Faraday to Benjamin Abbott   20, 21 and 22 July 1812

July 20, 1812 | Monday Evening. 10 o clock

Dear Abbott,

Were you to see me in instead of hearing from me I conceive that one question would be how did you get home on Sunday evening[.] I suppose this question because I wish to let you know how much I congratulate myself upon the very pleasant walk or rather succession of walks runs and hops I had home that evening and the truly Philosophical reflections they gave rise to.

I set off from you at a run and did not stop untill I found myself in the midst of a puddle and quandary of thoughts respecting the heat generated in animal bodies by exercise[.] The puddle however gave a turn to the affair and I proceeded from thence deeply immersed in thoughts respecting the resistance of fluids to bodies precipitated into them[.] I did not at that time forget the instances you and your Brother had noticed in the afternoon to that purpose[.]

My mind was deeply engaged on this subject and was proceeding to place itself as fast as possible in the midst of confusion when it was suddenly called to take care of the body by a very cordial affectionate & also effectual salute from a spout. this of course gave a new turn to my ideas and from thence to Black-Friars Bridge it was busily bothered amongst Projectiles and Parabolas[.] At the Bridge the wind came in my face and directed my attention as well and as earnestly as it could to the inclination of the Pavement[.] Inclined Planes were then all the go and a further illustration of this point took place on the other side of the Bridge where I happened to proceed in a very smooth soft and equable manner for the space of three or four feet. This movement which is vulgarly called slipping introduced the subject of friction and the best method of lessening it and in this frame of mind I went on with little or no interruption for some time except occasional and actual experiments connected with the subject in hand or rather in head.

The Velocity and Momentum of falling bodies next struck not only my mind but my head my ears my hands my back and various other parts of my body and tho I had at hand no apparatus by which I could ascertain those points exactly I knew it must be considerable by the quickness with which it penetrated my coat and other parts of my dress[.] This happened in Holborn and from thence I went home Sky-gazing and earnestly looking out for every Cirrus, Cumulus, Stratus, Cirro-Cumuli, Cirro-Strata and Nimbus that came above the Horizon¹[.]

I almost fear dear Abbott that you will envy me my walk and for that I should be sorry[.] I do not wish to give rise by any means to so bad so disagreeable a passion in the breast of any person. I myself was well pleased with it (the walk) and had it not been that through it I was deprived of the pleasure of your company I should have blessed my stars for such amusing weather.

Hear [sic] am I dear Sir on the third page of my paper and have not yet began to answer your very kind free friendly instructive amusing and very wellcome letter but now I will turn to it and “say my say.”

For the first part I thank you and here note that I shall keep you to the following words “But will not fail to give them a thorough investigation”. I like your Logic well. - Philosophical Accounts, Scientific inquiries, Humble trials, ha, ha, ha, hah! - Don’t you charge me with Ceremony yet, or whilst your style runs thus “but this I overlook &c &c &c” - you know the rest - apply it.

I am exceedingly obliged to you for the observation & quotation you have given me respecting Cupid & Galvanism and return my most gratefull thanks <<to>> you for the remedy you have pointed out to m<<e>> against the attacks of the little God-Demon, <<I>> beg Le Sage’s² pardon. You no doubt are aware that this is not the first time that he has been conquered by Philosophy and Science[.] The last named person informs us very minutely in what manner he was shut up in a glass bottle and rendered incapable of doing mischief - O that I were as wise as that Sage - that I could shut little Cupids in glass bottles what exquisite presents they would be to the Ladies and how irresistible would the fair sex be to all who knew not how to oppose them thus armed tho’ I must confess they are not quite so absolute since the discovery of this anti-amorous remedy Galvanism. You will not have forgot too when we set the Nitrous Oxide in opposition to him and since Galvanism now aids the Gas it is not possible for the little Urchin to keep his ground. Farewell to him[.]

I am now going to set my piles in action in which state I shall leave them all night and in the Morning will note down what Phenomena I shall perceive <-> Alas. Alas the salt-box is empty and as it is now too late to procure a fresh quantity I shall wish you all Health and Happiness, and wish you a Good-Night[.]<-><qr>Tuesday Morning, half-past 6 o’Clock and a fine Morning

Good day to you Sir[.] I now intend to proceed on with my letter from the point where I left off - not exactly tho’ for as yet I have no salt and I do not like to substitute any other solution or any Acid because I suspect both the Acid and the Alkali bear a part in the transmission of the Metals. I am exceedingly obliged to you for your Ideas on this subject and I think I need not say I received it with good-will[.] I never yet dear Abbott received any thing from you but what I met with that feeling and for the rest of the sentence had I thought that your mind was so narrow as to be chagrin’d at seeing a better solution of this Phenomena from another person I certainly should never have commenced a correspondence with You.

