Faraday to Christian Friedrich Schoenbein   24 November 1857

Royal Institution | 24 Novr. 1857.

My dear Schoenbein

I dare say you have plenty of letters with the London post mark now from Stamford Hill, and hardly require to have your English associations stirred up by one from me so soon after the last¹;- but we leave town on Friday² for a little renovation, & I wanted to relieve myself by writing to you before we go. I expected you would have seen much of your last in the Philosophical Magazine before now, but Dr Francis told me, a day or two back, that he was waiting for some new type <minus>O and <plus>O; for that nothing they have at present will serve the same purpose:- then I trust it will appear as it ought to do³… What a wonderful thing oxigen is and so I suppose would every other element appear if our knowledge were more perfect.

Sir James Clarke applied to me the other day, to know if you had been able to draw up a set of practical directions for the observation of Ozone in the atmosphere; obviating such difficulties as arise at first, connected with the time of exposure,- the continued exposure, the moisture or dryness of the test paper, &c. He seemed well aware of the general state of the subject, but thought that you would know sooner than the world at large, of any perfectionment. His object is to consider the medical effects of Ozone in nature; where without doubt it must have some, & perhaps, very important effects. Probably when you feel that there is any improvement in the mode of observing you will let us know. I think he said that Ozone seemed to be abundant about our Queens residence; Balmoral, in the North.

I ventured to send you a paper the other day by the post. I was assured it would go free & shall be very sorry if, unaware, I have put you & other friends to post expence: but I find that the information I obtain by enquiry is often very uncertain in its nature, though positive in its form. The paper was about Gold & the relation of it & other metals to light⁴. Many facts came out during the enquiry which surprized me greatly; especially the effects of pressure & also those relating to polarized light. Lately I have been working on the relation of time to actions at a distance;- as those actions which class as magnetic but the subject is very difficult,- the requisite apparatus requires to be frequently remade, each time being more perfected; & whether I shall catch the 1/200000 part of a second (if required) seems very doubtful. In the mean time I am for the present tired & must lay the research on the shelf.

Since I wrote to you we have had Miss Schoenbein here:- but since that I have not been able to see her or my old friend Miss Hornblower, either, at Stamford Hill: Probably when the Christmas Holidays come on, we shall have the opportunity; but my wifes health is so infirm and our capabilities so limited at the Institution, that I dare not think of what we should like, before the time comes: I have undertaken to give half a dozen juvenile lectures after Christmas⁵;- whether they will come off (as we say) or not is doubtful. Patience-

I hope that Madame Schoenbein is cheered by her daughters letters. Miss Schoenbein assured me that there was a great deal of correspondence going on, & from the manner in which I heard of it, I should trust that it was cheerful. Remember me in the kindest manner to the anxious mother.

I do not think we have much scientific news; at least I do not hear of much; but then I do not go within reach of the waves of sound; & so must consent to be ignorant. Indeed too much would drive me crazy in the attempt to hold it[.]

Ever My dear Schoenbein | Yours Most truly | M. Faraday