Faraday to George Richmond   12 May 1860

[Royal Institution embossed letterhead] | 12 May 1860

My dear Richmond

M de la Rive a very eminent natural philosopher of Geneva is in town on a diplomatic mission from the Government of Switzerland to our Government1. He will have to stay here some weeks. I promised Madame de la Rive to ascertain from you whether you were so far at liberty as to draw his portrait, after the manner of Lyell2, and if so what your terms were[.] I believe his best hour is ½ p 10 o clk - Are you inclined to do it & if so could you send me such an answer as I could send to Madame or would you like to write to them direct3[.] They are living at 21 Dover Street Piccadilly -

Ever My dear Richmond | Yours Most Truly | M. Faraday

1
This refers to the question to the annexation of Savoy by France which so threatened the position of Switzerland that they appointed De La Rive to be special ambassador in London. On this and De La Rive’s role see Imlah (1966), 165-78.
2
Charles Lyell (1797-1875, ODNB). Geologist.
3
De La Rive is not included in the list of portraits by Richmond in Lister (1981), 150-75.

Bibliography

IMLAH, Ann G. (1966): Britain and Switzerland 1845-60: a study of Anglo-Swiss relations during some critical years for Swiss neutrality, London.

LISTER, Raymond (1981): George Richmond: A Critical Biography, London.

Please cite as “Faraday3779,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday3779