Faraday to Julius Plücker   11 July 1857

Norfolk. | 11 July 1857.

My dear Professor.

I left town very shortly after receiving your last letter¹ but not before I had inquired at the apartments of the Royal Society about your paper². My memory is so bad, that I cannot recollect the circumstances under which I presented it, or the time; but I believe I wrote you word on that occasion³. When I called lately I saw Mr Weld the assistant secretary, and found, from him, that the paper had been received and entered in a book:- he told me that Mr. Stokes the Secretary, was to communicate with you; but as there was no further note made, he concluded that he had not yet done so - Mr. Stokes is just married. I did all I could to expedite proceedings, but as I do not belong to the Council or take any office I am quite without power in the matter.- I have myself presented a paper to the Royal Society⁴ - I believe it is to be printed though I have never been informed officially that that is to be the case.- I think it must be near a twelvemonth since I sent it in⁵, but I have seen no printers proof as yet - The proceedings are indeed very slow.

With respect to You & Tyndall I cannot pretend to explain the misunderstandings which exist:- and having tried a little I do not think that any third person between you can be of any use. To be clear it requires that the parties should communicate directly, and plainly, with each other; and then I think it would be impossible not to discover where the mistake lies. He is at present abroad.

I am very glad that you are working on the stratified electric light.- I hope that you will very shortly give us the fundamental explanation of the phenomenon. I cannot help thinking that it will aid us in developing some very important points about the nature of the electric discharge. We would rejoice to understand, truly, the first principles of that very striking electric action. The variation of the intervals to a certain degree at pleasure is exceedingly interesting - but what is the state of an interval?

I must conclude saying that I am as ever Very Truly Yours | M. Faraday

Profr. Plucker | &c &c &c