323

Faraday to Schcenbein.

Royal Institution 24 Feb. 1859

MY BEAR DEAR FRIEND

I receivcd your touching letter, and I am gladyou would receive mine about thc same time. Your cry ofanguish may well pierce our hearts here, for if the effect ofthe blow was stunning to us how much more would it bc soto you. And that you should at the same moment be burdenedwith the heavy weight of Mrs. Schoenbeins illness! I do indeedgrieve for you, but I hope you are by this time somewhatrelieved in respect of that heavy home anxiety. Do teil herhow we feel for her, and the two poor sisters. I am gladyou did not comc here, for your first duty was at home, tosuccour and support those dependent 011 you. You could welltrust Miss Hornblower, for she had learnt to love your daughter.I have no doubt she has written of all things personal to youand Mrs. Schoenbein, and will fulfill all your possible wishes.I expcct too that by this time you will have had letters fromDr. Bence Jones, Grove and others for I have shown yourletters to nie and Miss Hornblower unto them.

You mentioned thc matter of a tombstone in your letterto me and affectionatcly desired to have my name by yours011 it. I suppose this is usual with you, but with us it is veryrare, or even unknown, and would excitc much remark. Thatwould be of no consequence, if the remarks were indifferentin their nature, but thcy would here be sure to carry a reli-gious feeling or meaning with them, and as I am known to bea dissenter, strongly differing from the P^piscopal church here,would give rise to much remark among those who know me.I understand too, that a dear friend of your daughter (I thinkthe name is Crowdy) has written to you direct about the in-scription 011 the stone. I believc he performed the funcralService, but as I know it would be a Church of England ser-

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