Sarah Faraday to Henry Bence Jones   31 May 1864

[Royal Institution embossed letterhead] | May 31st 1864

My dear Dr Jones,

My poor husband has been so troubled ever since Friday¹ with the thoughts of the Presidency², that it has quite affected his health - just as the thoughts of giving a friday evening did formerly - and now he has returned from his visit to you quite distressed & I am sure you would be quite grieved if you heard his expressions he says, “the Dr. says it is the only thing he ever asked me, & I cannot do it, it would make my brain turn soft & I should lose my mind I am deeply grieved, but I should feel degraded in my own eyes if I allowed it to go on, it is quite inconsistent with all my life & views” &c &c &c &c

We have in vain tried to comfort & sooth him & it is my full opinion that you must give it up. We have had our accounts out & considered how we could live upon a reduced income, if we had to leave the Institution - it is of no use to reason so we go into all his views, & it is by his wish, (as I must say I feel with him) that I write - but knowing your warm affection for my dear husband I am grieved to say all this - & now feel that this is a confused account of our trouble but Jane will tell you more than I can say if you wish to see her - she will be the bearer of this note.

Believe me my dear Dr with very warm gratitude for your constant kindness to remain most sincerely yours | S. Faraday -