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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

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

Reference number: HS/24/59

Date: 25 August 1864

Description

Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Thanks William Thomson for paper on rigidity of the earth; agrees tidal action affects not only fluid motion of earth, but the solid as well. Mentions John Frederick William Herschel's paper of the previous year suggesting that tidal waves cause earthquakes. Raises questions about the idea of the earth as a magnet and about William Thomson's dynamical theory of heat.

Reference number
HS/24/59
Earliest possible date
25 August 1864
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 of letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Thomson, dated at Collingwood, 25 August 1864, HS/24/59, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_24_59/copy-of-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-william-thomson-dated-at-collingwood, accessed on 10 September 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

    View collection