36 LETTEES OF BEEZELIUS 



This is exactly the behaviour of the two liquids first 

 mentioned, a solution of hydrogen and a solution of 

 oxygen or of ordinary atmospheric air. If the water 

 had been actually polarized by the current from the 

 battery, one would of course get a secondary current 

 whether the wires used to close the circuit were of 

 gold or platinum. I have given a detailed account 

 of this subject in several journals, 1 which you will 

 doubtless soon receive, and so it is unnecessary for 

 me to enter into particulars here; but I cannot 

 refrain from making the general remark that my 

 investigations appear to show that the act of 

 chemical combination of the elements is not due to 

 the play of electrical forces, or, in other words, that 

 affinity and electricity are not the same thing, 

 though they are mutually dependent. I am intend- 

 ing soon to develop these views of mine in a separate 

 treatise, and to establish their truth on experimental 

 grounds. 



If I venture to express a doubt as to the truth of 

 the electro-chemical theory, it is in the conviction 

 that its founder would be the last man to blame me 

 for so doing, and I am sure that you will weigh the 

 arguments which I have to bring against it in a 

 spirit of the most perfect impartiality. You are too 

 much inspired by a pure love of science, and you 

 take too high a position in the scientific world, for 

 subordinate considerations to exercise any influence 

 on your judgment. 2 



1 Journal fur prakt. Chemie, vol. xx. (1840) p. 129 [?]. 



2 Cf. Poggend. Annal., vol. xlvi. (1839) p. 336. 



