Faraday to Benjamin Abbott   2 and 3 August 1812

August 2nd 1812.

Dear Abbott,

What is the longest, and the shortest thing in the world: the swiftest, and the most slow: the most divisible and the most extended: the least valued and the most regretted: without which nothing can be done: which devours all that is small: and gives life and spirits to every thing that is great?

It is that, Good Sir, the want of which has till now delayed my answer to your wellcome letter. It is what the Creator has thought of such value as never to bestow on us mortals two of the minutest portions of it at once. It is that which with me is at the instant very pleasingly employed. It is Time.

To be brief dear A<_> amidst this circumlocution it is solely the want of the above valuable article that you are at this time to attribute the apparent mark of Carelessness that so delayed an answer would induce you to suppose I had evinced. At the moment I read your letter my ideas marshalled themselves into the form of an answer and were extremely willing to issue out to paper immediately but that could not be and I will now call them up by a reperusal in the best manner I can.

In compliance with your request I return you with thanks my first - (not Scrawl (for that is a very un-philosophical word and fit only to be used by feminine males, man-miliners - ladies footmen &c.[)] and sounds or rather reads very badly I will assure you amongst Voltaic Experiments) but first introduction to your correspondence, and in that view (and that alone) I respect it - it is not “inclosed in a long account of curious usefull and entertaining experiments” but want of time and ability will - must, excuse me.

When I first took in hand the pen I was not aware that I would any way manufacture a decent letter for really I have nothing to say but somehow I suspect I shall as usual fill the paper & I wish you were inclined to copy my example somewhat more than you do I mean in length not in quality[.] I am obliged to you for the philosophical experiment you have described to me so clearly; yet, as you know that the eyes are by far more clear and minute in the information they convey to the sensorium than the tongue or rather Ears you must allow me to defer any observation untill I have repeated and varied it myself[.] It was my intention to do so on the same day that I received your letter and for that purpose arranged the pile and connected it by Copper wires to a solution of the Muriate of Soda my real intentions were to connect it by a copper & Zinc wire to the solution and then consider it as a circular or end less battery but by an oversight both connecting wires were Copper I will not describe to you the Voltaic effects for I did not pay to it sufficient attention but I will inform you that from it I obtained a result not at all connected with my intentions but to me gratifying you well know there is two oxides of Copper the Black & the Orange[.] The Prot-oxide & the Per-oxide. The Black or Per-oxide is obt[ain]ed by heating Copper for a few minutes in a bright fire and then plunging it into water that I could do but I could not easily indeed not at all obtain the Orange oxide untill on looking in the Morning to my battery I found a considerable deposit of it at the bottom of the solution the Salt was first decomposed & the Acid had acted on the Copper & then again the M of Copper in time gave way to the Voltaic influence at least I suppose that was the process.

With respect to the Camphor and Glass I will tell you my reason for noticing them. I wish to make our Correspondence a deposit of Philosophical facts & circumstances that will perhaps tend to elucidate to us some of the laws of nature for this reason I shall insert in the form of Queries or otherwise all the facts I can meet with that I think are as yet unexplained they will be as subjects for investigation and if you think fit to chime in with my fancy and will propose such things as you are acquainted with that are yet unresolved or any thing else that your better judgement may choose it will give a peculiar feature to our communications and cannot fail of laying under obligations your most Obedient.

I was in hopes dear Sir that I should before now have received the promised long epistle containing your Electrical Experiments since I have been aware that you intended making some I have felt much interested in the result do not delay to inform me at all times as early as convenient and let me caution you not to wait for my answers consider the disparity between your time and mine and then if you do feel inclined to communicate alternately I hope you will give tha<<t>> notion up[.]

I am not sure I acted properly when I address<<ed>> correspondence to you alone and not jointly to you and your Brother. My reason for entertaining this doubt is the oneness of spirit that appears to actuate you both and the truly Brotherly parts you support[.] I do not know exactly whether your Brother has that enthusiasm for writing that I have but as at one time he proposed to translate a French Book on Philosophy into English I fancy he is not quite averse to it[.]

Once and once only I had the pleasure of being ingaged in a friendly controversy with your Brother respecting the Universality of the Deluge[.] He opposed it[.] I cannot say I maintained it but thought it was so[.] If your Brother has no objection to lay down his arguments on paper and will transmit them to me by Post I shall not forget the obliging condescension on his side and the gratifying honor on my own but observe I do not ask to infringe on convenience inclination or other employment[.] Remember me Sincerely to him and wish him good health. Health¹[.]

In the Epistle I return you of mine I find I promised you an instance as proof that ideas were formed in the head[.] It is scarcely worth having but as it costs nothing take it[.] Six or seven years ago whilst standing at the door of a gentlemans house and waiting untill my knock should be answered I thrust my head through some iron railing that separated the door way from another and then I began to consider on which side of the rails I was. In my mind I affirmed that the side possessing my head was my station for there was my perception my senses[.] I had just sufficient time to ascertain this when the door opened & my nose began bleeding by the contact of the rails & such matter as that quickly put flight to my rude metaphysics. Simple as is this instance it did more in illustrating this case to me than all the arguments I have heard since on the subject or all the affirmations that have been made.

I wish to add something more if I can and therefore will not at present conclude[.] Mr. Huxtable left town I believe on last Monday[.] On the Saturday before we made two of a party that went down the river to the Botanical Gardens at Chelsea belonging to the Company of Apothecaries[.] I was very well pleased with the excursion and wished for you two or three times.

I have at this time a small Galvanic trough in my hands it is on the construction of Cruickshanks² that is it has glass partitions[.] The plates of metal are 2 1/2 inch[e]s long & 2 wide the trough contains 36 cells but I have in my hands only 18 pair of plates[.] The owner is a young man who has attended several of Tatum’s Lectures[.] I knew him slightly[;] before he has his trough again I shall make free to use it and see whether I cannot decompose water the M of Ammonia &c. and I will try at animal & vegetable matter.

Pyrotechny will be exhibited in considerable perfection on Tuesday evening at Ranelagh Gardens alias Minor Vauxhall alias Kings Arms &c³. Will you go to see it[.] If I receive no denial from you I shall transmit under cover a couple of double tickets[.] Your Brother will come & if your Sister conceives the place will afford an hours amusement to her I hope she will make one of your Party. I am not quite certain I can be there myself but if convenient I will make my appearance about 9 or 10 say 1/2 past 9 o’clock[.] The pleasure I expect will be the walk & your company. ‘Till then, I | Remain, Dear Abbott | Yours Sincerely | M. Faraday

I have left the enclosure at Weymouth St & I am now here you shall have it next time.

Blandford St Monday Morn.

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