Faraday to Benjamin Hawes   13 June 1849¹

Royal Institution | 13 June 1849.

My dear Sir

I received your letter of the 9th instant; and I have also received a letter from the discoverer of the process of extracting sugar², and another from M. Dumas stating to me the results which he witnessed³. I am willing to answer your enquiry as far as lies in my power: provided I can guard myself from the possible charge, hereafter, of having given a hasty and ill considered opinion. Let me remind you, therefore, that circumstances connected with the season & the time of the year⁴ forbid that I should have the opportunity at present of seeing the operation of extraction performed: and that I can only know the process by description; can only judge of it by a consideration of the principles of chemical action which it involves, and can only be aware of the effects by the testimony of M. Dumas and the discoverer.

Having, then, considered the communications carefully, I see nothing to make me doubt that the facts are as stated:- namely that a very large proportion, approaching towards the whole, of the sugar in the Sugar cane may be extracted from it in the form of unchanged white crystalline sugar: and at an expence not greater and probably very much less than that of the present process.

I am My dear Sir | Ever Most Truly Yours | M. Faraday

Benjn Hawes Esq. M.P. | &c &c &c