Faraday to James Clerk Maxwell   25 March 1857

[Royal Institution embossed letterhead] | Albemarle Street W. | 25 Mar 1857

My dear Sir

I received your paper and thank you very much for it¹. I do not say I venture to thank you for what you have said about Lines of force because I know you have done it for the interests of philosophical truth but you must suppose it is most grateful to me and gives me much encouragement to think on. I was at first almost frightened when I saw such mathematical force made to bear upon the subject and then wondered to see that the subject stood it so well - I send by this post another paper to you². I wonder what you will say to it. I hope however that bold as the thoughts may be you may perhaps find reason to bear with them. I hope this summer to make some experiments on the time of magnetic action³ or rather on the time required for the assumption of the electrotonic state round a wire carrying a current that may help the subject on. The time must probably be short as the time of light but the greatness of the result if affirmative makes me not despair - Perhaps I had better have said nothing about it for I am often long in realising my intentions & a failing memory is against me.

Ever Yours Most truly, | M. Faraday

Prof C. Maxwell | &c &c &c