Page:Lifelettersoffaradayjonesvol1.djvu/37

1812.
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Æt. 20-1.

good things, can be made to suffer an abuse, but that is no effectual argument against its good effects.

······ 'On looking back, I find, dear A., that I have filled two pages with very uninteresting matter, and was intending to go on with more, had I not suddenly been stopped by the lower edge of the paper. This circumstance (happily for you, for I should have put you to sleep else) has "called back my wand'ring thoughts;" and I will now give you what I at first intended this letter should be wholly composed of—philosophical information and ideas.

'I have lately made a few simple galvanic experiments, merely to illustrate to myself the first principles of the science. I was going to Knight's to obtain some nickel, and bethought me that they had malleable zinc. I inquired and bought some—have you seen any yet? The first portion I obtained was in the thinnest pieces possible—observe, in a flattened state. It was, they informed me, thin enough for the electric stick, or, as I before called it, De Luc's electric column. I obtained it for the purpose of forming discs, with which and copper to make a little battery. The first I completed contained the immense number of seven pairs of plates!!! and of the immense size of halfpence each!!!!!!

'I, Sir, I my own self, cut out seven discs of the size of halfpennies each! I, Sir, covered them with seven halfpence, and I interposed between, seven, or rather six, pieces of paper soaked in a solution of muriate of soda!!! But laugh no longer, dear A.; rather wonder at the effects this trivial power produced. It was sufficient to produce the decomposition of sulphate