Faraday to Christian Friedrich Schoenbein   6 November 1855

Royal Institution | 6 Novr. 1855.

My dear Schoenbein

It is quite time I should write you a letter even though I may have nothing to say and yet I surely have something to write though it may not be philosophy for I trust affection will last out philosophy and indeed were it not so I should fear that I was indeed becoming a worn out worthless thing. But your last letter¹ abounded in all matter both the philosophical & also the domestic and kind and I thank you heartily for it. That one day in the country how I wish I had been with you - but I could not now walk in Switzerland as I have done in former years. All things suffer a change. May your changes be long deferred for you must be very happy as you are. And so am I but my happiness is of a quieter kind than it used to be and probably more becomes a man 64 years of age: and as we, i.e. my wife & I go on our way together our happiness arises from the same things and we enjoy it together with I hope thankfulness to the giver of every good & perfect gift²[.]

I tried an experiment or two with the oxide of silver & obtained some results but not equal to those you sent it nor was it to be expected that I should reach the results of a Master in this subject[.] Your accounts & observations are most interesting & exciting but I dare not try to pursue the subject for even the matter I have in Magnetism is often too much for me & I am obliged to lay it by for a while so that I am forbidden by nature to take up any new series of thought. But that Ozone that oxygen which makes up more than half the weight of the world, what a wonderful thing it is and yet I think we are only at the beginning of the knowledge of its wonders.

By the bye your letters often contain much that I should like others here to see and I want to ask you whether there is any objection to my shewing them to Tyndall and letting him as one of the Editors of the Phil Mag print any of the philosophical parts that he may select in the Magazine. There are full three pages of your last which if I were an Editor I should have selected:- at the same time you must not in any way alter the pleasant tone & current of your epistles - or else I shall be a great loser.

I cannot now remember how I received your letter and whether I saw M. Schweitzer³ - I rather think not but whether I was out of town or whether he sent me the letter by some one I am unable to call to mind. - I have received no parcels for you as yet, but will take care of any that come. I sent you Vol III of Experimental Researches⁴ by Mr. Twining & have no doubt it has reached you - but I have not seen Mr. Twining since his return from your country[.]

The General board of health here published a report on the Cholera epidemic of 1854⁵ and since that a thick 8vo volume of Appendix. In the latter I am glad to see they refer to Ozone in several places p.p.71. 89. 103⁶ and of course to you, but whether the observations (by Dr. Moffat⁷) are well made⁸ and considered I do not know - in any case it indicates that ozone is gaining a growing attention amongst medical men.

My kindest remembrances to Madame Schoenbein & to those whom by a stretch of imagination I strive to see around here [sic] i.e. to the party of the day’s excursions and my very kind remembrances to M. Wiedemann also. It is delightful to see thinking workers rise up in Science. Believe me to be, my dear Schoenbein Your faithful friend

M. Faraday

Address: Dr. Schoenbein | &c &c &c | University | Basle | on the Rhine