Faraday to Christian Friedrich Schoenbein   14 October 1856

Royal Institution | 14 October 1856

My dear friend

Hearty and healthy and occupied and happy as you are let me congratulate you, for every letter of yours brings me evidence of the existence of a healthy mind in a sound body¹. How you have been running about? & you go home as if you were refreshed rather than tired by it. I do not feel so any longer; even if I go away for a little general health, I am glad to return home again for rest in the company of my dear wife & niece but as the wise man hath said there is a time for all things², & my time is to be quiet & look on, which I am able to do with great content & satisfaction - I expect one of my nieces³ here very soon who will let me into the knowledge of your last paper⁴; in the mean time I have sent the other copy & your letter to Dr. Whewell. What you tell me of your paper makes me long to hear the whole of it; though the very pleasure of getting knowledge is now mingled with some thoughts of regret at the consciousness that I very quickly lose it again;- well - a time for all things. I have been occupying myself with gold this summer; I did not feel head-strong enough for stronger things - The work has been of the Mountain & mouse fashion⁵; & if I ever publish it⁶ & it comes to your sight, I dare say you will think so:- the transparency of gold - its division - its action on light: &c &c &c.

Now with regard to Miss Schoenbein’s desires:- I am sorry that my unsocial habits have left me unacquainted with any such family as that which I think would suit your view. Not one name occurs to me but Grove and to Mrs. Grove⁷ I shall show your letter as soon as they come to town. It so happened that two or three years ago Tyndall shewed us a letter very much to the same purport regarding a daughter of one of his German friends⁸; that letter we shewed to a lady (Miss Hornblower) & it led to Tyndalls friend coming to London & being with Miss Hornblower for I think two years & it is not very long ago since she went back, very happy in the thoughts of her residence her. I have shown your letter to Miss Hornblower in hopes she might know of some family: and her note to me in reply, is such, that I send it on to you. Miss Hornblower is a very dear friend of ours, & in her character & all that is about her, all we could wish;- but then she keeps a school. it is an excellent establishment, with many masters, & the pupils who have been with her all love & respect her. If what she says induces you to write to her, do so directly & without hesitation. For your private thought I may say she is about 50 years of age, very active, though not very strong, & has sustained her establishment of 15 or 20 pupils at Stamford Hill for full 30 years.

Pray remember me to Wiedemann;- and us most kindly to Madam & Miss Schoenbein & also to the Merians and above all to Yourself.

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

Address: Dr. Schoenbein | &c &c &c | University | Basle | Switzerland