Faraday to Christian Friedrich Schoenbein   27 March 1841

Royal Institution | 27 March 1841

My dear Schoenbein

I write, not because I have any thing to say, but because I should be glad to attach a link to memorys chain that you may not forget me as well also as to rejoice with you in your activity though it reminds me that I have very little at present of my own.

My medical friends have required me to lie bye for a twelvemonth and give me hopes that memory without which it is very hard work to go on may perhaps come on[.] They want to persuade [me] that I am mentally fatigued and I have no objection to think so. My own notion is, I am permanently worse: we shall see. Now for the principle, the ozone have you proceeded further with it yet? As to the battery, I have mentioned the matter of your last letter¹ to some persons but have not much to say to you in consequence. Grove has had a powerful battery of his own construction² but you know him as well as I do & would I conclude if you thought fit apply to him[.]

Your letter though dated 20th Dec. 1841 [sic], speaks as if you had not received my last papers, those on the chemical action of the voltaic element &c³. I trust you have had them long since; for me I have been laid bye so long as almost to have forgotten them[.]

Neither have I read much lately so that I seem quite out of the knowledge of things. But nothing can make me forget your kind feelings and it [is] to them & to preserve them I now write for their value seems to grow upon me whilst that of mere philosophy seems to decrease[.]

But I must conclude. My wife desires to be fondly remembered to you & hopes that all yours are well[.] We both desire your happiness[.]

Ever my dear Schoenbein | Your faithful | M. Faraday

Address: Dr. C.F. Schoenbein | Professor | &c &c &c | Basle | sur le Rhine

Postmark: Brighton