Page:Lifelettersoffaradayjonesvol1.djvu/33
1811.
Æt. 19-20.
Among the books and subjects which are mentioned in this volume are, 'Description of a Pyropneumatic Apparatus,' and 'Experiments on the Ocular Spectra of Light and Colours,' by Dr. Darwin, from Ackerman's Repository; 'Lightning,' and Electric Fish and Electricity,' from Gentleman's Magazine; 'Meteorolites,' from the Evangelical Magazine; 'Water Spouts,' from the Zoological Magazine; 'Formation of Snow,' from Sturm's Reflections; 'To loosen Glass Stopples, from the Lady's Magazine; 'To convert two Liquids into a Solid,' 'Oxygen Gas,' 'Hydrogen Gas,' 'Nitric and Carbonic Acid Gas,' 'Oxymuriate of Potash,' from Conversations in Chemistry.
'Galvanism:' 'Mr. Davy has announced to the Royal Society a great discovery in chemistry—the fixed alkalies have been decomposed by the galvanic battery,' from Chemical Observer; 'Galvanism and a Description of a Galvanometer,' from the Literary Panorama.
Through Mr. Tatum, Faraday made the acquaintance of Mr. Huxtable, who was then a medical student, and of Mr. Benjamin Abbott, who was a confidential clerk in the city, and belonged to the Society of Friends. Mr. Huxtable lent him the third edition of 'Thomson's Chemistry,' and 'Parkes's Chemistry:' this Faraday bound for his friend. The earliest note of Faraday's that is known to exist was written this year to Mr. Huxtable. It shows a little of the fun and much of the gentleness of his writing at this time:—
Dear Sir,—Tit for tat, says the proverb; and it is