I am especially thankful for the warm encouragement which I have received, on all sides, since the original work appeared in serial form. This History has been frequently called for, and I regret that I have been hitherto prevented from bringing it out earlier in its present desirable book form. This is the more to be regretted as it long ago received the practical endorsement of the doyen of the electrical profession, Lord Kelvin (formerly styled Sir William Thomson), to whom it is dedicated. Leave to do this was obtained through a mutual friend in such a cordial manner that I cannot refrain from giving the correspondence attaching thereto:
Westminster Chambers,
London, S.W.,
January 4, 1894.
“Dear Mottelay,
“I duly received yours of the 21st ... but the point on which I feel guilty is your dedication.... I have now started the matter by writing to Lord Kelvin fully on the subject, and I hope, within a week, to get his reply, which I shall at once send to you—he cannot possibly wish to decline the honour....
“I remain,
“Yours very truly,
“Latimer Clark.”
Westminster Chambers,