Faraday to Juliet Pollock   7 August 1857

[Royal Institution embossed letterhead] | 7 August 1857

My dear Mrs. Pollock

I write to you not to answer your letter but to acknowledge it. One cannot answer formally - the feelings must do that. I was very grieved to hear of the sad loss¹, and called upon you very spontaneously; for as you know I am so far out of the usages of Society that my calls may often be considered as intrusions; but I know it could not be so in this case and with you[.] Give my kindest remembrances & thoughts to those whom you are with. We often have to contemplate death:- we grieve when those we love & esteem are taken from us. Yet death ought not to be an unusual thought:- and I think it ought not to be an unhappy thought, - for there is abundant provision made against that. But this leads to sacred things, which, though indeed they should be common things, are such as I ought not to talk about here[.]

You speak of a book,- and if that comes to pass without any constraint or necessity upon those who may have to interfere in the matter, I shall indeed be very glad to have such a remembrance. It was but a few weeks ago that I was looking at certain photographs which brought Miss Herries very vividly to mind[.]

I hope you will meet Miss Herries the sister² with a grateful & grave happiness - my kindest thoughts towards her. As regards the things which make the memory of a friend dear to us, we ought to remember that in proportion as they have been worthy of our respect & imitation so is our sorrow; yet the worthiness that makes the sorrow we would not wish to have been less:- it was for the time, & is still, an added blessing. Kindest remembrances to Mr Pollock³. My wife (& niece) kindest remembrances - I have sent off Tyndalls letter⁴[.]

Ever Very Truly Yours | M. Faraday