Faraday to Peter Henry Berthon   15 February 1864

Royal Institution | 15 Feby 1864

Sir

I have received & examined samples of White and Red lead¹ with the following results White lead S and W Tudor

“Do <-> Pontifex and Wood

No adulterative substance or make weight that I can discover has been added to either of them and as far as I can judge as regards their manufacture they are unexceptionable. I have not estimated the quantity of oil in them. The difference is small & in fact, when a specimen has stood some time in a given position there is more difference between a part from the bottom and another from the top than there is between two different specimens such as those sent me.

There were five specimens of ground Red lead namely

W. Clerke²

P[ilcher]. and J[eremiah].

W.A. Rose³

Level Franks & Co⁴.

T.H. [sic] Smiths⁵

These were all very much alike in their characters & quality. I could find no adulteration in any of them and have reason to believe they are all unexceptionable

Some delay has occurred in my reply to your letter but I have been seriously ill during the past cold season. Dr Bence Jones my (Medical friend) ascribes some of my loss of power to the severe attack of sea sickness which I had between Dover and Dungeness and forbids me from going to sea again⁶[.]

Ever My dear Sir | Very Truly Yours | M. Faraday⁷

P.H. Berthon Esqr | &c &c &c