Faraday to Peter Henry Berthon   28 February 1865

28 Feby 1865

Sir

I write in answer to yours of the 21st¹ though somewhat late and somewhat imperfectly; but my action has been interfered with this last week; I hope I am not too late.

As to the red leads (five in number) they were all very much alike in their character & quality[.] I could find no adulteration in any of them & have reason to believe they are all unexceptionable:- but I do not pretend to judge of them as an adept only as a chemist[.]

With respect to the two white leads it is not so, and I must examine & compare them again. The one labled [sic] Pontifex & Wood is chemically good & pure: the other labled S & W Tudor differs from the first & has another body than carbonate of lead added to it: but I will write when I become more steadfast about them²[.]

I am Sir | Yours Very faithfully | M. Faraday

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