Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy of draft letter, from Sir John Herschel to George Biddell Airy, dated at Collingwood

Reference number: HS/24/256

Date: 8 May 1869

Description

Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Has read the syllabus of George Biddell Airy's lectures on magnetism; it reminds John Frederick William Herschel of his attempt to solve the problem of 'Mahomet's coffin', which John Frederick William Herschel still believes would work.

Reference number
HS/24/256
Earliest possible date
8 May 1869
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript
Also available on Epsilon
View Also available on Epsilon (external link, opens in new tab)

Creator name

John Frederick William Herschel

View page for John Frederick William Herschel

Use this record

IIIF manifest

View​ IIIF ​ manifest Opens in new tab

Open in Mirador viewer Opens in new tab

Export this record

Download PDF Opens in new tab

Citation

John Frederick William Herschel, Copy of draft letter, from Sir John Herschel to George Biddell Airy, dated at Collingwood, 8 May 1869, HS/24/256, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_24_256/copy-of-draft-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-george-biddell-airy-dated-at-collingwood, accessed on 09 February 2026

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_24_256/copy-of-draft-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-george-biddell-airy-dated-at-collingwood

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/hs_24_256/copy-of-draft-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-george-biddell-airy-dated-at-collingwood" title="Copy of draft letter, from Sir John Herschel to George Biddell Airy, dated at Collingwood" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Related Records

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

Map

Explore the collection

  • 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