Faraday to Pierre Antoine Favre   1 February 1854¹

London | Royal Institution | 1 February 1854

My dear Sir

I hope you will excuse my letter though written in English:- for I cannot resist the pleasure of saying how much I have enjoyed both your letter and your Thesis²: both of which, if I may make free to say so, bear the impress of the sound philosopher and the hard working careful experimentalist. Both have been very interesting to me and the latter especially and the more so because it not only traces the heat function of the forces of matter round the circuit in a most definite and decided manner but because it justifies the ideas one entertains more or less that all the functions of these forces are mutually related or convertible. It is very delightful when such researches as yours appear for they enable the philosopher to take a firm stand where before all was hesitation doubt and suspicion. I may illustrate that point by referring to the question whether it is the mere oxidation of the zinc or the sum of all the actions up to its combination with the acid which produces the final amount of current power and I think you have very happily settled the question by testing it through the heat concerned.

I am My dear Sir | With great regard your | Very faithful Servant | M. Faraday

a Monsieur | Monsieur P.A. Favre | &c &c &c &c

Address: a Monsieur | Monsieur P.A. Favre | &c &c &c | Rue St. Jacques No 36 | à Paris