Faraday to Jacob Herbert   15 June 1844

Royal Institution | 15 June 1844

My Dear Sir

After a hasty glance at a model & drawings of the Smalls lighthouse I have no hesitation in giving my opinion that it is just a case for the application of the ventilating tubes¹ - all the bad air will be taken off & much of the heat I believe all that is unpleasant. The breaking of the glass is difficult to account for except by the supposition that the lanthorn becomes so hot as to cause the unequal expansion of glass and metal to produce the effect. I can hardly think it possible that the mere direct radiant heat can be the cause. If the Deputy Master² & Board should resolve to apply the tubes perhaps it would be as well to direct Mr. Wilkins to put on paper the form of the frame & the dimensions of the different parts of it & the lanthorn with any other information bearing on the point & then I should be glad to examine & consider them for the purpose of resolving on the form of pipes to be used³[.]

I am Dear Sir Your faithful & obliged Servant M. Faraday