WCP2818

[1]¹

NOTTING HILL GATE STATION.

30, Ledbury Road,

Bayswater,

London, W.

March 26, 1903

My dear Sir

I have much pleasure in sending you a copy of the paper to which you refer, and of a note on the evidence that helium is still escaping from the Earth's atmosph^re.

I had intended [2] writing in references to the conclusion inference drawn by my friend Prof^r Bryan² from the data usually employed in the mathematical investigation of the Kinetic Theory of Gas; from wh he supposed that the rate of escape cannot be sufficient to produce a sensible [3] escape of helium from the Earth.

This inference is quite correctly drawn from the data he employs, and as it the conclusion to wh it leads is erroneous as is shown in the enclosed note on the behaviour of helium; mu there must be a mistake somewhere in his data.

Where this mistake is [4] can with considerable probability be pointed out, but I am so pressed with other work that I have not time today to discuss it in this letter, and do not like to delay sending you the enclosed papers. Perhaps in a few days I may have more leisure.

Believe me | very faithfully yours | G. Johnstone Stoney³ [signature]

Alfred R Wallace Esq