34
account in a newspaper, at Trent, on the 3rd of August, 1802. It began thus: “II signore Consigliere Giandomenico Romagnosi si affretta a comunicare ai Fisici dell’ Europa uno sperimento relativo al fluido galvanico applicato al magnetismo.”
I found that Baron Schilling, immediately after his return to Munich, in 1815, communicated to Soemmerring the little book: “Manuel du Galvanisme,” by Joseph Izarn, Professor of natural philosophy at the Lycée Bonaparte, which had been printed in Paris in 1805, and in which, on page 120, in § ix., mention is made of Romagnosi’s discovery. I have also seen a note from Soemmerring, mentioning that he had read this treatise with attention. I came, however, to the conclusion that neither to Soemmerring, nor to Baron Schilling, had any idea of a practical application of Romagnosi’s observation presented itself, particularly as no rapid motion of the needle had been pointed out.
In the autumn of 1820, Soemmerring had decided to leave Munich for good, and to reside the rest of his life in his favourite place, Frankfort; he went there on the 13th October.
Letters show that the cordial friendship between him
