Humphry Davy to Faraday   6 August 1817

Thurso Augt 6 | 1817

If M. Ampere’s letter that I put into your hands is not printed, I wish the printing of it to be deferred till I can connect it with some general observations on certain claims of the French¹. If it be printed I wish to see the proof sheet.

A letter or the proof under cover to Viscount Gage² Golspie N. Britain will find me. I write to you on this subject because I suppose Mr Brande must be in France. I will thank you if you will give my Butler the address - letters will reach me by Golspie till the 24 or 25.<_>

We are going to sail for the Orkneys this morning. Though the sun gives us so much of his presence this climate is not warm, the thermometer during the week we have been in the N. of Scotland has not surpassed 60°.

I have been thinking that when the chlorionic sublimate with the maximum of iodine is decomposed by an alkali; that the iodine salts formed must contain a different proportion of oxygene from the oxyiodes:- If you will pursue this subject I think you will find a new acid combination of oxygene & iodine.

Endorsed by Faraday: When a compound of iodine & chlorine is added to alkali there is an immediate decomposition, the chlorine immediately acts on the alkali forming chloride and hyperoxymuriate leaving the iodine in an insulated state[.] If there be an abundance of alkali this iodine gradually combines with it in a way similar to that of originally free iodine[.]