Humphry Davy to Faraday   10 December 1819

Naples Decr 10 | 1819

Dear Mr Faraday

I find by a letter from Mr Farquhar¹ that Mr Moore wants some title deeds that are in a box of mine at Messrs Morland Auriol & Co². Will you be so good as to take these papers under his superintendence (He is giving a receipt for them on account of Mr M Bell³.) & afterwards to nail down & seal up the box there is no lock on the box all the title deeds are together & the little brass box must not be opened, I shall give an order for this business at the end of this letter to Messrs Morland & Co.

I am preparing for my operations on the MSS but ever since I have been here I have been occupied with another subject. The event which I have so much longed to witness has occurred & Vesuvius has been for some days in a state of eruption. I have already made many expts on the lava at the moment that it issues from the volcanoe [sic] & I should have completed them but for a severe indisposition owing to my having remained too long in that magnificent but dangerous situation the crater within 5 or six feet of a stream of red hot matter fluid as water of nearly three feet in diameter & falling as a cataract of fire.

The stream of Lava is now nearly two miles long & still flowing. The eruption is the most perfect that can be imagined for philosophical research not so small as to be contemptible not so great as to be unapproachable; but rather too large than too small.

I can say nothing of my results till they are finished. I believe I shall have something new to say on this matter⁴.

I am Dear Mr Faraday | Your sincere wellwisher & friend |

H. Davy