Faraday to Thomas John Fuller Deacon   6 April 1860

Hampton Court | Green | 6 April 1860

My dear friend

Whatever shape the reason may take that causes me to write to you, I am very glad of it;- for if there is much that we should say to each other by word of mouth, one may say a little of it by letter:- and though writing is but a poor way to think in, & therefore feeble for the expression of thought, we may supplement it a little in many points, by that which is expressed very emphatically by the words, “went not mine heart with thee”¹ and how delightful it is to think that it is in happy matters that our hearts may go together;- and further that Mr Leighton² comes back to us with happy accounts; as your letter to my dear wife says at least; for I have not seen him since his return, nor heard any thing of him except his arrival here. And whilst I am thinking loving thoughts to you, let me send our love to your dear wife & daughter. Jeannie would do so too were she here:- but this being Good Friday she & a party of nine or ten young ones have gone from here down the river in a boat, & after dining somewhere, intend to return here to tea. It is one of the annual excursions which the young ones have had for several years past; & a very fine day they have for it now[.]

As to my writing. My wife knows of no one who would suit the [word illegible] you offer for her consideration, & so wishes me to tell you that at once, that you may advertise - She however intends to send your letter to Miss Hornblower; but do not wait for that[.]

I am just on the point of asking you about Mr. Paradise Mr. Reid³ & also other persons & other things:- yet how vain & feeble that is when in a day I shall have Mr. Leighton to ask[.] No doubt he has told you all our news - Some to rejoice at, some to weep about;- but all when well considered quite fitted to cause much thankfulness. Like many of the dealing of God, much that has happened with us partakes of that beautiful character “though sorrow may endure for a night joy cometh in the morning”⁴. May it be so with all of us. May we know when it is that God dealeth with us as with children⁵. I used to think it an extreme expression “that thou mayest be ashamed & confounded & never open thy mouth any more when I am reconciled unto thee”⁶; but when we are sober it must be so: it is only when we are becoming vain & foolish that it can be otherwise[.]

Ever My dear Brother | Affectionately Yours | M. Faraday

Mr. T. Deacon