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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to James David Forbes, dated at Slough

Reference number: HS/21/124

Date: 7 December 1832

Description

Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Gives James Forbes permission to use John Frederick William Herschel's letter to James Forbes's brother in any way James Forbes sees fit to obtain the Chair of Natural Philosophy (at Edinburgh), but still does not wish directly to promote James Forbes's selection. Briefly discusses results of James Forbes's experiments with the actinometer.

Reference number
HS/21/124
Earliest possible date
7 December 1832
Page extent
3 pages
Format
Manuscript
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Creator name

John Frederick William Herschel

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Citation

John Frederick William Herschel, Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to James David Forbes, dated at Slough, 7 December 1832, HS/21/124, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_21_124/copy-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-james-david-forbes-dated-at-slough, accessed on 15 December 2025

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_21_124/copy-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-james-david-forbes-dated-at-slough

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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