Faraday to Robert Cooper1   31 January 1863

Royal Institution, | 31st January, 1863.

Sir, - My opinion is in no way changed in character, but greatly strengthened. Nobody has ever been able to shew me the effect, therefore, I have no occasion to shew a cause. I do not believe those who say they have seen it. I doubt their competency to examine facts and evidence of facts, and think their statements as of no value for the cause of science and simple truth. When they can lift a table into the air in the presence of parties adverse to them in opinion, and can subject what they think can be done to strict and cross-examination, then it may be worth while to think about the cause.

Very truly yours, | M. Faraday

R. Cooper, Esq., | Eastbourne.

Robert Cooper (age 39 in 1861 census, TNA RG9/567, f.88, p.25). Brewer in Eastbourne.

Please cite as “Faraday4296,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday4296