WCP504

[1]¹

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Toronto Nov[ember] 14/[19]03

Dr. Alfred R. Wallace

Broadstone Dorset

England

Dear Sir,

I have just finished a paper which was presented before this society on "Radium[,] what is known of it and its bearing on Astronomical Physics." This ^is my excuse for not answering your interesting letter of Oct[ober] 13^th before this.

You speak of Osborne Reynold's² theory of matter and ether. I think I can follow the reasoning, to a certain extent at any rate — though his demonstrations are largely involved in a mass of mathematical equations that may or may not be in error[.] The trend[?] of the theory however [2]³ is apparent. Physisists [sic] generally — you are doubtless aware — regard the theory with some favor [sic]⁴. The explanation offered of the mechanism of light radiation from a centre outward is simple and suggestive. If all the balls are in contact and a central one begins to rotate it is easy to comprehend how a wave disturbance may be propagated outward in every direction and to see why the energy of the out-circuling [sic] shell wave must decrease in intensity — inversely as the square of the distance from [the] origin of the disturbance for any definite portion of the wave front. Perhaps the novelty of manipulating a solid so as to perform formerly impossible feats for a solid, appeals to the "scientific imagination" more strongly and vividly than the apparent difficulties. Speaking for myself however [3]⁵ I must confess to favoring ^{provisionally} some form of a vortex theory in a continuous medium something like that suggested by Kelvin⁶[.]

The facts of radio-activity it seems to me can be best explained thereby (as exhibited by the break-up of the radium "atom"[)] if we suppose the broken-up atom to consist of matter altogether apart from ether[,] and the ions or "γ-ray[s]" to be pure electricity and atoms of it too — and then a continuous ether to exist for the propagation of energy such as light, heat &c. or if we suppose with Lodge⁷ matter to consist of atoms of positive and negative electricity, it seems to me we have only changed the name without getting any clearer idea of what the name stands for. On the other hand if we hypothecate a continuous [4]⁸ medium, or ether, and matter to consists of whirls [sic] or vortices in the medium — which for ordinary velocities is nearly frictionless — and are able out of this to develop elasticity and cohesive forces — it is no great stretch of imagination to suppose the immediate surface of the vortex to be in a special[?] kind of strain differing from the normal ether as well as ^from the nucleus itself, which would constitute the electric charge. again [sic, lower case] as to the break up of a ring Clerke [sic] Maxwell⁹ stated years ago in regard to a vortex ring in such a medium as the ether would appear to be — that "no theory has yet been invented whereby ^{the life of} such an atom could be indefinitely maintain[e]d"¹⁰ but that its energy would be gradually frittered away throughout the ether[.] Now apparently since the intense activity of Radium has developed the fact that probably all material atoms are goin[g] more or less slowly to pieces[.]

This going — ^to — pieces of a vortex can be theoretically followed at any rate[.]

Now as to your own work — have you [5]¹¹ had your book issue[d] as yet?

I see Mr Maunder¹² is after you again in the current number of Knowledge.¹³ I do not understand his reasons for adopting "the devil's advocate" method of treating the subject. As far as I can see I do not comprehend how your corrections of secondary ^{or trifling} errors alters the fact that the solar system is somewhere near the ^geometrical centre of the Milky Way, or how abandoning the idea of stars straying out into the cold of space effects [sic] the fact that but about two % of the total of the stars are of the solar type, or frankly admitting that you do not now claim that gravitation necessarily varies on the outskirts of the universe, effects [sic] the fact that in all probability, the physical conditions on all the planets in the solar system preclude the existance [sic] or continuance of organic [6]¹⁴ life thereon and the imp<osi?>bilty. ^{improbability} that of the two per cent of solar stars, ^any are likely to have planets conditioned exactly as the earth is with [the] intricate and delicate nicety required for organic development[.]

Then too it seems to be out of joint with the facts of astronomical history to attempt to fasten upon you the responsibility of formulating first the consept [sic] of a limited universe[.]

I fancy the most of your critics have been in that ^{state of} mental repose consequent upon the acceptance of the theory that matter is finite and infinite at the same time and in the same sense, and as this proposition is self-contradictory such subjects subjects as you sought to elucidate must remain "forever inscrutable to human cognition" and hense [sic] the impossibility of knowing anything about it, and hense [sic] the audacity of anyone assuming to know that they can know anything about the subject.

If I were not so far away I would be tempted [7]¹⁵ to take a hand in the magazine discussion

It is surprising to note the extent that this "unknowable" doctrine has entered into the philosophy of the day. Many superstitions in the past have been instrumental in delaying progress but all things considered it seems to me that the doctrine of the "domain of the unknowable" has been and is about as great a stumbling block in the path of knowledge as the ban[?] or the index exp<e>rgatorious expurgatorious [sic][.]¹⁶ As a rule the mind that has this idea firmly implanted within rarely discovers anything of value for what is the use of attempting to interpret the inexplicable[.]

Yours very truly | J. R. Collins [signature]

P.S. If you have [the] copy of the report of the [8]¹⁷ Astrophysical and Astronomical Society of America by you and are not using it would you kindly return it to me[.] I endeavored to replace this number but Prof Comstock¹⁸ informs me that it is out of print now. You will remember the report I speak of contained Very's¹⁹ article on star distribution.

J.R.C. [signature]