Faraday to Christian Friedrich Schoenbein   19 April 1851

Hastings | 19 April 1851.

My dear Schoenbein

Here we are at the seaside and my mind so vacant (not willingly) that I cannot get an idea into it. You will wonder therefore why I write to you since I have nothing to say but the fact is I feel as if I owed you a letter and yet cannot remember clearly how that is. Still I would rather appear stupid to you than oblivious of your kindness and yet very forgetful I am. In 6 or 7 weeks I shall be talking of ozone¹. I hope I shall not discredit you or fail in using well all the matter you have given me abundant & beautiful as it is. But I feel that my memory does not hold things together in hand as it used to do. Formerly I did not care about the multiplicity of items, they all took their place & I picked out what I wanted at pleasure[.] Now I am conscious of but few at once & it often happens that a feeble point which has present possession of the mind obscures from recollection a stronger & better one which is ready & waiting:- but we must just do the best we can - and you may be sure I will do as well for you as I could for myself.

I set about explaining the other evening my views of atmospheric magnetism² & found when I had done that I had left out the two or three chief points. I only hope that the printed papers³ contain them & that they will be found good by the men who are able to judge. The copy for you is either with you or on the way for the Gentleman whom you introduced to me⁴ whose name I forget (from Aarau?) kindly took charge of it.

And now my dear Schoenbein with kindest remembrances to Madame Schoenbein (and my wife joins all she can to you & yours)

I am as Ever | Most truly yours | M. Faraday

Address: Professor Schoenbein | &c &c &c | University | Basle | on the Rhine