38 LETTERS OF BERZELIUS 



Naturf orschenden Gesellschaf t in Basel," also, " Mittel 

 und Hauptresultate aus meteorologischen Beobacht- 

 ungen in Basel," by Peter Merian, which you were 

 kind enough to send to it. I am instructed to 

 express to you their gratitude. The papers have 

 been deposited in the library of the Academy. With 

 the assurance of my utmost regard, 



I have the honour, Sir, to remain, 



Your very humble servant, 



JAC. BEEZELIUS. 



P.S. I must thank you on my own behalf for the 

 number of the Transactions of the Swiss Association 

 for the Advancement of Science of their meeting at 

 Bale in 1838, which you were kind enough to send 

 me, and also for the very friendly letter, in which 

 you stated the reasons which induced you to ascribe 

 hydroelectric phenomena to the play of chemical 

 affinities. This is also the opinion which Mr. Faraday 

 arrived at after his long series of researches on the 

 subject 1 ; and it certainly is the opinion which 

 suggests itself at first sight. I dare say you are 

 aware that I do not adhere to it, and I am always 

 waiting for some of the physicists who hold the so- 

 called chemical theory to explain by this hypothesis 

 in a satisfactory manner the chemical phenomena 

 brought about by the electric current, as for example 

 the reduction of potash ; for a theory which fails 

 to give any distinct or logical explanation of the 

 chemical decompositions produced by the electrical 



1 Phil. Mag., i. 16 (1840) p. 336. 



