Edward Stanley to Faraday   2 November 1842

Alderly Park | Congleton Nov 2, 42

My dear Sir

I enclose a letter from my son Lieut Charles Stanley¹ R.E. now encamped on the summit of Snowdon for the purpose of taking triangles for the new Ordnance Survey, describing a fine case of electrical suffusion occurring on the Eveng of Oct 20. I had ascended the day before when the air was so remarkably clear to the N & E. that I clearly with the naked eye saw the I of Man & the Heliostat was seen from the observatory on Axe Edge near Buxton distant upwards of 90 miles[.] There had been Thunder the day before & no doubt the atmosphere was a good deal charged with electric fluid. I remained there on Wednesday night during the whole of which a heavy gale from NE prevailed with thick but sharp snow. The Therm: at 25 but owing to the effect of dry evaporating wind, the feeling of cold was intense. I left the summit in the middle of the day on Thursday in a dense cloud, which extended with the snow about half way down. I should be glad to hear your opinion on the details. It appears to me that the observatory which is about 12 or 15 yards above the officers hut on the very pinnacle of the mountain must have received the discharge of an electrical current, much in the same way as the knuckle of a finger receives that of an electrical machine, these accounting for the light & noise, & that the super-abundance of electrical fluids not being able to penetrate to the earth there deeply covered with snow, attached itself to part of the observatory & the face caps of the men, & this seems more probable, by no such lambent fire appearing on the second flash & sound on the Eveng of Oct 22 where rain had considerably melted the snow & laid the earth bare. If you can suggest any observations, I am sure my son will be glad to avail himself of your instructions, and it is possible that the camp may remain in its exposed domicile for several weeks to come.

I remain | Yours sincerely | Edw Norwich

Mr Faraday Esq FRS | &c &c &c | Royal Instn.