Faraday to Jöns Jacob Berzelius   1 July 1823

Royal Institution | July. 1. 1823.

Sir

It is now several weeks since I was surprised and very highly gratified by a Messenger from Mr. Allen¹ who brought a bottle containing a quantity of Selenium mixture and a note stating it had been sent me by your directions[.] I should have hastened immediately to express my sense of the very high honor you had done me but that I was fearful of troubling you merely with my unworthy thanks and I hoped that by the delay of a few weeks I might have an opportunity of stating some new fact or other which would have given a degree of interest to my letter. But I am now ashamed of having waited so long and beg to return my sincerest thanks for the honor & kindness you have done me and to assure you that the notice you have taken will be no small stimulus and encouragement to me to pursue the paths of Science.

I have been very anxious to work on the mixture you sent me and repeat your important experiments but with the number of lectures and other business which is pursued in our laboratory nearly all my time is occupied in drudgery. During the summer however I look for a few spare weeks and shall endeavour to employ them on the Selenium[.]

I have lately been engaged in condensing several of the gases into liquids[.] You have probably seen notice of the results in the Journals²[.] It is my intention if you allow me the liberty to send a copy of my papers to you through the hands of Messrs. Tottie & Co.³ and I hope you will honor me by accepting them. They are at present in the hands of the printer[.]

If I am not mistaken a young Gentleman of the name of Normer⁴ has the advantage of being in your Laboratory[.] If so will you oblige me by mentioning my name [to] him with best remembrances to him and his father?

I have the honor to be Sir | Your Very Obliged & faithful Servant | M. Faraday