Faraday to George Smith   3 September 1830

Royal Institution | 3 Sept 1830

Sir

I must beg you to state to the Honorable the Commissioners of the Navy that I have this morning had a consultation with the Surveyors of the Navy¹ relative to the object to be attained by an analysis of the specimens of copper you sent me[.]

It is not my opinion that the mere analysis will give any certain information as to the fitness of the different coppers for ships bottoms[.] From close investigation of this subject I do not believe that that fitness depends alone upon composition nor are the causes which decide the permanency or the decay of copper in sea water as yet made out[.]

Under these circumstances I will if the Board wish it analyse the copper but I could found no opinion as to the value of one above another upon the results[.]

I am engaged and have been for some time on long & laborious experiments for the purpose of ascertaining the real cause why some coppers decay so much faster than others[.] I should be very glad of some undoubted specimens of permanent copper for comparative experiments[.] I take the liberty of asking therefore whether I may have a sheet of the copper which has been taken off the late Plymouth Yacht and also another or part of one if there be any left of that from off the Batavia Dutch ship²[.] Both these I understand have been proved by many years experience to be excellent in quality[.] But if I have them as they would be to me standards they ought to be strictly verified as coming from the sources mentioned[.]

I regret that I did not receive your last letter and that any delay should occur in consequence[.] What I had said above may perhaps render the analyses unnecessary and I shall therefore not proceed with them until I receive further orders.

I am Sir | Your Obedient Humble Servant | M. Faraday

G Smith Esq | &c &c &c