Faraday to Benjamin Abbott   11 August 1812

Dear Abbott.

I make all imaginable haste to assure you that Idleness is a fault which never in my mind was associated with any ideas respecting you nay so opposite that is my opinion that I conceive were it not for your good sense you would sooner be doing mischief than doing nothing but understand here dear Sir once for all, that I never wish to invade your conveniency in any manner on the contrary I would rather add to it by any means in my power.

“Pyrotechny is a beautifull art” but I never made any practical progress in in except in the forming of a few bad squibs so that you will gain little from me on that point[.] I have a book at home which amongst other things contains a considerable number of Receipts in the Art and several illustrative plates[.] It if you choose is at your service and I have no doubt would be of considerable use.

I thank you for your electrical experiment but conceive the subject requires a very numerous series and of very various kinds[.] I intend to repeat it for I am not exactly satisfied of the division of the charge so as to produce more than one perforation[.] I should be glad if you would add to your descriptions any conclusions which you by them are induced to make they would tend to give me a fairer idea of the circumstances[.]

I have to notice here a very singular circumstance namely a slight dissent in my ideas from you it is this[.] You propose not to start one Query untill the other is resolved or at least “discussed and experimented upon” but this I shall hardly allow for the following reasons - Ideas and Thoughts often spring up in my mind and are again irrevocably lost for want of noting at the time[.] I fancy it is the same with you and would therefore wish to have any such objections or unresolved points exactly as they appear to you in their full force that is immediately after you have first thought of them for to delay untill the subject in hand is exhausted would be to loose all the intervening ideas[.] Understand too that I preserve your communications as a repository into which I can dip for a subject requiring explanation and therefore the more you insert the more will it deserve that name nevertheless I do not mean to desert one subject for another directly it is started but reserve them for after subjects of consideration[.]

Thank your Brother for me if you please for his assent to my desire[.] I am exceedingly sorry you should have to urge ill health and need not tell you that I wish it were otherwise most heartily.

I will attend to your advice respecting the Aether and shall carefully catch and preserve as much of it as extends thus far I have no doubt but that you diffuse a very fragrant atmosphere about Bermondsey¹.

Sr H. Davys book I understand is already published but I have not yet seen it nor do I know the price or size it is entitled “Elements of Chemical Philosophy”².

That Oxy-Muriatic Acid gas is obtained by heating a mixture of the Per-oxide of Manganese[,] Muriate of Soda and Sulphuric Acid is I conceive no objection to Sr H D theory[.] I have not heard the particular fact explained but conceive it to be thus. Sulphuric Acid we will consider as a simple substance[.] The Per-oxide of Manganese as a lesser oxide and Oxygen and the Muriate of Soda is a compound of Chlorine and the metal Sodium this perhaps you are not fully convinced of but the experiments of Davy prove it[.] In the process of disengaging Chlorine the Sulphuric Acid decomposes both the oxide and the Muriate it combines with the Manganese when united to a lesser portion of Oxygen and of course Oxygen is liberated[.] The Muriate being composed of but two parts Chlorine and Sodium can only be resolved into those principles[.] The Chlorine is given out as a gas and is received in jars the Sodium combines with the Oxygen liberated from the Oxide and Soda is formed which is dissolved by the Sulphuric Acid.

This I conceive to be the theory of the process and if you refer to the discoverers Scheele’s Theory³ you will find it is exactly the same indeed I would wish you not to be surprised if the old theory of Phlogiston should be again adopted as the true one tho I do not think it will entirely set aside Lavoisiers but the “Elements” will inform you - If you find in your mind the least objection to the above explanation let me know it as I do not wish to adopt an error.

I beg your pardon for puzzling you without cause with respect to the galvanic experiment in which the Muriate of Soda was decomposed you enquire “where is the Acid”[.] I did not pretend to give a minute description of the experiment or otherwise I should have noticed an apparently continued corrosion of the Copper at the Positive wire and a continual deposit of the oxide at the negative wire so that as the Salt was decomposed at one pole the Acid was employed in forming a fresh portion at the other so that when the action of the battery was exhausted still a portion of the Muriate of Copper remained in solution tho’ perhaps three or four times as much had been decomposed[.] Its presence was evident by the blue colour of what remained.

Having thus dear A<_> noticed all the topics of your letter I will add a little matter of my own and first a few queries for future discussion.

You must know well the appearance of a window when covered with the frost as it is termed the figures often possess very great regularity what is the cause of it? I am aware that the crystallization of the water or rather ice is one affecting circumstance but I suspect from some appearances I have noticed that the Electric state of the glass has also its influence.

In the northern parts of Europe and America a very singular Phenomena is noticed in Metals - Iron I believe The Laplanders will offer a stranger a piece of Iron that has been in the air and obtained the common temperature and it will on touching the flesh bring away the skin somewhat like a burn[.] The same Phenomena is evident or rather takes place in the Northern parts of Russia Siberia &c and at Hudsons Bay in America how is this effect to be accounted for. The Gents Mag contains some very foolish explanations of it⁴[.]

Definitions dear A<-> are valuable things I like them very much and will be glad when you meet with clever ones if you will transcribe them[.] I am exceedingly well pleased with Dr. Thomsons definition of Chemistry he calls it the Science of insensible motions “Chemistry is that Science which treats of those events or changes in natural bodies which consist of insensible motions”⁵ in contradistinction to Mechanics which treats of sensible motions[.]

How do you define Idleness?

I forgot to insert a Query when at the proper place tho’ I think an investigation of it would be of importance to the Science of Chemistry and perhaps Electricity[.] Several of the Metals when rubbed emit a peculiar smell and more particularly Tin[.] Now smells are generally supposed to be caused by particles of the body that are given off if so then it introduced to our notice a very volatile property of those metals[.] But I suspect their Electric states are concerned and then we have an operation of that fluid that has seldom been noticed and yet requires accounting for before the Science can be completed.

Thus dear Abbott I have given you all the Philosophy I can spare at present and now I will ask you how your time is engaged for next Sunday afternoon. My Brother as well as myself wishes to see where the Surrey canal passes by locks over the hill and as you proposed it to me last time I saw you I consider it as not unallowable[.] If you feel inclined to a like treat [words illegible] accept the company of your humble Servants it would be I hope gratifying to all We would be with you at whatever time you should be ready to start and will appoint after 1 o’clock but observe this is if perfectly convenient and agreeable[.] Let me know if you please your pleasure on the subject.

I will see you before the 20th at all events.

Let me hear from you shortly. Remember me to all Friends. Health Happiness and Prosperity be with you and believe me continually

Yours Very Sincerely, | M. Faraday

Endorsed by Abbott: Recd 8 Mo 12th 1812

Address: Mr B. Abbott | Long Lane | Bermondsey

Postmark: 11 August 1812