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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to Henry Kater, dated at Southampton

Reference number: HS/21/25

Date: 1 August 1828

Description

Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Comments on a paper about differential calculus, prepared by Mr. Knight, which John Frederick William Herschel confesses he does not understand. Adds some astronomical observations John Frederick William Herschel made at Slough before leaving there, and noting the appearance of J. F. Encke's Berlin Ephemeris concludes with 'England is fated to lag in the rear of all her neighbours—at least in science.'

Reference number
HS/21/25
Earliest possible date
1 August 1828
Page extent
4 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 Henry Kater, dated at Southampton, 1 August 1828, HS/21/25, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_21_25/copy-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-henry-kater-dated-at-southampton, accessed on 06 December 2024

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    Dates: 1807-1875

    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.

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