Faraday report to Trinity House   21 March 1860

Royal Institution, 21st March 1860.

In reference to your question respecting the introduction of the Magneto-electric Light at Dungeness¹, I see no reason to expect that there would be greater difficulty respecting the illumination of the sea than at the South Foreland. The diverging beam would strike the sea at about 750 yards’ distance from the lighthouse at high water. With respect to the general effect to be looked for, there is not so much back light to be reflected seaward at Dungeness as at the South Foreland, 280° requiring illumination at the former; and therefore the amount of light in any one direction must not be expected to equal that obtained where only 180° or 200° were illuminated².

(signed) M. Faraday