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From:
William Nairn Forbes
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[18 February 1854]
Source of text:
RS:HS 7.374
Summary:

Appreciation of JH's son [John]. Admired JH's letter of 2 Feb. 1852 to Treasury, in which WF's most important recommendations [to 1848 committee for Mint reform] have been carried out. Dependence on steam for transportation has raised price of coal. Proposes two methods to replace coal: (a) use electrical conductivity of seawater in presence of dissimilar metals to propel ships, and (b) generate heat in 'Earth Batteries,' similar to dungheaps. Asks JH to approve request by John Gilbert, retired mechanical engineer at Calcutta mint, who wishes to visit Royal Mint, but was refused several years ago.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project