Faraday to Benjamin Vincent   8 August 1862

The Green | Hampton Court | F[riday]. 8, Aug. 1862

My dear friend

Though you are away from us we cannot forget you - and so on Wednesday¹ Evening last as we sat at tea together reduced in company to two, we talked about you & Mr Leighton, picturing your whereabouts & thinking of the accounts you would bring back to us. Mr Leighton had left a very pleasant remembrance of himself in the shape of a letter he had received from Mr. Baxter of Dundee telling us of the addition of a brother to the Church namely John Behrens² son of the Sister Mrs. Behrens³ I mean his Mother - for it appears that his own sister in the flesh joined the Church being the last addition before her friend who was received a week ago. So now Mrs. Behrens has her son & her daughter & her niece with her in the faith which must be a great delight to her in her weakness for I understand that she is confined to the house & could not be present at the worship or at the recent receptions[.]

Perhaps you have heard all this but I just mention what occurs to my mind[.]

On Wednesday Mrs. Philip⁴ said her husband was on the sea so we hope to have his company next Sabbath[.]

I think you will see four of Mrs. Giles children at Newcastle with their uncle & aunt we heard they had arrived safe. Mrs. Giles is going with other three to her sister Mrs. Metcalf⁵ at Hawes. Mr. John Giles is exceedingly kind & thoughtful for her[.]

I learn that my wife intends writing to your wife to see if we can bring Mrs. Vincent here on Sabbath Evening & Keep her for a few days. There is also the intention of getting a few friends to dinner here some day next week with the hopes that if you are in town you will come & join them, but I cannot say anything definite. We shall see how it will turn out and what Mrs. Vincent & friends will say[.]

Poor Anderson since his wife’s⁶ death & burial is gone into the Country with I believe two of his daughters⁷ for a change and relief. I think he comes back on Monday⁸ but am not sure. Of Dr. Tyndall we have heard twice. His first letter⁹ gave the account of a very serious affair which occurred to one of his guides or rather parties who fell into a crevasse and was with great difficulty recovered from the ice and restored to life & consciousness[.] The other letter related his attempt to ascend the Matterhorn¹⁰ and his failure. The party approached near the summit but that summit was inaccessible: from what he says both their progress towards & their retreat from the top were very dangerous.

My letter is not worth your having - or even continuing - for my head is very confused. But give my love to Mr Paradise, Mr Reid¹¹ & all our friends.

Ever Affectionately Yours | M. Faraday

Mr. Vincent