Faraday to Benjamin Abbott   20 September 1812

Sept. 20th. 1812

What? affirm you have little to say and yet a philosopher! - what a contradiction! - what a paradox! - ‘tis a circumstance I till now had no idea of nor shall I at any time time [sic] allow you to advance it as plea for not writing - A Philosopher cannot fail to abound in subjects and a Philosopher can scarcely fail to have a plentifull flow of words ideas opinions &c. &c. &c. when engaged on them - at least I never had reason to suppose you deficient there - Query by Abbott - “Then pray Mike why have you not answered my last before now since subjects are so plentifull”[.] Tis neither more nor less Dear A<_> than a want of time[.] Time Sir is all I require and for time will I cry out most heartily - O that I could purchase at a cheap rate some of our Modern Gents spare hours nay days I think it would be a good bargain both for them & me - As for subjects there is no want of them[.] I could converse with you I will not say for ever but for any finite length of time[.] Philosophy would furnish us with matter & even now ‘tho I have said nothing yet the best part of a page is covered.

How prone is man to evil and how strong a proof have I of that propensity when even the liberal breast of my friend Abbott could harbour the vice of covetousness nevertheless on a due consideration of the cause and a slight glance at my own feelings on the same subject (they will not bear a strict scrutiny) I pass over it thus.<->

I fear that by this time you are partly disappointed in the effect you expected to gain from your water-coated battery[.] When I first made my machine I adopted the same plan tho in a minor degree but the effect was in proportion to that of a properly coated apparatus but little this I attributed at the time to the lesser conducting power of water it being much below the metals in that quality - Inform me in you next if you please how it answered[.]

Your commendations of the M.S. Lectures¹ compell me to apologise must humbly for the numerous - very - very numerous errors they contain[.] If I take you right the negative words “no flattery” may be substituted by the affirmative “Irony” be it so I bow to the superior scholastic erudition of Sr. Ben. There is in them errors that will not bear to be jested with since they concern not my own performance so much as the performance of Sr. H.<_> and those are errors in theory[.] There are I am conscious errors in theory and those errors I would wish you to point out to me before you attribute them to Davy.

With respect to Nicholson² I like him exceedingly and more particularly his method of explaining the nature of a lever³[.] I have read the 1st. Vol through and am now going to study those parts I more particularly wish to be acquainted with[.]

I thank you for the observations you make on the smell of Brass[.] I attribute it more to the Copper than the Zinc[.] Hydrogen will dissolve several of the Metals - Hydrogen gas I should suppose was formed by the action of the MA on the Zinc and by dissolving the Copper conveyed it with such effect to your olfactory nerves - want of time deters me from prosecuting the subjects at present.

<_><_>

Thus have I answered your last letter and now I will take in hand the one previous to it tho this retrograde mode of proceeding does not confer on me the character of an orderly being but it suited me best at this time and - so it is.

Cracked & smoked-plastered-ceilings - (what a jaw spoiling word) is the first subject requiring attention at present - Presuming that the smoke ascends in nearly a perpendicular direction upwards it will then take an horizontal path beneath and close to the ceiling according as it is influenced by those currents that enter into & pass out of the room[.] If as I suspect to be the case tho I have never ascertained it the clear side of the crack is on the side farthest from the approaching current then I should from theory account for it thus - Each crack or rather the edges project in some degree - consequently that side which is nearest to and is first reached by the dingy stream will present a surface more directly opposed to it than what the other side does it will be more opposed to it than even the ceiling itself and the farthest side will be less opposed to it than the ceiling - from this it follows that the particles of smoke must strike with a force much greater perhaps by five or six times on the near side than on the far one & consequently the momentum being greater they will there attach themselves - I could enlarge on this point and notice other circumstances accordant with this solution but there is no need to be explicit to one of quick discernment “A word to &c”[.]

Your Query respecting the variety of colour in paper or rather the difference of shade I am not prepared to answer - very possibly it is produced in the press of the paper-maker.

I shall now draw off & resign the occupation (not the task) of writing untill I have again heard from you[.] Make my respects to all Friends at Long Lane & accept for yourself Dear A. the warmest wishes of Yours Sincerely | M. Faraday

Is Mr. Bowyer happily admitted to the dignity of M.C.P.S.

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