Faraday to George Biddell Airy   3 December 1835

Royal Institution | 3 Dec. 1835

My dear Sir

I have two horse shoe magnets in my hands of considerable power but still not very remarkable1. I am using them at present for my lectures but after a fortnight you may have them if you like. There is a large clumsy magnet at the Royal Society (Dr Knights2) weak for its size but still very much stronger than mine which might perhaps help you. I have never yet used an electro-magnet for magnetizing purposes but have no doubt it would answer & the Institution has one which you can have the use of after my lectures are over. It is peculiar in form the poles being very near together. You will see that the plan has been tried & recommended in France in a peculiar way see Annales de Chimie 1834 tome LVII, 4423.

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

G.B. Airy Esq | &c &c &c

1
See letter 851.
2
Gowin Knight (1713-1772, DNB). Librarian to the British Museum. Worked on compasses.
3
Aimé (1834).

Please cite as “Faraday0855,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday0855