XXX 111 



this afternoon, including, as it did, your Lordship's opinion of the general 

 character of the pensions given of late to scientific persons, induces me 

 respectfully to decline the favour which I believe your Lordship intends 

 for me ; for I feel that I could not, with satisfaction to myself, accept at 

 your Lordship's hands that which, though it has the form of approbation, 

 is of the character which your Lordship so pithily applied to it." 



This note, Mr. F. says, " was left by myself, with my card, at Lord Mel- 

 bourne's office on the same evening, i. e. of the day of our conversation." 



On the 6th of November Faraday wrote to Sir James South : — 



" And now, my dear Sir, pray let me drop I know you have 



serious troubles of your own. Do not let me be one any longer either to 

 you or to others. You have my most grateful feelings for all the kindness 

 you have shown to him who is ever truly yours." 



The intervention of Miss Fox and Lady Mary Fox, caused Lord Mel- 

 bourne to write the following letter : — 



" November 24. 



" Sir, — It was with much concern that I received your letter declining the 

 offer which I considered myself to have made in the interview which I had 

 with you in Downing Street, and it was with still greater pain that I col- 

 lected from that letter that your determination was founded upon the cer- 

 tainly imperfect, and perhaps too blunt and inconsiderate manner in which 

 I had expressed myself in our conversation. I am not unwilling to admit 

 that anything in the nature of censure upon any party ought to have been 

 abstained from upon such an occasion ; but I can assure you that my ob- 

 servations were intended only to guard myself against the imputation of 

 having any political advantage in view, and not in any respect to apply to 

 the conduct of those who had or hereafter might avail themselves of a 

 similar offer. I intended to convey that, although I did not entirely ap- 

 prove of the motives which appeared to me to have dictated some recent 

 grants, yet that your scientific character was so eminent and unquestionable 

 as entirely to do away any objection which I might otherwise have felt, 

 and to render it impossible that a distinction so bestowed could be ascribed 

 to any other motive than a desire to reward acknowledged desert and to 

 advance the interest of philosophy. 



" I cannot help entertaining a hope that this explanation may be suffi- 

 cient to remove any unpleasant or unfavourable impression which may 

 have been left upon yonr mind, and that I shall have the satisfaction of 

 receiving your consent to my advising His Majesty to grant to you a pen- 

 sion equal in amount to that which has been conferred upon Professor 

 Airy and other persons of distinction in science and literature." 



The same day Faraday wrote: — "My Lord, your Lordship's letter, 

 which I have just had the honour to receive, has occasioned me both pain 

 and pleasure— pain, because I should have been the cause of your Lord- 

 ship's writing such a one, and pleasure, because it assures me that I am 

 not unworthy of your Lordship's regard. 



VOL. XVII. c 



