Christian Friedrich Schoenbein to Faraday   24 September 1853

My dear Faraday,

Some weeks ago I returned from the journey I had undertaken to Bavaria, Austria &c. during our mid-summer-holidays and I can assure you that it was a very pleasant one. The first stay I made at Munich where I remained no less than 10 days finding that town highly pleasing and interesting both for the men and the things, I chanced to meet and see there. I think you would relish it as much as I did and if you should have any mind to cross the water once more, I strongly recommend you taking a trip to the Capital of Bavaria. The number of exquisite objects of painting, sculpture, architecture &c. accumulated there, is very great indeed and placed so closely together that you may see and enjoy them with perfect ease and comfort. Of course I met Liebig at Munich whom I knew before little more than by sight, but within the first five minutes we had found out the footing upon which both of us could move comfortably enough. You will laugh when I tell you that Liebig asked me to deliver a lecture before a very large audience in his stead and Mr. Schoenbein though reluctantly yielded to that strange demand. The subject treated was that queer thing called “Ozone” which ten or twelve years ago as you are perhaps aware, was declared by a Countryman of Your’s and pupil of Liebig’s to be a “nonens”. Nothing was easier to me than proving its corporeal existence and our friend Liebig, in spite of the unfriendly feelings he formerly entertained towards my poor child, has now taken it into his favor and seems even to have fallen deeply in love with the creature. He has therefore repeatedly entreated me to write a sort of biography of my progeny and give and account of its education and the accomplishments it has acquired under my tuition during the last decennium. I do not know yet whether I shall comply with his wishes being not very fond of copying myself over and over again.

My trip on the Danube down from Ratisbonne to Vienna proved highly delightful to me, though I experienced the mishap of losing my pocket-book and along with it my passport, no joke to a traveller who was about to enter the austrian Empiry. No unpleasant results however issued from that adventure. The scenery down the river merits to be called beautiful; now and then the Danube is forced to make its way through very deep and narrow ravines the top of the hills being covered with ruined castles, churches, convents, country seats &c. and their declivities richly wooded, another time you enjoy a beautiful and extensive view on the Alps of the Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria &c.

Vienna itself is a fine and a noble town full of interesting objects of Science and the arts and its inhabitants have become proverbial for their good nature. There is therefore no wonder that I enjoyed there very agreeable days. In going home I passed through Prag, Dresden, Leipzic, Frankfort &c seeing little more of those cities than their steeples and towers, for having stayed out too long I was obliged to return to Bale as quickly as possible. Mrs. Schoenbein and the girls have during my absence been living in the hills according to our usual style of passing the midsummer holidays. My eldest daughter has been absent from home these last 5 months and lives very happy on the beautiful lake of Geneva at a little place called Rolle. She has almost grown up into womanhood, is very like her mother, only a little taller and upon the whole a good-natured and dutiful child. I think you would like her. Our friend de la Rive was kind enough to invite her to pass the approaching season of the vintage at his country seat near Geneva.

Now having talked so much about myself and my family it is time to ask you how you and your amiable Lady are doing. I hope well, in spite of the oriental and other affairs of the world¹. I should feel over happy if it fell to my lot to see you once more and to accomplish my wishes I see no other means than your coming over to us.

Mrs. Schoenbein joins me in her kindest regards to Mrs. Faraday and I beg you to believe me for ever

Your’s | most truly | C.F. Schoenbein

Bâle Septbr. 24, 1853.

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