4

•\

— 354 —

To this paper Faraday addcd the following note:

(In relation to the peculiar circumstances under whichoxygen and nitrogen corabine, it may be worth while here torcfer to the rcsults obtained by Dr. Bence Jones (Phil. Trans. 1851,p. 407, etc.), where the direct union of these gases in all casesof combustion in air is described. 1 Schcenbein's results dependupon evaporation. — M. F.)

ms

Faraday to Schcenbein.The Green Hampton Court 22 April 1862MY DEAR FR1END

I reeeived } 7 ours a weck or two ago and was somuch Struck with the philosophic matter in it, that I sent it offat once to the Phil. Mag., so that I have not your lettcr withme, nor have I the power of ascertaining (being here) whenI wrote to you last. I did not think it had been long ago,but I know that after a month or five wecks, [ lose all countof the interval of time. I am glad you do not forget me andI thank you heartily for reproving me, but alas that does notmend the matter, i. e. the memory, and you must just bearwith nie whilst I go 011 failing.

I have not made Nitrite from the atmosphere yet, by yourmethod, but the paper you sent me astonishes me by its power,when tested. I think that discovery very great. You areindeed a wonderful man and a great encouragement to all

1 Dr. Bence Jones in 1851 published Ms researches on nitriBcation whichwe can summarize as follows: 1. That the action of oxygen takos place in thebody, not only on hydrogen, carbon, sulphur, phosphorus, but also on nitrogen.2. That in all cases of combustion, if ammonia be present, it will be convertedpartly into nitric aeid. 3. That the nitrogen of the air is not indifferent inordinary cases of combustion, but it gives rise to minute quantities of nitricaeid (see also Phil. Mag. 1851. p. 726).