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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Wallace, dated at Collingwood

Reference number: HS/22/72

Date: 16 December 1840

Description

Copy of a letter. Gratified by William Wallace's volume. Recalls John Frederick William Herschel's catenary theorems. Writes function to complete theory of exponential transcendents. William Wallace's applications have greater practical bearing than John Frederick William Herschel's early efforts, which John Frederick William Herschel now finds difficult to decipher. Sorry that William Wallace declared Mr. Gilbert's tables defective.

Reference number
HS/22/72
Earliest possible date
16 December 1840
Page extent
2 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 William Wallace, dated at Collingwood, 16 December 1840, HS/22/72, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_22_72/copy-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-william-wallace-dated-at-collingwood, accessed on 10 March 2026

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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

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