From Edward Sabine   February 24. '52

February 24. ‘52 | 11. Old Burlington S^t

Dear Sir –

I have read the paper which you sent me¹ with much interest. It is perfectly clear & intelligible at first reading. but I think that when read at the R.S. (which is I suppose your intention) it should have the diagrams exhibited in a larger scale. It would perhaps be difficult to follow the description of the apparatus; but it is most clearly understood with the diagrams.

On the first perusal I received the impression that you viewed the existence of forces as wholly abstract from matter – matter being merely an accident which made us acquainted with the presence of forces by being susceptible of being acted upon by them – If such be supposed in the case of Magnetic forces, it would not be an analogous force to Gravitation. A Body placed midway between Earth & Moon would make us see that a force of Gravitation existed there, & would be analogous to the piece of soft iron between the poles of a magnet – But the origin of the force of gravitation is in the attractive quality with which matter is endowed, without the existence of matter there would I suppose be no force of Gravitation; so without the existence of matter there would I suppose be no magnetic force.

On a second perusal I think I inferred more distinctly that the abstraction referred to was by no means to be implied – that, (still keeping in view the analogy of the forces) your view is that as Gravitation (independent of the distance) is dependant on density so is Magnetism on Molecular arrangement; and, subordinately, not on the particular form of the ultimate particles.

I have forwarded your paper to the R.S. – this is your wish I believe.

Sincerely yours | Edward Sabine

RI MS JT/1/S/9