Park Square
12 May 1828
My dear Sir
It happens by a singular fatality that while I am in hopes of obtaining from you a valuable fragment of literature, I should have to apply to you for a no less valuable fragment of profound science
Mr. Herschel 1 informs me that you are in possession of a demonstration of the remarkable theorem by which the late Mr. Fraunhofer 2 deduced the discontinuous colours of his spectra from the laws of interference: and as I am too lazy, or perhaps too busy, or too ignorant to attempt to make it out for myself, I should be much obliged if you would favour me with a sight of it: concluding, as I do from Herschel’s expression, that it has not been published –
Believe me Dear sir very sincerely yours
Thomas Young
W. H. Fox Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Please cite as “TALBOT1672,” in Ɛpsilon: accessed on