17. Septr. 1863. | London
My dear Plucker
As soon as I had your letter1 I wrote to you (being at the time out of town) and said I should call on you at a given hour 11 o’clk yesterday morning. I went to your house found you were gone having left for Paris the day before and now have only the solace of writing so that when you return to Bonn you may find this poor written word from me[.] It would indeed have cheered me to have seen your face & heard your voice speaking of science & your exertions for it. For my own part things change as they may well do in the latter years of an old man’s life and leave me listless and ineffectual - If I could only remember - but I will not tease you for I think I have said all I ought to say to you, on former occasions.
I hope you enjoyed your trip to Newcastle2. I durst not venture into the crowd of friends & exciting matters:- the very thought of doing so oppressed me. I hear all went on prosperously & I am quite sure you would bear your part in the matter. If I could have been there invisible. I am very glad you came across Mr & Mrs. Deacon they would have great pleasure in your company. Believe me to be ever
My dear Plucker | Your Affectionate friend | M. Faraday
Please cite as “Faraday4361,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on