Edward Jones to Faraday   4 June 1857

Vicarage. | West Peckham | Maidstone | June 4th 1857.

Dear Sir,

A short time back my brother¹ who is a member of the Royal Institution put into my hands a pamphlet containing among others your lecture upon the Conservation of Force².

As an old Cambridge man, the subject was so interesting, and the principle, tho’ of course I never thought of it before, so self evident, that I could not help considering how & why it was that the laws of gravitation should seem to be opposed to it[.]

I have put down on paper my views of the question³, and if you do not think it too much trouble to read them, tho’ they may not assist you[,] you will see that some of the difficulties which in your anxiety after the truth you imagine to exist, do not exist in the minds of some others[.] Those which I cannot at present see my way thro I yet believe to be removable for it appears to be impossible that any other law should obtain or that any law can be sound which ignores or will not admit of the principle of Conservation of Force - I have often had the Privilege & pleasure of hearing you tho’ not on this occasion, and I hope to have that pleasure again on the 12th⁴.

I am | Dear Sir | faithfully yours | Edwd Jones

(51 Strand)

Michael Faraday Esq. | Royal Institution