Faraday to Jean-Baptiste-André Dumas   16 March 1846

Royal Institution | Mar 16 1846

My dear friend

I have at last obtained copies of my papers¹ and hope to send them to you & my friends at Paris this week through the Royal Society. I write just now with a particular intent. The optical phenomena are seen far best with a certain kind of heavy glass which I made many years ago a silico-borate of lead. Of this I have not much but I intend to send three pieces to Paris there will be a piece for you if you will do me the favour to accept it, a piece for M Arago with my kindest remembrances and a piece for M. Biot one of my oldest friends in France who has also done so much relative to rotation[.] I am very sorry I cannot spare more for I was very anxious to send a piece to M. Pouillet² whose paper I have seen³, but indeed I am unable. I am in hopes that if it be needed for particular experiments those who have the heavy glass will lend it to those who have not. The three pieces combined will make up a considerable length[.]

These three pieces of glass I have made up into a packet and addressed them to you, in hopes that you would give the two pieces to MM. Arago & Biot. They will come by the Royal Society's box and I have so addressed them on the outside as to induce any custom house officers or others to leave them unopened I hope or at least to take care of them.

I never write to you without thinking of Madame Dumas - her smiles & her reproofs. I hope she will think gently of me - indeed I do not think it is in her nature to do otherwise[.] My wife unites with me in kindest remembrances to her and you[.]

Ever My dear friend | Yours faithfully | M. Faraday

M. Dumas | &c &c &c

Address: A Monsieur | Monsieur Dumas | &c &c &c &c | Jardin des Plantes | à Paris