James South to Faraday   12 January 1866

Friday Night Jany 12, 1866 | Observatory Kensington

My Dear Old Friend,

My Butler is just returned, having thanks to one of your Hall attendants, brought me a copy of tomorrow’s Athenaeum Newspaper.

Unfortunately your dear Niece, did not give me the date of the good old Soldier’s removal from amongst us; I therefore have no means of forming any good idea, when the ordinary sepulchral arrangements, would require the Removal, or burial, of the ashes of our departed Friend.

But if necessary, I would take upon myself, the charge of purchasing a site in the Cemetery at Highgate or elsewhere, rather than suffer the Mortal Remains of our humble Friend, after 22 years exemplary service as a Soldier, and 37 or 38 years service, as Chemical Assistant to Mr. Faraday, in his Immortal Experiments made during that period (perhaps if inaccurately allowed to stand it will not be wrong but you will know¹) in the Laboratory of the Royal Institution, to lie promiscuously with the ordinary dead.

As a Soldier and as a philosopher of 57 years standing he has claims of a higher order, and it shall not be my fault, if he do not get them -

Will you make interest with Dear Miss Barnard & get her to Copy me this Letter.

My correspondence powers, are very feeble. Lord Rosse² - Dr. Robinson - and others, are I dare say, surprised, that they do not hear from me concerning the mounting of my large Object Glass, which on the persuasion of Dr. Robinson, I gave the Dublin University nearly 3 years ago, and which I fear the Fellows of Trinity College will not mount in the English manner as I, aye and as Robinson gave me reason to suppose) [sic] they would, and which if he had not done, no consideration upon Earth, should have induced me to let it see Dublin³ - indeed during the last month, I refer [to it] very much of my increased illness, and discomfort.

Dr. Robinson in one of his unanswered Letters which now lies before me, on the table, writes thus, “I am now very sorry I took any part in inducing you to give the object Glass to them; but I dont think that they will be very likely to mount it till they get some new, and better men, among them” (“the fellows”.

Lord Rosse writes; “It is strange there should have been no one competent for the professorship in Ireland but Stoney⁴ - Now Lord Rosse is Chancellor of the University - The Fact is to keep the Object from the certainty of being broken by Hamilton⁵, in his drunkenness, the Fellows were obliged to lock it and all its apparatus which in my confidence I gave them also, up.

But I will say no more about it, “tamquam animus memori horret, lustaque refugit.”

I know not what I have written, & cannot read it over to refresh my recollection - but will send it to the post with all its many faults - In a few days I shall, I feel, follow Anderson - pray let your niece Copy & send me her copy of this Letter - God bless you & all belonging to you; Adieu my good old Friend, Adieu

Yours ever affectionately | J. South

PS I have left all your valuable lectures⁶ &c to the Royal Instit⁷ pray let them be kept in neat in very neat cabinets by themselves & I think their bindings should remain as they are, but you, my dear Faraday, are the best judge of that.

Once More God Bless You | JS

Address: M. Faraday Esq | Royal Institution | Albemarle Street | Piccadilly