Faraday to William Francis Cowper   3 August 1860

Hampton Court Green | 3 Aug 1860.

Dear Sir

I found your letter¹ on returning from certain lighthouses². I do not see how I can help you in the Szerelmey-Ransome matter³. I do not know M Szerelmey, and I believe he wishes to keep his process secret. I answered your enquiries as well as I could with the knowledge I had; and have no objection to the matter as it appears in the printed returns to the House of Commons⁴, though I would rather have had my letter⁵ (which you consider private) amongst the rest.

If you consider an analysis necessary for your object, I conclude that some of the Professional men attached to the Government, at the Jermyn Street Museum, - Woolwich; or elsewhere will be the proper persons to undertake it - For my own part I think time (as I said in that letter) is the only test of such a practical matters [sic].

I have lately had a visit and a threat of legal proceedings from Mr. Daine⁶ on account of my answers to your questions⁷. I will candidly confess that such results, cool, in some degree, my willingness to answer all enquiries made of me by the Governmental boards. If I thought that such a case were likely to occur again I would make all my letters private to prevent like results. Whenever you give me the pleasure of being any way useful to you again I hope you will help me to keep clear of the parties:- whose object is of course profit[.]

I am Sir | Very faithfully Yours | M. Faraday

The Right Honble | W. Cowper Esqr | &c &c &c &c