Faraday to Josiah John Guest   26 August 1819

Royal Institution | August 26th 1819.

Sir

In consequence of you kind permission that any friend of mine should be allowed to see your works I have taken the liberty of desiring Mr. Ely¹ to stop at Dowlais in his way through Wales trusting that you would favour me so far as to allow him to see the extensive processes you carry on in the furnaces &c and hoping I shall not cause any inconvenience by incurring this obligation[.]

I made free also whilst in the Vale of Neath to ask a favour respecting some pictures. I may be allowed again to apologise for my intrusion at that time on your goodness and hope I shall not encroach too far in this and other things that I beg of you to grant me[.]

I am also somewhat anxious to know the fate of the new charge in the blast furnace and of the coffers or boxes for the reheating furnaces and also of any other trials that may have been made. There can be no doubt but that unremitted exertions like those you are continually making must produce some important & valuable results in the Manufacture of Iron.

I have been too much engaged to resume as yet the experiments on steel otherwise I would have mentioned any good results that might have occurred for I venture to suppose you are too much alive to every thing relating to the combinations of Iron not to feel an interest in them.

I am Sir | Your Very Obliged & Humble Servant | M. Faraday

J.J. Guest, Esqr.