M. Faraday's answer to Dr. Hare's second Letter. 291 



being stoned out of a field, where he was thought to seek for a 

 treasure buried by the Greeks ! 



" Such is then the picture of ray hfe, my labors, and my travels. 

 I give it to the public, or rather to the learned, as an uncommon 

 instance of perseverance and industry. May this inspire youth- 

 ful minds with a wish to do as well ; and the friends of sciences 

 with the wish to know me, or patronize the labors of my old age : 

 permit me at last to produce under their shield, those works, 

 fruits of my travels and researches, which. I desire to leave as 

 monuments of my life and exertions. 



" If I have often gone beyond the actual state of knowledge in 

 my views and opinions, or anticipated on future knowledge, it 

 was with the noble aim of adding my mite to the mental improve- 

 ment of mankind. If my discoveries and projects have not been 

 speedily admitted, I leave them as a legacy to those superior 

 minds who will be able to appreciate them, and bestow me the 

 justice often denied in my days : to the friends of useful sciences, 

 of virtue and peace, to the wise philanthropists, to the enlighten- 

 ed, liberal and impartial men of both hemispheres." 



Near Marietta, Pa., April, 1842. 



Art, X. — BI. Faraday's answer to Dr. Hare's second Letter.* 



Royal Institution, Dec. 24, 1841. 



My Dear Sir — On reading your second letter to me in Silli- 

 man's Journal, (published July, 1841,) I wrote a brief answer 

 back, but find from Dr. Silliman, that it has been mislaid. I 

 therefore send this brief note to say that I hope you will excuse 

 any controversial reply. I do not find any reason to change my 

 opinion as to the matters referred to in yours to me : and as far as 

 I should have occasion to answer for my own part, I would rather 

 refer the readers of the Journal to my papers and my former reply 

 to your first letter. As to the new and important matter into 

 which your last letter would lead me, I am not sufficiently clear 

 in my mind, upon the evidence we as yet have, to wish to enter 

 into it at present. Ever my dear Sir, 



With the highest esteem, yours very truly, 



M. Faraday. 



Dr. Hare, &c. &c. &c. 



* Communicated from M. Faraday to this Journal. 



