Phillips on the Oil Quest ion. 333 



by him in his evidence, and you have supplied the omission by 

 stating him to have said that he measured the oil ; — but his 

 words are {Trial, p. 147) " I put in about 33 gallons of whale 

 oil." It is evident either that he spoke from memory, or without 

 having measured the oil ; and yet you, for the purpose of blast- 

 ing this man's character, alter his evidence given to the best 

 of his belief, into |>ositive evidence. 



In p. 106 of the Reply, you say, " Having mentioned the 

 name of Mr. Faraday, it is but justice to that gentleman to 

 state that he had the good sense and the virtue to resist all 

 solicitations to become one of the party," viz., the Associates ; 

 I therefore addressed the following letter to Mr. Faraday, and 

 received the annexed answer : 



Dear Faraday, 



Mr. Parkes, iuhis" Aduitional Observations on the Oil Question," 

 has extolled your " good sense and virtue for having resisted all solici- 

 tations to become one of the party" who replied to him. I will therefore 

 tdank you to inform me, whether, if such solicitations were resisted by 

 you, it arose from any alteration in your opinion as to the danger of heat- 

 ing by means of oil, the nature of the changes which it undergoes by heat, 

 or as to the accuracy of the experiments made by yourself, or conjointly 

 with others ? 



Yours, very sincerely, ■ 



June 3d, 1821. R. Phillips. 



Royal Institution, June 5th, 1821, 

 Dear Phillips, 



In answer to j'our questions I have to state, that I have not been 

 solicited to become one of the party; and that I remember only one 

 occasion on which it was proposed to me to write in answer to Mr. Parkes's 

 observations. I have also to state, that my sole reason for not writing, 

 was disapprobation of controversy, and an opiniou that it rarely con- 

 vinces of error or answers any good purpose ; and finally, that my 

 opinion, with regard to the nature of the process, and the changes that 

 take place in the oil, during the heating of it, as well as of the accuracy 

 of the experiments that have been made, and on which that opinion was 

 founded, not only remains unchanged, but is strengthened by my sub- 

 sequent experience. 



I am, dear Sir, 



Yours, very truly, 



M. Faiiadav. 



