Text Online
From:
Michael Faraday
To:
Thomas Winkworth
Date:
November - December 1824
Source of text:
WIHM MS FALF
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Faraday Project
No summary available.
Relieved that JH has returned safely from his European tour.
No summary available.
Sending the fourth volume of his own Mécanique céleste; comments on various parts. Work is being done on the figure of the earth.
Encloses differences determined through indications of portable barometer, standard, thermometer, and various other instruments.
JH carried portable barometer by Edward Troughton and thermometer by Mr. Newman to Europe and compared these to instruments used by individual scientists and observatories. Reports results to Board of Longitude.
Has heard that JH has arrived back in England. Sends one of his own papers for his library. Regrets that JH did not call at Paris on his travels. Sends a parcel from P. S. Laplace. Remember him to Charles Babbage.
Settles accounts with Smith, including from Gurney and [John] Latham. Smith will have to reduce 'Tilia' to three species, as Bicheno has found 'T. grandifolia', 'T. parvifolia', and 'T. europaea' in Stokenchurch Woods, proving duplication of species has occured in other works, including Ray and Dillenius; observations. Discussion of 'Rubus rhamnifolius'; glad Smith found [Robert] Brown "so correct", he has just returned from his trip to Italy "much pleased". [Alexander] Macleay is returned from Caithness with his lame son, fears he will always be a "cripple".
[Note in Bicheno's hand] confirms Forster's account of his discovery of three 'Tilia' species in Stokenchurch Woods.
No summary available.
Has just returned from abroad and found his letter of April awaiting him. Hoped to visit Vienna when abroad. Has received money for the clock. Hopes to send his own paper on double stars later. Encloses some papers for distribution. Measured height of Etna when in Italy. Met Josef Fraunhofer and had an instructive discussion with him.
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Charles Babbage communicated [Edward] Smedley's note requesting JH to write an article on 'Heat' and an Introduction to Physical Science. Appears to be some misunderstanding as JH does not wish to write on Heat, no interest in the subject, but is prepared to write on Physical Optics. When will the latter article be required?
Repeat computation for Jupiter's satellite IV [see TY's 1824-4]. Explains W. H. Wollaston's 'blue bow.' See figure 422 of TY's [Lectures on Natural Philosophy].
Thanks TY for books and for taking charge of [G. A. A.] Plana's plates. JH mentioned Eilhard Mitscherlich only when no other proposals came forth. Matter was left hanging. Assures TY that JH was not offended [see TY's 1824-11-21, i.e., #1075]. Regrets 'dilapidated state of scientific matters' in R.S.L.
As R.S.L. vice president, JH should reconsider his report favoring Eilhard Mitscherlich over W. H. Wollaston. This may be last opportunity to pay Wollaston a 'just compliment.' Agrees with JH that much in R.S.L. 'nicknamed science [is] sleight of hand,' and that 'great injustice is done to men of science.' But TY expects a short life and tries not to be concerned about approval of others.
TY would rather have JH's labor made useful another year. W. H. Wollaston does not want [Royal] medal, but medal wants Wollaston. One council member felt that TY's remarks offended JH. Assures JH it was not intended.
Math is flimsy in John Dalton's theory of vapor dispersion, but physical grounds are firm. Sends copy of TY's volume on sound. Modules of elasticity and tension are analogies to explain TY's doctrine. Presently studying modules of elasticity that do not apply to chimney pipes investigated by Daniel Bernoulli and J. H. Lambert.
No summary available.
School at Sedbergh is vacant; please let him know if he wishes to become a candidate. [Miles?] Bland is candidate for a valuable living in Cheshire.