Faraday to an unidentified correspondent   Undated

R Institution | Thursday Morning

Dear Sir

I will give you a sincere opinion but pray keep it private for I have no wish to enter into discussion[.] Nor would I judge another but for your sake. The present paper & also No.1 is not worthy of a place in Your excellent periodical[.] Its very excellence is an objection to their presence[.] The philosophy is that of one who reasons only on paper who does not doubt himself or cross examine his own opinions[.] It is mere theoretic assertion and the facts quoted are far more soberly and accurately explained by other principles admitted as far as they are justified by recent discoveries but which though originating from the greatest of men were put forth with the characteristic modesty of truth[.]

The objections made by some correspondent in the note might be multiplied a hundred fold but that the doctrine asserted is so entirely unsustained by any consistent quotation of facts that it is not worth examination.

Ever [word illegible] Yours | M. Faraday

Endorsement: Cunningham¹ | Composition of Sun’s | Rays No. II. | postponed sine die