Faraday to Christian Friedrich Schoenbein   2 May 1837

Royal Institution | 2nd May, 1837.

My dear Sir

At last I have pressed on Mr. Newman our in‑strument maker to the point of having a Magneto-electric Machine ready for you; until that was effected I delayed writing to you. He tells me that before the week is out the apparatus will be shipped and I shall go to his shop tomorrow to see it all complete before packing[.] He will write to you sending a bill of lading &c so as to inform you of the conveyance & the time &c &c[.]

In the packet there will be also the copies of your last paper in the Philosophical Magazine about which you wrote to me¹[.] They are only just now printed. I was very much interested in the reading of the experiments but am as much puzzled as ever as to the direct cause of the condition into which the iron comes[.] I have no doubt however that your perseverance will in time meet with its due reward; & when we do learn what it is that so balances things, we may well expect that a great many other things will at the same time come into view, & new light be thrown on many matters now dark & obscure[.]

I have been doing nothing lately i.e. I have been labouring in the ordinary things of my vocation. Much business & little health have left me no time for research: but I hope in the autumn to follow your active example and then perhaps add a few things more to the magnificent accumulation of facts which has been brought together of late years by the conjoined efforts of the labourers in Electrical Science[.]

Wishing you all health & strength & happiness.

I am My dear Sir | Your Very faithful Servant | M. Faraday

Professor Schoenbein | &c &c &c

Address: Dr. Schoenbein | &c &c &c | Bâle | Sur le Rhine