Frank Barnard¹. I assure you he is very sensible of it, and expresses himself in strong terms to us, upon this matter. He seems to find himself far more in a home atmosphere than he did at Paris. His sister Jane, whom you may remember meeting here and who is of a warm affectionate temperature [sic], feels very strongly your kindness to her brother. I have to thank you, too, for your kindness in sending me a photograph of Mr. Barlow². Your Munich photographs delight me very much; for I am not fond of those which I see about in London, coloured up so highly that all simplicity is taken away from them. I suppose the owners think them fine & elaborate, I think them common place & often vulgar³.

As to science, I have little to say in my own name I could say much in Yours;- but that perhaps you would wish me to be silent about. Nevertheless, my deep admiration of your character & your services to the good cause will steal out; so permit these few words - When I set too [sic], to think, I become headachy & giddy and think to no purpose; so am content to wait for what may be suggested or occur. I shall have a common place paper or two to send you at some opportunity⁴, but they are only evidences of the will to work & think, not of the power[.]

Ever My dear Liebig | Yours Most truly | M. Faraday

Address: The | Baron Liebig | &c &c &c &c