Faraday to John Frederick William Herschel   16 August 1826

Niton Isle of Wight | Aug 16 1826

Dear Sir

I have but lately received your letter¹ at this place and in answer to your enquiries am sorry to say that I have had no opportunity of examining the smallest portion of the iron you speak of none of it having come into my possession[.] The occurrence of lead in it is a very odd thing especially if as you mention it exists in notable quantity[.] I several years ago made experiments on the alloys of lead with cast iron they were of a very rough nature and I have forgotten every thing of the results except the possibility of alloying lead in small quantities with iron which was effected in several instances[.]

I have always been struck by the circumstance that notwithstanding the apparently independent sources of meteoric matter both stones and alloys with iron and also the minute chemical examination which has frequently been made of them that no new metal or element of any kind has been found in them nothing but what has previously been recognised in the materials of our globe[.] I think that if meteoric masses had been unexamined and I had been looking out for something in which to discover new bodies I should at once have gone to them[.]

I am Dear Sir | Truly Yours | M. Faraday

J.F.W. Herschell Esq | &c &c