Faraday to Mary Somerville   17 January 1859

Royal Institution | 17 January 1859.

My dear Mrs Somerville

So you have remembered me again, and I have the delight of receiving from you a new copy of that work which has so often instructed me; & I may well say, cheered me in my simple, homely course through life in this house. It was most kind to think of me; but ah how sweet it is to believe that I have your approval in matters where kindness could do nothing,- where judgment alone must rule. I almost doubt myself when I think I have your approbation, to some degree at least, in what I may have thought or said about gravitation, the forces of nature, their conservation &c.¹; and yet I do not feel that you are reproving such thoughts. As it is I cannot go back from them; on the contrary, I feel encouraged to go on by way of experiment; but am not so able as I was formerly;- for when I try to hold the necessary group of thoughts in mind at one time, with the judgment suspended on almost all of them, then my head becomes giddy & I am obliged to lay all aside for a while. I am trying for time in magnetic action, and do not despair of reaching it, even though it may be only that of light. Nous Verrons.

I have been putting into one volume various papers of mine, as Experimental Researches in Chemistry and Physics². The index & title page has gone to the printer & I expect soon to receive copies from him. I shall ask Mr. Murray to help me in sending one to you, which, I hope you will honour by acceptance. There is nothing new in it except a few additional pages about “regelation”³ and also “Gravity”⁴ - It is useful to get ones scattered papers together with an index, and Society seems to like the collection sufficiently to pay the expences.

I would ask after friends with you, but since the loss of memory have made many sad mistakes and have become afraid. Pray remember me most kindly to all with whom I may take that privilege: and believe me to be most truly

Your admirer and | faithful servant | M. Faraday