Faraday to Robert Were Fox   20 June 1834

Royal Institution | 20 June 1834

My dear Sir

I have but a faint recollection of your letter of Novr. 1827¹ most probably because I have been in the habit of supposing that the general views you refer to have long been as it were common property[.] Every one who has thought on the subject must have had some such notions on his mind but they all stand in the same level until by some fortunate occurrence or series of facts the one truth which is mixed up with the ninety & nine suppositions equally plausible to the general observer is taken from its fallacious companions and proved to be the only one deserving of attention[.]

Playfair² I think somewhere speaks of cohesion affinity heat light mag‑netism electricity galvanism³ &c and considers the probability of their all being referred to one common principle - Berzelius' Views are now twenty one years old[.] You will find some of them in the annals de Chimie for 1813 tome LXXXVI, page 146 & especially p 159⁴[.] If my memory would serve me I could refer you I think to other authors: but I dare say you can feel with me how in the multi‑plicity of things we either forget or remain ignorant of matters put forth to the world and which when we do come to their knowledge tend to prove there is nothing new under the sun[.]

Professor Botto's⁵ letter I have had some time ago⁶ and in relation to that matter it proves just what I have been saying above for Becquerel in his new work Traite de l'electricite tome 1 page 551 says that he obtained chemical & heating effects from Thermo electricity many years ago⁷.

I am | My dear Sir | Most Truly Yours | M. Faraday

Mr R.W. Fox