Christian Friedrich Schoenbein to Faraday   7 May 1852

My dear Faraday

What may be the cause of the very long silence kept by your friend on the Rhine? This question has perhaps more than once been asked in the Royal Institution these last six months. First of all, let me assure you that that somewhat strange taciturnity has nothing to do with any thing being in the remotest degree akin to forgetfulness. Why, I don’t know, but the fact is, that Mr. Schoenbein has of late conceived an almost invincible dislike to pen and ink so that nothing but the most cogent reasons can force him to make use of them. He therefore has become a most lazy correspondent to all his friends. Whether that antipathy be a symptom of advanced age or only one of those unaccountable fits and whims, which even the strongest minds are now and then liable to, I cannot say, but this I know, that he trusts your inexhaustible kindness will grant full pardon and indulgence to this piece of human frailty of his. Though strongly disinclined to handle his pen, he has not yet lost his relish for scientific pursuits and, as far as I know, was rather active last winter. It cannot be unknown to you that our mutual friend entertains very curious and even highly strange notions regarding oxigen, which he considers as the first-rate Deity not only of the chemical but of the whole terrestrial world[.] He is indeed a most enthusiastic devotee to that Deity, talking and thinking of nothing but of her, praising and exalting her glory wherever he can. He pretends that our philosophers, much as they think to know of oxigen, are as yet blinded and ignorant of the omnipotence of that mighty ruler of the elementary world. Upon many agents considered as equal to oxigen he looks down as upon upstarts and usurpers, assuming powers and privileges to which they have no right and declares that an infinite number of glorious deeds ascribed to the agency of inferior deities, are in fact the work of what he calls the “Jove of the philosophical Olympos.”

As a matter of course, our friend entertains feelings of peculiar love and esteem towards those whom he considers as high-priests to his Jupiter and who tend to increase the authority and glory of the King of elements. He asserts that you are the leader of those chosen adepts; that you more than any other have unravelled the mysteries of the wonderful workings of oxigen in nature and that you are the man who first has brought to light that the influence of our friends’ favorite deity reaches far beyond the limits of the chemical world. He goes even so far as to maintain that upon your discovery of the magnetical powers of oxigen a new philosophical era will be founded.

Having said so much about our queer and enthusiastic friend you will not be surprized when I tell you that he is continually worshipping his goddess in a little smoky room, which he calls “Jove’s Temple” and if I be not misinformed, there upon a sort of “tripod” he asks all sorts of questions with the view of getting as deep as possible into the mysteries of his deity. The other day he hinted at very strange answers having received from his oracle. Oxigen, he says, is the lord and master even of the most subtle and all pervading beings in existence, destroying and creating light, making and unmaking colors at pleasure &c. Indeed, he showed me some very strange tangible substances exhibiting in a most extraordinary manner the nature of a Chameleon, for within a few minutes I saw the very same thing assuming white, green, yellow, orange, light-red, dark-red and even black colors. Heaven knows how such a wonderful change was brought about; our friend says that his oxigen and nothing but his oxigen had been the Charmer; but being afraid that he is a little cracked, I am rather sceptical about his assertions. He also talks now and then of oxigen being closely allied to the great powers of Electricity and Magnetism and gives to understand that their apparent might and force are only borrowed from his sovereign’s.

I wonder whether he will divulge his queer Ideas to the world[.] I should like to see them kept back from the philosophers of our days for these people are too sober and rational as to relish the extravagant notions of our hot-headed friend.

Mrs Schoenbein and the Children are well and have not forgotten their English friend to whom they beg to be kindly remembered. Mrs Faraday, I hope, recollects still the writer of these lines and will be indulgent enough as to accept friendly his compliments.

Pray let me soon hear of your doings and believe me

Your’s | most truly | C.F.S.

Bâle Mai 7, 1852.

Address: Doctor Michael Faraday | &c &c &c &c | London | Royal Institution