Faraday to George Phillips   2 October 1862

The Green | Hampton Court | 2 Octr. 1862

Dear Sir

Your kindness is very great and very free[.] I only wish I could profit by it that I might, by accepting, do what I could deserve it. But it may not be - and indeed I would rather leave you with the impression of me which you already have than by giving you another and a worn out result change your notion of me. But you must not think me ungrateful either for your present or your former kindness1 and you will I hope endeavour in thanking Mrs. Phillips2 for me to leave a gentle notion[.] Tell her that I am over 71 years of age - that each year brought its hard work with it & that they have produced their natural and I hope their proper effect on me.

I hope you will have a happy meeting3 - and I shall rejoice to hear of the doings and think of the workers[.]

Ever my dear Sir | Very Gratefully Yours | M. Faraday

Revd. Dr. Phillips | President | &c &c &c.

1
A reference to Phillips’s role in Faraday being awarded his DCL degree from the University of Cambridge. See letters 4180 and 4186.
2
Emily Frances Phillips, née Pilkington (c.1813–1898, ODNB under G. Phillips). Wife of George Phillips whom she married 1848.
3
That is the annual meeting of the British Association in Cambridge.

Please cite as “Faraday4224,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday4224