Fabian Carl Ottokar von Feilitzsch to Faraday   11 August 1854

Most honourable Sir!

Three years ago I had the honor to send you my researches about the physical distinction of magnetic and diamagnetic bodies¹. By your kindness and under your protection they were admit[t]ed in the Philosophical Magazine² and consequently they were bespoken from several sides; thereby it was caused, that in the “Archives des sciences physiques et naturelles de Geneve” well founded doubts could by [sic] raised against my opinions³; I were obliged to assert their rightness, but on the other side I was convinced from the principle defended by me: “that the magnetism and the diamagnetism were only identical excitations of the matter”, and it grew my task to maintain it by new researches. You have treated my first notices with so much indulgence, that I dare to hope, you, the creator of this new disciplin[e] will take it as a prove of my respects, that I put at your benevolence the results of my new treatise. On the other hand it is my duty vis-a-vis of you, as well as of all, who got knowledge of my first paper, to confess my error and to put some better thing in its place. If I had succeeded to gain your approbation, my highest wishes were accomplished. You will kindly allow me to send you the german treatise⁴, as well as a short extract, that I have written in your language, trusting, that you will excuse its incorrectness.

I am, Sir, your | most devoted servent | Dr. von Feilitzsch | Professor at the university | of Greifswald

Greifswald in Prussia, | Aug. 11, 1854.