Faraday to William Boughton Hack¹   3 August 1844

Royal Institution | 3 Aug 1844

Sir

The 24 hours which have passed since I saw you have not altered my opinion that it is good to remove the weeds, if the weeds never decayed it would be another matter, but the evident proofs of very rapid decay at times & consequent alteration of the water make me think it is good to remove them. On the other hand I would also suggest that you take from the water as much as you can, its present stagnant character. It is a strong fact that the same water which is moderately good at the end of the first+ reservoir is very bad a the end of the second++. As far as I can judge my endeavour would be to remove first the mass of decaying matter at the end of the second reservoir, and then to use either only the second in decaying weather or seasons - or else to pass the water through in half or in less than half the time intermittingly or otherwise as may be required[.]

I am Sir | Your Very Obedient Servant | M. Faraday

W.B. Hack Esq | &c &c &c

Endorsements: +East End of the Westn Resr

++East End of the Eastn Resr

No 21293 Prof Faraday 3 Augt 1844 recd 6 Do

State of the water in Barnes Meadows².