Faraday to William Whewell   12 October 1837

R Institution | 12 Oct. 1837

My dear Sir

You remember perhaps what I said to you about the possible reference of electric induction to the action of contiguous particles &c &c &c. I have been working & thinking much on the matter & am about to write a paper giving experimental results¹. At present the bearing of it seems to me very important but I wait for a few days when I expect my results will be abundantly decisive one way or the other. In the mean time I want a word or two[.]

Suppose two insulated bodies electrified P & N are in an inductive relation to each other; we may communicate one with the earth but the induction will not cease being sustained or retained (or any thing else that you please) by the other. I put the case thus for convenience sake but it will represent a thousand cases of induction[.] If we call the insulated one a and the uninsulated one b then I may use these letters to represent the general case. Now a may be either Pos or Neg & of course b may be either Neg or Pos. Either a or b may be conduct‑ing matter or non conducting matter a & b may be parts of the same piece of metal; even the opposite surfaces of the same leaf of gold and yet it is important to express & distinguish a & b from each other[.] Every case of induction does not include them both for there are plenty of cases where the two states are both a and perhaps in Voltaic electricity & thermo electricity we may develope some where both are b. Now can you give me two good terms to express these rela‑tive states i.e if I bring a glass rod excited positively towards my hand so as to induce in the latter a negative state can you give me a term to express the determining & sustaining influence of the rod charge, and the dependant & sustained condition of the hand charge.

Whilst on words I will merely mention some other cases where they are wanting[.] Perhaps at some time they may occur to you. One is sadly wanted to replace current. Others for Posit<<ive>> and Negative - and some terms are required to express direction of the force or forces. If Anode & Cathode were to be received into use perhaps they would serve as bases: but something still more general and founded rather upon the word to be used instead of current would be better[.]

I hope I am not annoying you with my fancies. If you feel fretted by me put my letter in the fire.

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

Endorsed by Whewell: Ans. Oct. 14.

Address: Revd. William Whewell | &c &c &c | Cambridge