Faraday to Thomas Romney Robinson   3 November 1863

My dear Robinson

I know your kindness & your sense of honour too well to think that when you see the Athenaeum (5 Sep. p306¹) you will not do me justice[.]

That I have given the same interpretation to the words of the memorial² that others will give to it is I think manifest in this;- that the Trinity House could not have perceived any misconception or it would not have sent my letter³ to the Board of Trade;- & the Board of Trade could not have perceived any misconception or it would not have sent it to you:- I shall be quite satisfied if the two appear together[.]

In your letter to me (Oct 29) you say that the Memorial “proposes to the Board of Trade to obtain that knowledge by a course of definite experiments which present no serious difficulty and at the same time to try two new submarine signals of high promise” - “conducted by a naval officer” - “which cannot involve much expense” - for guns & bells can be borrowed “and two or three hundred pounds would cover the rest” ⁴. If you can point out that proposition in the memorial; or if you & the Committee even now make it; you either taking the charge & responsibility or giving the name of any in whom you can trust for the result;- and such a proposition come to me from the Trinity house you will find that I shall not be unfavourable (as the Athenaeum says) to that object and though the T.H has no power to donate funds to such a purpose I believe that it would support the proposition with all its might. Further I think that I do the Board of Trade only justice in believing that it would also favour the work; even if the sum were as you say “to be tenfold” that you mention provided it had reason to repose confidence in the parties to whom the work should be trusted.

I am My dear Robinson | Most truly yours | M. Faraday

Royal Institution | 3 Novr. 1863