Faraday to Stroud   6 July 1860¹

The Green, Hampton Court: July 6, 1860.

Sir,- Your letter² has surprised me a good deal, for I did not know before that my name had been used as you describe, and cannot now imagine how it has been employed upon that side of the argument where your letter places it. I send herewith a part of your letter (which, however, I will thank you to return to me again). All that part which is between my initials on pp. 5 and 6 is utterly untrue. I never made animalcules or maggots by the agency of electricity, and when others said they had done anything of the kind, opposed their views, and all the conclusions derived from them³. I never lectured on science at Cambridge at all; no lectures of mine have been discontinued, and if I have given offence (which I can only imagine in the case of one person), it has been because I was supposed to pay too much respect to the Bible, which I believe to be the Word of God.

Some years ago I delivered a lecture on education ⁴, which has since been reprinted at the end of a volume of Juvenile Lectures on the forces of matter⁵, just published by Griffin⁶, I believe⁷. Near the beginning of that lecture you will find a public answer to the inquiries which you make at the close of your note.

Your letter states that the object of the meetings on Paddington Green is the elucidation of truth. As far as your letter goes, they appear to me to have been effectual mainly in the generation and propagation of error.

You are at perfect liberty to use this letter in connexion with the subject in any way you may think fit.

I am, Sir, your very faithful servant, | M. Faraday