From Michael Faraday   5 November 1853

My dear Henslow

I send you first a bottle containing Sodium. If it is turbid (the liquid) when you get it, let it rest quietly & the liquid will become clear & you will see some of the globules of sodium as metals very well I think – Do not open the bottle – or the preparation will be spoiled – it is 30 years or more old.

As for Potassium I have been in the habit in lecture of putting a moderately clear piece about the size of a pea between two thick glass plates then pressing the plates together with a little lateral motion added till the potassium is spread out as large as a shilling and holding the plates together with clips of bent copper. [pen sketch of plates] Somewhere the potassium will show itself metallic & keep so under the glass for some hours.

As to the wires – there is some fine copper [underlined by JSH] drawn to 1/350 of an inch – some fine platina[underlined by JSH] drawn to 1/216 of inch – 2 vials of platina in silver the platina being 1/1000 and 1/2000 of inch If you hold the ends of these in the side of a candle flame you may melt down the silver & show the platina as the specimens will show you– The platina is then best shown to a company by letting it glow as an ignited body in the flame only the 1/2000 will melt in the candle unless care be taken.

There are also two cards containing like specimens of platina the 1/10000 1/20000 1/30000 of an inch in diameter - Here you want a glass to see them

I have put in some pieces of Gilt silver wire & silver copper wire but here the covering metal is thick – I cannot get at any others

I must ask you to return the Sodium* the *fine wires on cards & *reel – I am sorry I cannot leave them with you

Ever my dear Henslow| yours truly | M. Faraday

I send this note by Post & the other things by as a packet by the rail MF