Peter Henry Berthon to Faraday   15 October 1857

Trinity House | 15th October 1857.

My dear Sir,

I was about to write to the Board of Trade on the subject of the Electro Magnetic Fog Bell, on which subject my letter was to be nearly an echo of your report¹, when in examining the drawing it occurred to me that the principal Object of the invention, viz: the Distance from the machine at which the power can be made available, has not been adverted to by you.

I apprehend that altho’ this application of the force is not dwelt upon in the plan or explanation it is that upon which the inventors mainly ground a claim to consideration, particularly as the drawing attached to the plan represents the machine on the shore linking Bells (by submerged wires) on rocks at a considerable distance in the Sea at which it may be said that neither steam, horse or man power could be used.

I am afraid that if this part of the subject is passed sub silentio we shall have a rejoinder from the inventor that we have missed his principal point.

Will you kindly give the matter a little consideration, and advise me as to what I should say on this point?

Believe me | My dear Sir | Yours very truly | P.H. Berthon

M. Faraday Esq | &c &c &c