The printing progressed very well last week; every day I received a new sheet (so that I could correct the proofs). Because of the carnival, this week has yielded nothing for me yet, but I hope that the work will begin again at the same pace, without any interruptions.

Eight days ago, in a simple envelope, I sent you two sheets which had just come off the press. I had intended to put them into the hands of Mr. Fowke and Mr. Davies, who had done me the honor of paying me a visit on the previous day, but I arrived at their hotel two minutes too late; I had just encountered their post-chaise a hundred feet from the hotel.

I enclose four new sheets for you, in which I found two faults that had been overlooked, on pages 58 and 68 (they are to be put in the errata).

Don’t you think that with regard to reversing the poles of a magnetized needle, a positive charge of electricity applied to the south pole, or a negative charge applied to the north pole, should produce the same effect, provided that each charge was sufficiently strong?

Don’t you think that electricity could be used to reverse the poles not just of simple needles, but even of iron rods? And wouldn’t you hope that in this way artificial magnets could be produced, with a force which would be superior to that of all the magnets which have been available until now, as there are no limits to the force that can be derived from electricity?

Wouldn’t you consider it appropriate to acquaint the public with the construction of the little portable electrical appliance that you made for yourself?

I beg you to tell me again which among the different forms of electrical machines you judge to be the simplest, the best, and the most convenient and least tiring to use, if you take into account the wheels and their frame, and the position of the cushion and of the conductor, as well as the glass parts that are flat, spherical, etc. Mr. Dalibard, who has entrusted me with many compliments to give you, can provide me on his own with an easy way to have letters and packages delivered from the French frontier, or from the seaport, to Paris, free of charge. I enclose the instructions he gave me. Please use this method to send me one or more sheets of your new publication at a time (up to four or five sheets at once), as well as the pamphlet of Mr. Du Pont (from whom I also have a thousand compliments to give you, along with the compliments of Monsieur le Marquis de Mirabeau). I believe it will be necessary to pay for the delivery of these packages as far as Dover. I beg you to ascertain whether this is the case, and if so, to be so kind as to advance the cost of the postage for me. I will faithfully settle the account for you, or better still, I will ask Mademoiselle Biheron to reimburse you immediately for each package. I have the honor to be, with an inviolable attachment, Monsieur and dear master, your very humble and very obedient servant