Peter Barlow to Faraday   14 December 1845¹

14 Dec 1845

My dear Sir

Mr Airy and I yesterday met accidentally Mr Wheatstone when our conversation turned upon your recent discoveries and your paper which is to be read on Thursday next². Mr Wheatstone states that in it you have shown a remarkable case of polarization or action of some kind between the magnet and the body acted upon whereby the effect is produced at right angles to the former. Of course I can have very little idea of what your paper will illustrate but it called to my mind, my own theory of the action between a galvanic wire and a magnet: which I published in 1822. As you may not have my work I send you my copy and refer you to page 232 et seq³.

I have sometimes thought that this theory which is most perfectly verified by the experiments I have given on mathematical principles have not gained the attention I have thought it deserved, and my only object in writing to you is that if you find there is any similarity in my views and in the facts you have observed that you will make any reference to it that you may think proper. From what I could comprehend from the minutes conversation with Mr Wheatstone there appeared to me to be a resemblance but if there is not then I trust you will excuse my troubling you on the subject[.]

The copy I send you is the only one I have and as the work has been out of print for some years I will be obliged by your returning it.

With my hearty congratulations for the new honour your discoveries have conferred upon you I remain

My dear Sir | Yours very truly | Peter Barlow

Dr Faraday