Faraday to Edward Daniel Clarke   29 August 1816

Royal Institution Aug[u]st 29th 1816

Sir

I am very sorry that any confusion should arise in the return of your MS¹. I have been to the Office where it was booked (by Mr. Newmans lad) and they assure me it left town at the same time with the letter but account for the circumstance of its appearing to be missing by supposing that the men have delayed the delivery of the parcels for an hour or two[.]

For my own part I fancy it probable that they have sent it by the Coach though directed for the Mail (a circumstance which I understand sometimes occur) and I hope you have received it long since[;] they promise to write to their agent about it immediately though they have no hesitation in saying that you have had it ere this. If you have not I should be glad to know immediately that the further necessary steps may be taken immediately[.]

Your discovery of a metal in Silica surprises me more than any thing you had before done because of the strong presumptive proofs afforded by Sir H. Davy’s experiments that the basis of Silica was not a metal but an inflammable substance analogous to Boron. It is very impertinent in me to suggest any thing but the great dissimilarity between silica & the other earths and the analogy between it & Boracic acid or rather between their bases when treated with the fluoric compounds promise to open some very curious views in this department of chemical science particularly if Silica is the oxide of a metal[.]

The interest of your experiments augments daily & will make your paper a valuable addition to our Journal[.]

Mr. Newman desires me to say he has read your Letter of the 24th.

I am Sir | With much respect | Your humble Servant | M. Faraday