Christian Friedrich Schoenbein to Faraday   29 March 1860

My dear Faraday,

I have been expecting letters from you these many months, but up to this moment quite in vain. I trust, that nothing is wrong with you i.e. that not ill health or any other of the evils “which human flesh is heir to”¹ has been the cause of your long silence. Now Professor Wiedemann and Dr. Hagenbach², intimate friends of mine going to London, I send you some lines through them, to give a sign, that, at least, your friend is still alive. Mr. Wiedemann will tell you, that I have strictly followed up your very wise advice³ and worked rather hard all the year round. The remedy has not been without its salutary effects, though I cannot say, that the deep wound inflicted upon us last year is healed. As to Mrs. Schoenbein, she certainly at intervals seems to be composed and resigned but the feelings of deep mourning and distress darken her mind again.

To give you a notion of my late scientific doings, I send you some papers on what I call “the chemical polarisation of the neutral oxigen”⁴, of which highly interesting subject Mr. Wiedemann, who has seen the experiments, will give all the details you may desire to know. I am inclined to believe, that it is now a matter of fact, that any oxidation, apparently effected by common or inactive oxigen, is always preceded by the polarisation of that element. I know now three or four dozens of cases of slow oxidation, in which that mysterious act takes place; for instance in that of Phosphorus, Zinc, Iron, Lead, Copper &c; Ether, and a number of other organic matters: pyrogallic acid, desoxidized indigo &c.

In presence of such a numerous body of matter-of-fact evidence, I think, very little doubt can be entertained about the correctness of the new doctrine, that Oxigen is capable of being chemically polarized.

How is poor Miss Hornblower? Pray write in your next letter, how she is doing and remember me most friendly to your friend.

In entertaining the confident hope, that all is well with you and yours, I beg you to offer my kindest regards to Mrs. Faraday, your Niece and Brother’s.

For ever | Your’s | most faithfully | C.F. Schoenbein

Bâle March 29. | 1860.

Address: Doctor Michael Faraday | &c &c &c | Royal Institution | London