1856. INSPECTS BLEACH-WORK. 295 



chat with the workpeople. But my stupid body always 

 makes itself disagreeable. On this occasion, after returning 

 much delighted, I lay down on the sofa to reflect on the 

 sights I had witnessed ; but it was soon stopped by cough- 

 ingj and blood blood, crimson blood. This stopped my 

 letter-writing, and compelled quietness, counter irritation, 

 and no more technologizing. I am better, but frail ; and 

 sitting in medical judgment on my own case, I am afraid 

 that I must report myself decidedly lower down the hill 

 than this time last year, and with less of my lungs useful 

 than before. But it's all well ; I am in God's hands. I 

 pray neither to die, nor to live, but to be kept from the evil 

 that is in the world. Jessie and I have had a delightful 

 fortnight of Bible-reading, and talking and meditating, and 

 worshipping, such as you and May can understand. ... I 

 am delighted to hear of your new chemical doings. ... I 

 have given you your new title at the beginning of this 

 scrawl, but I would be glad to know if the following is the 

 correct statement of the matter. If not, you must complain 

 to the Mendicity Society. 



" ' THE BLOOMSBURY DETECTIVES. 



" * On the ist of January, in conformity with John Dalton's 

 Act, Professor Faraday, in the presence of Dr. Hoffman 

 and the Master of the Mint, added three equivalents of the 

 nitro-prusside of sodium to five equivalents of the cobalti- 

 cyanide of potassium, and seven equivalents of the iodide 

 of methylammonium, which were mixed with water and 

 shaken together. On April ist the liquid was examined, 

 and, to the consternation of all parties, the sixty-seventh 

 part of an equivalent of hydrogen was found wanting. In- 

 formation was immediately sent to the different Universities, 

 the British Association, and the French Academy, but up to 



