Faraday to Benjamin Vincent   26 August 1856

Royal Institution | 26 Aug 1856

My dear friend

Though I had the longer journey1 I am afraid you had the worst of it - for the rain came on[.] I hope you & Mr Fisher have not caught cold through your kindness to me. I reached home at the expected time & found my wife pretty well but lonely & wanting me[.] I was very glad to get home to her though sorry to see so little of our friends with you. Pray express my kindest thanks for their hospitality & affection when the occasion serves. This morning we have letters from Mrs. William Barnard2 - she still holds her intention of being with her children at Old Buckingham [sic] next Sabbath3[.] I dare say you will hear from her but cannot say from her letters what her time will be[.]

You will be much grieved to hear of a very sudden death at Newcastle of one whom I have no doubt you met Mr. William Reid4 - he with his brother Mr. Sandeman Reid5 & also Mr. Christian Reid6 were at the Whalley Sands beyond Cullercoats & he went into the sea to Bathe he got out of his depth & was lost the others seeing it[.] Neither of them could swim & though Mr. Christian ran in up to his shoulders he could not reach him[.] His body was not found until 2 hours after7. This is another sad remembrance to add to that which you have already of the dangers of the coast there to bathers. It has a great & sudden gloom over many houses at Newcastle.

With my wifes love & remembrance to You & Mrs Vincent.

I am My dear friend | Yours Very Truly | M. Faraday

Mr Vincent


Address: Mr Vincent | care of Mr. W. Fisher | Old Buckenham Green | Attleboro | Norfolk

1
From Old Buckenham which he had visited from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 August 1856. DUA Acc M/409/5/3, pp.142-3.
2
Martha Barnard, née Lyon (d.1871, age 72, GRO). Widow of William Barnard. Cantor (1991), 299. Made Confession of Faith in Sandemanian Church, 8 March 1829.
3
That is 31 August 1856. She visited Old Buckenham from 30 August to 4 September 1856. DUA Acc M/409/5/3, p.143.
4
William Reid (1825-1856, Reid, C.L. (1914)). Bookkeeper to the Reid silversmith business. He drowned on 24 August 1856.
5
Patrick Sandeman Reid (1819-1897, Reid, C.L. (1914)). Civil and mining engineer, TNA RG12/1049, f.84, p.16.
6
Christian John Reid (1816-1891, Reid, C.L. (1914)). Newcastle silversmith.
7
For an account of the accident see Newcastle Guardian,30 August 1856, p.5, col. e.

Please cite as “Faraday3184,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday3184