John Barrow to Faraday   19 January 1830¹

Admy 19 Jany | 1830

Dear Sir,

An experiment has been made in Paris in presence of Mr Chenevix², Mr Hamilton³, Captain Basil Hall⁴ and some others, the object of which was make sea water perfectly fresh. I just received two phials from there but unfortunately tho’ packed with all care the frost had broken both; however in one of them was a crystal of ice and I send you herewith the contents of it in water, with a request that you will submit it to such tests as will ascertain whether it is perfectly free from all salt & equally good as pure spring water. The process is stated to be by distillation with a particular kind of earth & this is the secret. In order to be seen that it was sea water they have sent down to Dieppe for some.

I send you a list of the tests to which it has been submitted in Paris⁵[.]

I am yours very faithfully | John Barrow

M. Faraday