William Tayleur to Faraday¹   1839 or after

Sir

As I have very often been one of your hearers at the Royal Institution of which I am a member, I am induced to believe that you will permit me to apply to you as my instructor. I have been dabbling a little in experiments and fancy I have hit upon a new fact which might be in some degree interesting; it is the production of a very feeble current of electricity from a magnet without mechanical motion either of the magnet itself or of any metal near it. I am quite aware that there is nothing new in electricity from a magnet, but I suppose any variety in the mode of obtaining it might be thought curious, and I believe it has not before been done without motion. Knowing how easily an impractical experimenter is deceived, I can not be confident either that I have obtained such a result as I imagine, or that, if so, it is worth communicating. I enclose a paper containing an account of it in the hope that you will have the goodness to look at it and let me know your opinion. Should you have no time to do so, or should you think this request from a stranger impertinent you will please to throw the paper into the fire.

I am, Sir, | Your obedient humble servant | William Tayleur

58 Jermyn Street | Feby. 14th

Watermark: 1839