Faraday to Carlo Matteucci   19 April 1836

R. Institution | 19 April, 1836

My dear Sir

On returning to town I find your letter¹. It rather embarrasses me as to the right mode of proceeding as it calls on me to publish that letter. Now I have no doubt you were unacquainted with the Seventh series of my researches² when your paper³ was written and you probably had not recollected the announcement of the law in the third series dated as far back as Dec 1832 that the chemical power of a current of Electricity is in direct proportion to the quantity of Electricity which passes ⁴. This law was again announced in the fifth series of my researches of the date of June 1833 see paragraphs 456, 504, 505⁵. I think you have these papers & can refer to them[.]

My difficulty is this. I had not noticed the occurrence of your paper of a date so much later than my own, though many persons had pointed it out to me in the Annales de Chimie and expressed their surprise at it: it certainly had in their minds made an impres‑sion. The editor of Poggendorf[f]s journal did it of his own free will & judgment and I think the plain course is for you to write to him telling him that you were not acquainted with my paper, but now that you do know the facts acknowledging the order of the dates as they really stand. This is what I have always done and you will see a case of it where I have made restitution to a coun‑tryman of your own M Bellani⁶ in the Quarterly Journal of Science published here formerly Volume xxiv, pages 469, 470⁷[.]

If you still wish me to publish the letter which you sent me I hope you will write to me at once by post; but I must accompany it with the dates. I should how‑ever in my own case pursue the plan I have recommended to you[.]

I am Dear Sir | Yours Very faithfully | M. Faraday

M. Matteucci | Il Sig Carlo Matteucci | Firenza

Endorsed by Faraday: Answer