Faraday to William Vernon Harcourt   16 April 1833

Royal Institution | April. 16. 1833

My dear Sir

I received your letter some time since and in my desire to answer it as well as I could put it into Mr. Perkins¹ hands he promising to write me about generators² &c for I know nothing of them myself. He has not as yet however told me any thing and though I expect his answer and shall immediately on receiving it send it to you yet I could not longer resist writing to you about it[.]

I am glad to hear you continue at the glass experiments and hope you will bring some good and applicable results to light³. I trust that at the next Meeting of the British Association you will communicate some results[.]

I have been working much lately but want time sadly. I hope shortly to be able to send you a copy of my paper on the identity of electricities⁴. I finished writing a paper last night which will immediately go in to the Royal Society⁵[.] It is principally on a new law of Electric conduction which law possesses very general influence. Under it bodies in the solid state which perfectly insulate electricity of a certain tension so soon as they are liquefied become excellent conductors. It is a remarkable thing in these bodies to contrast the conducting powers for heat and electricity as the states are changed the one is suddenly lost the other as suddenly gained[.]

I mention these things to you knowing your love for science but do not speak of them elsewhere until you hear that my paper has been read. I have been sufficiently annoyed in former cases to desire in all future ones that no acci‑dental chance of mistake as to right &c &c should arise that reasonable precaution will prevent. I would rather not have my mouth thus shut but I find it safest[.]

I am | My Dear Sir | Most truly yours | M. Faraday

Revd W.V. Harcourt | &c &c &c

Address: Revd Wm. Vernon Harcourt | &c &c &c | Bishopsthorpe | York.