Faraday to George Biddell Airy   c.14 May 18581

My dear Sir

Mr Barlow asked me about glass silvering for you. I could not remember at the time who had taken up Pettitjeans [sic]2 Patent3, but have gradually remembered that it was Swinburnes (house) RW & Co. of 93 Upper Thames Street4. I do not think they could silver solid forms of glass so as to give you good reflecting surfaces, but as to concave & convex surface I send you two watch glass [sic]. They are bad now & were done in haste long ago. Do not trouble yourself to return them[.]

Ever faithfully Yours | M. Faraday

The Astronomer Royal | &c &c &c

I send the glasses in a separate letter MF

1
Dated on the basis that letter 3439 is the reply.
2
Tony Petitjean (d.1873, age 49, GRO under Petitjeax). Invented a process for silvering glass.
3
Petitjean was granted patent 1855-1681 for his process for silvering glass on 24 July 1855.
4
R.W. Swinburne & Co Plate glass manufacturers of Red Bull Wharf, 93 Upper Thames Street. POD. See letter 3230.

Please cite as “Faraday3438,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 10 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday3438