Thomas Romney Robinson to Faraday   23 November 1863

Observatory | Nov. 23. 63

My dear Faraday

I like controversy as little as any one can, least of all with you¹; but it is quite possible to assert ones own opinion and oppose another’s without controversial feeling. I should be very glad if you thought as I do, because I fear our difference of opinion will mar a good and needful work. If I am not mistaken we now only differ as to the point of Superintendance[.]

I had heard through Gladstone of the experiments you mention; and am glad the Trinity Board are making them, both because this shews that there is no difficulty in the matter, and because it will probably take two of our Categories out of the realm of Doubt. They have (I hope) not merely compared the signals, but got absolute measures of the distances to which they reach. If this has been done in thick fog, nothing more is necessary; if not they are of little use.

In reference to another part of your letter, let me mention that the T.B in replying to the Board of Trade, said nothing about want of funds, but based their refusal solely on your letter²[.]

Yours as ever | T.R. Robinson

Dr Faraday