Benjamin Cheverton to Faraday   23 May 1857¹

45 St James Sq | Notting Hill - W | May 23 -

Dear Sir

I thank you sincerely for your kind letter² & feel honoured that you should in any - the slightest sense deem me to be “a companion in the search after physical truth”.-

I have been induced to trouble you with another communication of mine to the Editor of the Mechanics Mag³, because there is in it, something like an amende to yourself, as well as a justification of the free use which we both make of the word “force” - a freedom arising perhaps out of a similarity of views, as to force being, the all in all, of insentient nature, so far at least as the latter is cognizable to our faculties[.] It is possible that an existence may reside at the center of atomic forces, but without dimensions or any other quality but force, of which however we do not, nor can we know any thing. I am not aware whether these views still appear strange to scientific men but to my apprehension, all philosophical investigations have for a long time past tended in this direction[.]

You will perceive that I have made use of the inclosure⁴ you sent me in your letter, and also of the information you were so good as to communicate respecting Mr Maxwells investigations⁵[.] I did not feel authorised in mentioning names, and I hope I have not been indiscreet in adverting to it at all-

I am Dear Sir | Yours respectfully | Benj Cheverton

Mr Faraday Esq

P.S. The Editor was not disposed at first to insert this second communication