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Lot #96
Michael Faraday Letter Signed (with several hand-edited passages)

Faraday dismisses those “who refer the results to electricity and magnetism yet know nothing of the laws of these forces”

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Description

Faraday dismisses those “who refer the results to electricity and magnetism yet know nothing of the laws of these forces”

British physicist and chemist (1791-1867) best known for his development of the first dynamo and the discovery of electromagnetic induction. Partial LS signed “I am Sir, Your Very Obed't Servant, M. Faraday,” two pages, 7.75 x 12.75, June 28, 1853. Addressed from the Royal Institution, the concluding portion of a letter from Michael Faraday, who makes nine additions and emendations to the text, amounting to a total of 29 words in his own hand. The letter: “Permit me to say before concluding that I have been greatly startled by the revelation, which thus purely physical subject has made of the condition of the public mind. No doubt there are many persons who have formed a right judgement or used a cautious reserve, for I know several such, and public communications have shewed it to be so, but their number is almost as nothing to the great body who have believed and borne testimony, as I think, in the cause of error. I do not here refer to the distinction of those who agree with me and those who differ. By the great body I mean such as reject all consideration of the equality of cause and effect; who refer the results to electricity and magnetism yet know nothing of the laws of these forces, or to attraction, yet shew no phenomena of pure attractive power or to the rotation of the earth, as if the earth revolved round the leg of a table: or to some un-recognized physical force, without inquiring whether the known forces are not sufficient. or who even refer them to diabolical or supernatural agency rather than suspend then judgement, or acknowledge to themselves that they are not learned enough in these matters to decide on the nature of the action. I think the system of education that could leave the mental condition of the public body in the state in which this subject has found it must have been greatly deficient in some very important principle.” In very good to fine condition, with edge toning to the signed page (not at all affecting the signature).

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts
  • Dates: #680 - Ended December 06, 2023





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