Heinrich Daniel Rühmkorff¹ to Faraday   29 November 1861

Paris le 29 Novemb. 1861

Monsieur

Jai appris avec plaisir que l’echantillon de vere que Monsieur Gassiot² a eu la bonte de vous remettre vous a interessez. Un seule Etincelle de la Machine Induction traverse le verre d’une bout a lautre, lon n’y voit aucune trace lorsquelle na pas la force suffisante, il est rare q’une seconde etincelle passe dans la meme direction, seulement quand le verre est mince elle y passe en grandissant le trou. Jai envoye aujourd huit a Monsieur Gassiot un autre echantillion dans le quelle plusieur etincelle ont passe sucessivement.

Si vous desirez d’autres renseignements a ce sujet je me trouverai tres honore si vous vouliez bien me les adressez[.] Jai l’honneur de etre ave le plus grand [word illegible] | votre | tout devoue serviteur | Ruhmkorff

TRANSLATION

Paris, 29 November 1861

Sir,

I learned with pleasure that the sample of glass which Mr. Gassiot³ had the goodness to give you has interested you. A single spark of the Induction Machine traverses the glass from one side to the other, one sees no trace of it when there is not a sufficient force; it is rare that a second spark passes in the same direction, only when the glass is thin it passes through it increasing the hole. I have sent today to Mr. Gassiot another sample in which many sparks have passed successively.

If you desire other information on this subject, I would find myself very honoured if you would be kind enough to address them to me[.] I have the honour of being with the greatest [word illegible] | Your | totally devoted servant | Ruhmkorff