I beg your pardon for an error I committed on Sunday Afternoon. Malleable Zinc is 2/6 per lb. as for the Copper I am not exactly aware of its value[.] I have calculated as correctly as I could that 1 lb of Sheet Zinc contains 130 Square inches superficial measure on each side.

I was this Morning called by a trifling circumstance to notice the peculiar motions of Camphor on water[.] You no doubt know that when a very small piece of Camphor is placed on the surface of some clean water it commences mostly a rotatory motion[.] I have both heard and read of it before but I was greatly impressed when I beheld it[.] The piece of Camphor was cracked and when on the surface of the water it immediately split and a sharp rapid motion commenced between the two halves the end[s] were alternatively attracted and repelled in a very curious manner. I should not have mentioned this simple circumstance but that I thought the effect was owing to Electricity and I supposed that if you were acquainted with the phenomena you would notice it. I conceive too, that a Science may be illustrated by those minute actions and effects almost as much as by more evident and obvious phenomena[.] Facts are plentifull enough but we know not how to class them many are overlooked because they seem uninteresting but remember what led Newton to pursue and discover the Laws of Gravity and ultimately the laws by which Worlds revolve was - the fall of an apple³. -

Whilst conversing some time since with a young Lady I learned that there was a kind of glass of such a nature or so prepared as to have a singular effect when employed to glaze windows and placed in them with one particular side outwards. Any person in the room could observe another on the outside who could not in return look into the room[;] he could not see what was passing tho’ done before the windows[.] It struck me a few days since whilst passing by a fine house that appeared to have in the Window frames very bad glass that this peculiar glass was of the kind called plate and ground smooth only on one side the rough side being outwards perhaps the diversity of reflection would hinder a person from seeing what passed in the interior - If you are acquainted with this circumstance explain it to me.-

(My knife is so bad that I cannot mend my pen with it - it is now covered with Copper having been employed to precipitate that Metal from the Muriatic Acid - this is an excuse - accept it). <qr>Tuesday Evening, 11 o’Clock

Thus far had I got kind A<_>, when I received your very friendly Epistle and inclosure. I heartily thank you for both but more particularly the first tho I cannot refrain from being discontented at your hunger as it shortened your communication and with it my pleasure[.] I would complain much more but that I cannot spare paper at present.

I have just finished putting the battery as you term it in action and shall now let it remain for the night acting upon a solution of the Muriate of Ammonia thus is the disposition made[.] Fifteen plates of Zinc and as many of Copper are piled up with discs of Flannel interposed. Fifteen other plates of each Metal are formed into a pile with pasteboard both it and the Flannel being soaked in a solution of Common Salt. These two piles are connected together and their combined action employed as I before stated. The flash from it when applied to the Gums or Eyes is very vivid and the action on the tongue when in contact with the edges will not allow it to remain there.

With respect to your second solution of the Passage of the Metals I have not time at present to think of it nor have I room to say more than that I thank you for <<a>>ll on that subject wait till I have heard of your experiments. (Good-night.)<qr>Wednesday Morning 6 o’Clock

I have doubled in as much paper as I could in order to gain room never mind the shape -

I can now only state facts[.] Opinions you shall have next time[.] On looking at the pile this morning I found that the M of A. had been decomposed the Alkali separated at the negative wire and escaped this was evident last night by the cloud it formed with the MA. - The Acid acted on the Copper wire and a M of C was formed this was again decomposed and now I find the negative wire covered with a vegetation of Copper and the P wire eaten away very considerably the solution is of a fine blue colour owing to the Ammoniate of Copper - On turning to the piles I found the action of one considerable the other was exhausted the first contained the flannel discs and they were yet very moist the other had the paper discs and they were quite dry of course you know why the action ceased[.] On looking to the states of the plates particularly I found but one in the pile containing flannel that was in the state I before noticed that is it being Zinc and possessing a coat of Copper, in the paper pile not a single Zinc plate was affected that way the Copper plates in both piles was covered very considerably with the Oxide of Zinc[.]

I am aware with you that Zinc precipitates Copper and that the Metals are oxided before solution in Acids but how does that effect their motion from one disc to another in contrary directions - I must trust to your experiments more than my own - I have no time and the subject requires several.

Remember me to all Friends Yours Unceremoniously, | M. Faraday

Endorsed by Faraday: To An honest man close buttoned to the chin | Broad cloth without, and warm heart within

Endorsed by Abbott: Received 7 Mo 22 1812

Address: Mr B. Abbott | Long Lane | Bermondsey.