Faraday to Henry Fitzroy   1 July 1859

Hampton Court Green, 1 July 1859.

Sir,

I had the opportunity yesterday of seeing Mr. Szerelmey, who communicated to me, in confidence, his process, with a slight reservation. I find nothing in his mode of procedure which is objectionable or otherwise than good, or which, upon principle, cause me to doubt the success of his process when properly applied¹. I may say the same also of other processes, founded by other persons upon the application of alkaline silicates.

Such being the case, we then turn to the results of observations, trial, and experience, without which no method can be judged of or finally approved. The trials at the Houses of Parliament have extended to periods of two or three years². That the stone of the building requires protection upon the external and weather faces is very manifest; nor can that surprise us when the condition of the London atmosphere, especially in relation to the sulphur acids derived from the coal, and the calcareous nature of the stone, are considered. In my opinion, the results of the trials (and I may say large experiments) made by Mr. Szerelmey are better than any of the rest; and, so far as one can form a judgment upon the experience of two years, justify the expectation that the process will sustain its character for a lengthened period of time. I think it necessary to say that a process, good in principle, may fail if carried carelessly into practice. Mr. Szerelmey’s process has had the advantage of being carried out under the guidance and inspection of himself, the person most fitted for that purpose, and most interested in its success.

I am, &c. | (signed) M. Faraday

The Right Hon. H. FitzRoy, M.P.