P.M. Henschikoff to Faraday   1 May 1860¹

To Professor Faraday,

May 1, 1860

Sir-

The equivalents that are gases are not atoms: all the equivalents which are gases are hollow sphericles; these sphericles are molecules consisting of a number of very minute ultimate atoms. vide diagrams. Where an atom of iron is enclosed in the hollow of an oxygen sphericle, the oxygen becomes compressed into solidity about the isolated ultimate iron atom, which is thus oxidized. Heat by promoting the isolation favours the oxidation. When water freezes it expands, because when heat is abstracted the mass becomes rigid from the drawing closer of the molecular compound sphericles of hydrogen enclosing oxygen vide diagrams. But thus the pressure on the sphericles is diminished and consequently they expand, their liquid state, as molecular water sphericles, being elastic. By a diminution of this mysteriously subtle but infinite pressure, two volumes of ammonia expand into four volumes of gas, when the nitrogen sphericle is ejected from the hydrogen encasing spherical. And so are all similar chemical phenomena to be explained by a theory of galvanism which is most humbly submitted to Professor Faraday by his obedient servant,

P.M. Henschikoff

Address: Professor Faraday | Royal Institution | Albemarle Street | London

Postmark: Limerick