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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Sir John Herschel to Mary Somerville, dated at Collingwood

Reference number: HS/16/372

Date: 11 April 1865

Description

Autograph letter signed by sender. Comments on the political change within Italy. Answers questions about spectrum analysis, spectra of nebulae, and [solar] 'willow leaves.' Says the view of universe as a collection of billiard balls is problematic. Includes postscript from John Frederick William Herschel's daughter Bella describing family events.

Reference number
HS/16/372
Earliest possible date
11 April 1865
Page extent
5 pages
Format
Manuscript
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Creator name

John Frederick William Herschel

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Citation

John Frederick William Herschel, Letter, from Sir John Herschel to Mary Somerville, dated at Collingwood, 11 April 1865, HS/16/372, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_16_372/letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-mary-somerville-dated-at-collingwood, accessed on 25 March 2025

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  • Herschel Letters

    This collection of nearly 10,900 letters, drafts, copies and notes is the largest repository of scientific correspondence from and to Sir John Herschel, leading figure of Victorian science.

    Dates: 1807 - 1875

    View collection