Robert Were Fox to Faraday   18 June 1834

Eastwick Park | near Leatherhead | 18 6mo 1834.

Dear Friend,

I had the gratification of attending thy last lecture at the R. Institution when it was stated that Berzelius had referred the phenomena of flame & combustion to the evolution of electricity¹. This view of the subject I have entertained for many years, & mention'd it on various occasions, indeed I find on referring to a copy of a letter which I took the liberty of addressing to thee dated 24 / 11mo (Novr) 1827, that I alluded to my opinions on this subject in the following words. - "Heat, Light, & electricity appear to have strong analogies & possibly a greater degree of identity than has been supposed" xxxxxxx "May not heat & light or else electricity, be combined with different kinds of matter in definite proportions, & be set free & neutralized (referring to the opposite polarities) in case of inflammation when matter also combines in definite quantities? When we consider the vast store of heat & light which may exist in chemical union, & also in a more mechanical state between the particles & interstices of matter, as in mica, &c, for instance, perhaps the objections to the opinion of their materiality founded on friction, percussion &c are not valid." Thou wert so obliging as to acknowledge this letter on the 30 Nov. I have hesitated to send thee the extract not being willing to intrude on thy valuable time, but I thought thou wouldst allow me to allude to my opinions on the subject which I have long entertained, but possibly Berzelius may have expressed these ideas before I did, was that the case?

Veryásincerely thine | R.W. Fox

By the enclosed paper it appears that Professor Botto² has produced decomposition by the agency of thermo electricity³. The paper belongs to Dr Hodgkin⁴ & I will thank thee to return it to me at Barclay Brothers & Co 12 Austin Friars⁵