Faraday to William Thomson   2 November 1859

[Royal Institution embossed letterhead] | London. W. | Royal Institution | 2 Novr 1859

My dear Sir

I am very much obliged for your last¹, and have been looking over the curves with its assistance. I do not find the particular case of a long mound in the earth which you refer to but I think I have understood all except perhaps one. By the writing of the address I think they came to me from you so I return them to you by post with many thanks to you and Profr. Maxwell.

I am very glad too to hear of the Electrometer[.] My reason for writing to you was as follows. Our Managers have a fund founded by Sir Henry Holland² for the purchase of certain pieces of apparatus³ it is limited in extent but if in consideration I find that one of your electrometers is a suitable object I mean to propose it⁴. I think we should need the reflexion appliances inasmuch as we ought to make all our apparatus serve to demonstrate to the Members the facts & discoveries in science. When your instrument comes to Kew and you have as you say a more exact estimate I should be very glad to know.

Both your instrument and your application of it to atmospheric electricity interests me most deeply. Are you inclined (supposing it would suit with your convenience) to tell the story to our Members on one of the Friday Evenings of the next season.?⁵ It would be a very great pleasure to me to hear you here

I often think of Mrs. Thomson & her sisters & the friends at Aberdeen⁶[.] Pray remember me earnestly as well as kindly to Your wife[.]

Ever Very Truly Yours | M. Faraday

Profr. W. Thomson