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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Correspondence Explorer

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Showing 9 letters from 1903–1909

9 letters from William Napier Shaw; 0 letters from Joseph Larmor

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Shaw encloses copies of correspondence concerning the observations from the Antarctic Expedition, which he is sending to the Royal Society given their responisibility for the publication of the results. Enclosed arew two pages of printed copies of correspondence, with Meteorological Office numbers. The letters are between the Meteorological Office and the Foreign Office and German Embassy, concerning the tabulation of the meteorological records.

Reference number: CD/118/2

Shaw offers to write a notice [presumably an obituary] for [James] Glaisher. Also thanks Larmor for his note about the Antarctic expedition work. Shaw believes the matter needs thinking over carefully given large amount of work involved.

Reference number: CD/118/3

Asks Larmor if he has time to meet and discuss the Antarctic observations. Discusses the request for data from the German Government, and notes that if they get any data from them then the Antarctic Committee would need to consider what to do with it. Also notes that he has 'heard nothing' from J W L [James Whitbread Lee] Glaisher.

Reference number: CD/118/5

Shaw states that a person should be appointed with a definite plan for how the meteorological observations from the Antarctic expedition should be dealt with. Shaw fears he would not have enough time to devote to it, but the Meteorological Office does have the machinery required for the 'mechanical part of the process', and does not want the work to drift into a 'dead lock'.

Reference number: CD/118/6
1904

The Meteorological Council cannot accept responsibility for preparing the meterorological results of the Antarctic Expedition, but if a guarantee for payment of expenses to £500 could be made they will facilitate the work. They offer to arrange the reduction, tabulation and plotting of the meteorological observations, to prepare a report on those observations, and to prepare the synoptic charts requested by the German authorities. The work will need to be overseen be a competent person, with £100 provided as renumeration. The cost of the associated clerical work will be an additional £400. The Meteorological Office is 'fully occupied with work that cannot be postponed or set aside', which necessitates the additional clerical costs. The magnetic observations are being dealt with by the Admiralty and it is urgent that provisions are made for the handling of the meteorological data as well. Shaw offers to take this proposal to the Meteorological Council, and points out that they are likely to require all observations and records to be handed over and no preliminary partial publication should take place. Once the work is nearing completion 'it will be necessary for the Societies to ascertain how the cost of publication should be met'.

Reference number: CD/117/2

Regarding the Meteorological Council undertaking work on the meteorological observations from the Antarctic Expedition. The Council suggests a meeting between Shaw and the Royal Society committee to discuss the particulars.

Reference number: CD/117/4
1905

Requesting a communication from the Royal Society to the Controller of H M Stationery Office, to inform him that the results of the Antarctic Expedition will be published among the Meteorological Office publications.

Reference number: CD/117/9
1909

Shaw has received a request from H T [Hartley Travers] Ferrar for the return of some observations and meteorological records from the National Antarctic Expedition. Shaw is forwarding the originals to the Royal Society, with the understanding that they will be sent to Ferrar. A note in the left margin confirms these were 'Forwarded to Mr. Ferrar Jan 21, 1909'.

Reference number: MS/591/2/1

Forwarding a copy of correspondance with [Hartley Travers] Ferrar, who has noted a discrepency in the printed records of the 'Discovery' expedition.

Reference number: MS/591/2/2