Faraday to Charles Beaumont Phipps   27 April 1858

Royal Institution | 27 April. 1858

Sir

It grieves me much that I did not acknowledge your letter of the 19th¹ immediately upon its arrival but I understood the last paragraph in it as expressing a wish that I shd not reply until I could give a decisive answer[.] I believe you have been made aware that circumstances oblige me to hesitate until I receive some promised information from the Lord Chamberlains² office. I hoped for this on Saturday³ & Yesterday:- but I cannot any longer delay the acknowledgment in some manner of your communication & the expression of my deep thanks for the kindness & consideration with which it was made[.]

I have the honor to be | Sir | Your Very faithful Servant | M. Faraday

Coll | The Honble. C.B. Phipps CB. | &c &c &c &c

Endorsed by Faraday: From me to Coll. Phipps