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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

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

Reference number: HS/24/183

Date: 17 January 1867

Description

Copy of a letter. Thanks William Selwyn for describing Aristotle's and Richard Whately's observation of the great sensitivity of the eye's lateral portion. Congratulates William Selwyn on becoming Dean of Norwich. Draft discusses miracles and lists possible arguments against William Selwyn's idea that miracles are not a violation of nature

Reference number
HS/24/183
Earliest possible date
17 January 1867
Page extent
1 page
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 Selwyn, dated at Collingwood, 17 January 1867, HS/24/183, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_24_183/copy-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-william-selwyn-dated-at-collingwood, accessed on 10 December 2025

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_24_183/copy-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-william-selwyn-dated-at-collingwood

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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