Christian Friedrich Schoenbein to Faraday   17 February 1844

Bâle Febr. 17, 1844.

My dear Faraday

An acquaintance of mine is going to London I avail myself of the opportunity for sending you a little work in which I have tried to develop some theoretical views regarding the source of voltaic electricity and some electrolytical phenomena¹. There is also a paper in the book treating of chemical effects produced by contact, on which I should like very much to have your opinion. Having these many years entertained strong doubts about the correctness of the atomic theory and been inclined to consider what is called a "molecule" of a body as a centre of physical forces, I have tried to make that view bear upon the chemical actions being produced by contact (See page 22-25). Mr. Grove writes me in his last letter that the other day you had broken a lance against the atomic theory in the Royal Institution². As our mutual friend does not tell me any particulars about the view you have taken of the subject I am indeed very curious to see the next number of the Phil. Magazine which I understand will give the substance of your lecture³. Having had no less than 19 hours to lecture a week in the course of this winter you may easily imagine that I had no time for making researches: I grow indeed impatient of that everlasting schoolmastering and am longing for being placed under circumstances more favorable to scientific pursuits.

It is possible that I shall have the pleasure of seeing you in England about the mid-summer holidays, the execution of this bold plan of mine does however depend on circumstances over which I have got very little control. Once being sure of the possibility of the journey I shall take the liberty to acquaint you with the probable date of my arrival at London.

Mrs. Schoenbein and the Children are doing quite well the two eldest girls are now going to school and promise to become very blue; I shall however take good care that that coloring does not grow too intense for that sort of blue is not much to my liking.

My wife desires to be most particularly remembered to you and Mrs. Faraday and reckons upon the great pleasure of seeing you both once more at Bâle.

Pray present my humble respects to your lady and believe me

Your's | most faithfully | C.F. Schoenbein

NB. The Philosophical faculty of our University has conferred its degree upon our Friend Grove.

Be kind enough as to forward the inclosed parcels to their respective places of destination. | S.