William Scoresby to Faraday   7 July 1843

Bradford, July 7: 1843¹.

Many thanks, Dear Dr. Faraday, for your kind replies to my enquiries about your Schmidt's magnet². They answer my purpose fully.

Having now competed my Investigations on all the varying effects on the magnetic condition or capacity, of dimension & weight; denomination & quality of steel; temper, form, combination, &c &c. - I humbly hope that the General Results will prove conclusive in practical Magnetics. The Results are now in the press³.

On horse-shoe magnets I have come to results, I think, quite satisfactory, and have been enabled to determine the effects of temperature, in the reducing of hardness, on the magnetic capacity of steel of many varieties of kind & form - results which bear some analogy with your Investigations having a different object.

I have constructed a small five bar magnet of 2.9 lb - which easily sustains 25 or 26 lb & may be made to carry, in the first trial, nearly 40lb. Single bars of the horseshoe form of about 4000 grains carry from 7 to 9 1/2 or even 10 lb. Another horse shoe magnet of 8lb weight (half of yours & of similar form) sustains 50 lb & may be gradually loaded up to 55 or 56 lb, as was the case a few days ago: this was after the conductor had been frequently broken off by the weight.

I remain, My Dear Sir, | Your faithful & obliged, | W. Scoresby

Dr. Faraday.

P.S. Would you kindly inform me where I shall find in the Phil. Trans. your account of the large Compd Magnet in the Royal Society's possession made by Knight (?) I think⁴: I remember seeing it, but have sought for it recently, in vain. I wish for this description for the sake of comparison, &c.