Faraday to John Percy   17 March 1863

March 17, 1863.

My dear Percy, - It is very pleasant to see your neat handwriting again. I am quite tired in looking at my own unsteady, uncertain characters and sense. I wish I could have the further pleasure of helping you, but I have forgotten all about the paper on alloys¹, and cannot at all call to mind where any of the specimens are. I rather think they all went into Mr. Stodart’s hands, and must be lost by this time, for I do not know how to trace them².

I have no doubt you have your work before you, but at all events do not waste your strength and mental power by overtaxing it too much at once. Your cry, “Oh! that we could do without sleep, and never feel fatigue,” makes me hold it up to you as a warning. Do not force nature too much. As a good soldier in the battle, husband your forces, and knowing (as I am sure you do know), the need of it, do not let a present temptation lead you to strain your power too far. Give nature her proper opportunity to recover, and as every pulse of the heart wants its succeeding moment of rest, that it may again spring forward in renewed life, so let your exertions be, and you will attain your end, and be happy in doing so.

With kindest remembrances to Mrs. Percy³, from ever, my dear Percy, yours truly,

M. Faraday