Faraday to Christian Friedrich Schoenbein   11 May 1850

Royal Institution | 11 May 1850

My dear Schoenbein

I have seen Burgomaster Sarasin¹ who has very kindly brought me your papers & letter². I wish I could shew him any useful attention but you know what an out-of-the-world man I am. Your German papers³ are very tantalizing I know the good there must be within & yet I cannot get at it. But now my thoughts are on Ozone[.] I like your idea of an Evening here but it cannot be this season for the arrangements are full⁴. Yet that in some degree suits me better for though I should like to give it, I am a slow man (through want of memory) and therefore require preparation. Now I shall lock up your letters & reread them & also the papers but let me pray you to send me a list of the experiments which you know to suit a large audience also if you can the references to the best French (or English) papers giving an account of its development & progress. Also your present view - also the best and quickest mode of making Ozonized air & such other information as I shall need. Probably other matter will arise before 1851 and I will get possession of it as we go along. If you come over here you shall give the subject yourself i.e if you can arrange & keep to time &c if not I must do my best[.] But every year I need more cramming even for my own particular subjects. Now do not delay to send me the list of experiments because you suppose there is plenty of time &c &c but let me have them that I may think over them during the vacation. I should like to do the matter to my own satisfaction: there are however very few things in which I satisfy myself now. I hoped to have had a paper⁵ to send you ere this but Taylor is slow in the printing. Give our kindest remembrances to Madame Schoenbein

Ever My dear friend | Yours truly | M. Faraday

Address: Dr. Schoenbein | &c &c &c | University | Basle, | on the Rhine