B. Bell to Faraday   23 August 1862

Auchinleck Castle | Carnoustie N.B. | Aug. 23 / 62

Sir

I have had placed in my hands for revised certain papers connected with the memoirs of my uncle Sir Charles Bell¹ about to be published. Among them I find the Enclosed which I have Copied for your perusal, before it is put into other hands.

May I beg of you if it is any respect disagreeable to you to let me know - if possible by return of post that it may be taken out of the MS.

Believe me to remain | With the utmost respect | Your obedient | B. Bell

Copy

- A curious thing occurred. Col. Fox² & Lady Mary Fox³ go to see the Comet⁴ at the Observatory & having seen the Comet they say - What odd thing is this? That is Mr Faraday’s apparatus. The working of this Apparatus & its curious results are Exhibited[.] Then says my Lady M.F. should not such a man have a Pension? He must undoubtedly[.]

So the proposal pass to Holland House. Thence to the King⁵. Then ‘my friend’ Young⁶ sends for Faraday - & he questions him about his religious opinions as likely to interfere with the pension. Faraday repels the idea -

He is introduced to Lord Melbourne⁷ who talks much in the same style. At last he says “in truth these pensions to scientific men are all humbug” on which Faraday makes his bow & is off & writes to the Minister that after the expression he has used he would feel himself degraded by any further Communication.

I say Well done my little man! To think of the science of Great Britain being under the protection of such people.