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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, 'On Melvill's optical paper in the Philosophical Transactions' from Alexis Claude Clairaut to Thomas Birch

Reference number: L&P/2/526

Date: 30 June 1754

Description

Subject: Physics

Published in Philosophical Transactions, as 'A letter from Monsieur Clairaut, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, and F. R. S. to Thomas Birch, D. D. Secret. R. S. containing a comparison between the notions of M. de Courtivron and Mr. Melvil, concerning the difference of refrangibility of the rays of light'

Read 4 July 1754

Reference number
L&P/2/526
Earliest possible date
30 June 1754
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Alexis Claude Clairaut

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Citation

Alexis Claude Clairaut, Letter, 'On Melvill's optical paper in the Philosophical Transactions' from Alexis Claude Clairaut to Thomas Birch, 30 June 1754, L&P/2/526, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/l-and-p_2_526/letter-on-melvills-optical-paper-in-the-philosophical-transactions-from-alexis-claude-clairaut-to-thomas-birch, accessed on 20 May 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/l-and-p_2_526/letter-on-melvills-optical-paper-in-the-philosophical-transactions-from-alexis-claude-clairaut-to-thomas-birch

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  • Letters and Papers

    'Letters and Papers' contains the scientific correspondence sent to the Royal Society through the 18th century, many of which were published in its journal.

    Dates: 1741 - 1806

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