Faraday to Peter Henry Berthon   18 August 1860

Royal Institution | 18 Aug 1860

Sir

In reply to your letter of the 8th. Instant¹ respecting the answers given by the Honbl. W.E. Fitzmaurice to enquiries made prior to a Trial of his lime light in one of the Trinity House lighthouses I have to say that the answers are not so direct & practical as those which relate to another lime light by Mr Prosser² and which I believe the Trinity House have under trial. Nevertheless I do not see any way to a safe & satisfactory decision in the matter than by granting the request of Major Fitzmaurice subject to all the conditions that were made in my letter of the 11 May 1860 respecting the Prosser lime light trial³. The South Foreland upper lighthouse seems to me the best place for the reasons before given. I would submit however to the Deputy Master⁴ and brethren whether it is expedient or desirable that they should put a new lime light on trial before they have obtained all the knowledge they can regarding lime lights in general & the one in particular which is being installed by a full consideration of the results of that lime light after its trial has been completed⁵[.]

I have the honour to be | Sir | Your Very Obedient Servant | M. Faraday

P.H. Berthon Esq | &c &c &c