THE LETTERS OF 



BERZELIUS AND SCHONBEIN 



SCHONBEIN spent the winter of 1827-28 in Paris, whither 

 he had gone like so many men of various nationalities 

 at that time to complete his studies. He had been a 

 science master in a school at Epsom and had acquired 

 a thorough knowledge of English. About this time a 

 French edition of Berzelius' Ldrbok i Kemien was pub- 

 lished. In an undated letter which I have before me 

 in draft only, but which was probably written in 

 November 1827, Schonbein writes to Koller, a friend 

 and countryman of his, who was a bookseller in London, 

 as follows : " Now as to a proposal which I have no 

 doubt you will accept. You are probably aware that 

 among chemists Berzelius is one of the leading lights of 

 the age, and that his textbook of chemistry, which, how- 

 ever, will not be completed before next year, is a classical 

 work. Three volumes have already appeared ; the fourth 

 and concluding one is expected soon. Now England 

 actually does not at present possess such a book ; and 

 since Berzelius is undoubtedly held in great esteem in 

 this country and his book is superior to any in Europe 

 in originality and exhaustive treatment of its subject, a 



