Faraday to Christian Friedrich Schoenbein   17 August 1839

Royal Institution | 17 August 1839

My dear Sir

I ought to have written to you sooner but I have hitherto been unable to say whether I could go to the Meeting at Birmingham¹ or not. I find now that I cannot. As regards any opinion that I can form respecting their appropriation of funds; not having been at any of the Committees I do not know on what principles they proceed but I am told they have not as yet granted money except for expts in England or by Englishmen but I cannot suppose that is a rule². At the same time I should be afraid to give you any impression which might lead to error.

I shall be most anxious for your researches especially those bearing upon the necessity of electrolytes in the circuit & the inutility of bodies not acting as electrolytes yet poss[ess]ing oxidizing powers &c. I suppose that your explications will include Becquerels pile of acid & alkali about which much is now said & I presume properly also³. But folks are so apt to neglect the amount of action that I cannot trust all I hear of it; I hear it is very energetic & very effective &c &c but I do not hear how much current force is produced for a certain amount of acid & alkaline force used.

I hope you are now in excellent health & all your family[.] I never think of the time when I was in Bale a few years ago⁴without regret since being there I did not see you.

Ever My dear Sir | Your faithful Servant | M. Faraday

Dr Schoenbein | &c &c &c

Address: Dr. Schoenbein | &c &c &c | Basle | Sur le Rhein