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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Unpublished paper, 'The principal substance of Bush's system of natural philosophy collected into as few words as possible' by Edwd [Edward] Bush

Reference number: AP/10/3

Date: 29 January 1822

Description

Bush lists his 17 fundamental principles of natural philosophy, mostly relating to light. His principles include that matter is made up of 'minute impenetrable spherical particles', that light is a sensation, and that light is the cause of celestial motion and the rotation of the sun.

Subject: Natural Philosophy / Physics

Written by Bush at no 5 Bath Street, Hackey Road [London].

Reference number
AP/10/3
Earliest possible date
29 January 1822
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
7 pages
Format
Manuscript

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Citation

Unpublished paper, 'The principal substance of Bush's system of natural philosophy collected into as few words as possible' by Edwd [Edward] Bush, 29 January 1822, AP/10/3, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_10_3/unpublished-paper-the-principal-substance-of-bushs-system-of-natural-philosophy-collected-into-as-few-words-as-possible-by-edwd-edward-bush, accessed on 09 May 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_10_3/unpublished-paper-the-principal-substance-of-bushs-system-of-natural-philosophy-collected-into-as-few-words-as-possible-by-edwd-edward-bush

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  • Archived Papers

    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    Dates: 1768 - 1989

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