Faraday, Michael à Ampère, André-Marie
M. Ampère, &c &c
Royal Institution,
1 July 1823 Dear Sir Every letter of mine to you either is, or ought to be, a letter of
thanks for I constantly find myself indebted to you for actual kindness and expressions of your
good opinion. It is very delightful to enjoy the approbation of those who are themselves worthy
of all praise and, whether worthy or unworthy myself, I certainly have that enjoyment on
reading your letters. I am afraid that those around me will become jealous if you continue
still to express yourself as you have done; at the same time it shall not be for want of
exertion on my part in doing all that I can that you shall have cause to cease to do so.
I have before complained to you of my want of understanding in the high branches of science
with which you can delight & instruct yourself and you will, I am sure, therefore forgive
me for not being able at once to follow you in the beautiful train of reasoning &
demonstration which you have pursued and given rise to. I am really almost ashamed of the
objections I made to the free admission of your theory for it accords so well with all the
facts I can see that I ought perhaps to have allowed that what I could not see was invisible to
me merely through the imperfection of my own perceptive powers. I have lately received
many presents from you and one not many days ago from Mr. Underwood. I prise them very much and
again offer my thanks for them. I wish I had other papers of equal consequence to return for
them but from their scarcity you will be content perhaps to wait a long time for one. Mr.
Underwood spoke in warm terms of your kind feelings towards me inasmuch that I could hardly
have thought it possible to be as he said for I fell no merit on my part that can claim such
good will. I may however well comprehend the cause in your own liberal feeling and I may easily
admit that to be the source of your good opinion from the constant liberality of sentiment I
have experienced in all the French Philosophers. Though comparatively young in science, I have
still had occasion to experience something of the influence of those around me and I am
compelled to say I have not found that kindness candour and liberality at home which I have now
on several occasions uniformly experienced from the Parisian men of Science. I have
written you rather a long letter considering there is no scientific news in it but I was
anxious to acknowledge justly the favours I owe you and to say how highly I do esteem and shall
esteem every mark of your kindness and friendship. Considering the very subordinate situation I
hold here and the little encouragement which circumstances hold out to me, I have more than
once been tempted to resign scientific pursuits altogether but then the remembrance of such
letters & expressions as yours cheers me again and I struggle on in hopes of getting
results at one time or another that shall by their novelty or interest raise me into a more
liberal and active sphere. I am Dear Sir your very obliged & faithful
Servant M. Faraday
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Lettre publiée dans Frank A. J. L. James (ed.). The Correspondence of Michael Faraday, London: IEE, vol. 1 (1811-1831), 1991, Letter 203, p. 320-321
Source de l'édition électronique de la lettre : JAMES, Frank A. J. L. (ed.). The Correspondence of Michael Faraday, London: IEE, vol. 1 (1811-1831), 1991, Letter 203, p. 320-321
Autre source de la lettre : original manuscrit New York, Columbia University Library, Gen. MS Coll. Faraday [note de Franck JAMES]
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Lien de référence : http://www.ampere.cnrs.fr/amp-corr940.html
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