Faraday to James David Forbes   29 May 1856

[Royal Institution embossed letterhead] | 29 May 1856

My dear Sir

I received your letter and proofs¹ yesterday: I return the latter by the post. I thank you very much for a sight of them[.] I will not say I thank you for the expression of your good opinion of my contribution to science² because I believe you would have performed what you considered a duty independant of any other consideration but I may without offence say how very grateful it is to me to find that you hold such opinions. I am deeply indebted to scientific men for these very kind feelings towards me[.]

You will see that I have marked nothing (indeed how could I) except one little passage near the top of p 24 “and be weak in proportion”³[.] I do not recollect any expression of an opinion on my part that induction is weak because it occurs or may occur along a curved line and it is easy to arrange a case in which the induction along a curved line shall be stronger than along a straight line the lines being selected from all those concerned. If the words were away that which remained would represent me as I feel but you probably have a meaning which I have not caught[.]

Ever My dear Sir | Yours Very truly | M. Faraday

Prof. J.D. Forbes | &c &c &c

t.o.

I pop in two figures

Here the curved lines of induction are weaker than the straight line, and weaker as they are more curved

here many of the curved lines c. c. c. are stronger than the straight line s