472 The Faraday Centenary. [June 17, 



Berlin, 10, Dorotheen Strasse, 

 May 24, 1891. 

 My Dear Sir Frederick, 



When returning home from a short Whitsuntide excursion I found 

 your kind letter conveying the welcome news of my having been 

 elected an Honorary Member of the Koyal Institution of Great 

 Britain. I hasten to express my heartfelt thanks for the rare 

 distinction bestowed upon me. The honour of becoming associated 

 with so renowned a corporation, conspicuous at all times, is doubled 

 by the auspicious occasion on which it is conferred. 



In Faraday, I admired the incomparable experimental thinker ; 

 I loved the noble-minded, kind-hearted man. During the twenty years 

 I have had the good fortune of living in dear old England I did not miss 

 a single one of his lectures. It would be difficult to say how deeply 

 I am indebted to these and to a great many other lectures I attended at 

 the Royal Institution, and often in my own courses when showing a 

 highly instructive experiment, I delight in telling my students where 

 and by whom performed I saw it for the first time. 



I am glad to hear that two lectures on Faraday's life work will 

 be delivered by the eminent professors of the Institution in the 

 theatre hallowed by his never-to-be-forgotten addresses. Unfortu- 

 nately my duties in the University do not permit me to leave 

 Berlin during the months of June and July, so I must forego the 

 pleasure of hearing them. They will, however, most undoubtedly be 

 printed. 



I remain, my dear Sir Frederick, with reiterated thanks, yours 

 very sincerely, 



A. W. VON HOFMANN. 



Tutzing, Bavaria, May 19, 1891. 

 Dear Sir, 



I have received the announcement of my election as Honorary 

 Member of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Although I feel 

 the great honour of this election, and although I would be very proud 

 to accept the diploma in such a glorious assembly as will be present 

 at the Centenary of the birth of Michael Faraday, I must beg excuse 

 for me. Our University lectures shall be re-opened next week and 

 then be continued until the end of July, and I am bound by my 

 office and business to stay at Berlin during this whole time. So I 

 must beg you, dear sir, to express my hearty thanks to the Members 

 of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and to forward to me that 

 diploma. 



Yours very sincerely, 



Run. ViRCHOW, M D. LL.D., F.R.S. 



Professor in the University of Berlin, 



