Faraday to William Francis Cowper   20 April 1860

Royal Institution, 20 April 1860.

Sir,

I think it will be sufficient if I state that I was quite aware of the general matters contained in the copies of letters from Mr. Ransome, which have been sent to me¹. I knew that both Messrs. Ransome and Szerelmey used soluble silicates, and the latter in addition a final coat of bituminous or other such like matter. I have also not forgotten the Speaker’s Court, and other parts of the Houses of Parliament. My former letters² have been very carefully expressed, and I think I have distinctly stated that I could not decide upon principle only, since either process, or both, might fail after the lapse of years through want of care or other circumstances, but being thrown upon the short and insufficient evidence now existing, and taking into consideration as far as I can the two processes, my belief is now, as it was when I last wrote³, that Mr. Szerelmey’s process will prove to be the best.

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

The Right. Hon. W. Cowper, M.P.