Faraday to John Fuller   13 May 1833

Royal Institution | May 13. 1833

Dear Sir

Having completed the analysis I beg leave to enclose you the report. I have drawn it up somewhat in the form of those I have occasion to send in to the Excise office believing it would be more satisfactory to you to have something like a comparison with samples taken by the Officers of the Excise and admitted by them to be genuine[.]

I am | Dear Sir | Your Obliged & faithful Servant | M. Faraday

John Fuller Esq | &c &c &c

Report on a specimen of beer received from John Fuller Esq &c &c brewed by Buxton & Co¹.

This beer was in very good condition as to age and taste. Its Specific Gravity was 1009, which is such as has been found by the authorities of the Excise to correspond well with samples of pure genuine porter. The proportion of extractive matter is 88 grains per four fluid ounces of the beer and in this respect it accords with acknowledged samples of Porter. There is no iron or green vitriol or vitriol present in this sample of beer[.]

The substance common salt is a body often used to adulterate and favour the dilution of beer but as common salt occurs in Malt, Hops and even ordinary water in small quantities the Excise have had very many samples of porter obtained from the Vats analysed and have from them deduced certain proportions of salt as natural; higher proportions being suspicious[.] Now the common salt in the sample at present under consideration is only 4 ounces 9 drams per 100 gallons (imperial measure) a proportion considerably within what the excise allow to be correct[.]

Hence in all those points which analysis can reach the beer seems to be fair beer[.] But as I have reported to the Excise so also it is right I should state here that numerous organic substances may be added to the materials of which beer is made which after fermentation cannot be detected. I do not see any reason to suspect in the present case that such has been added but merely wish to point out how far analysis can proceed and where it stops[.]

M. Faraday

Royal Institution | May 13th 1833.