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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Referee's report by George Downing Liveing, on a paper 'Total eclipse of the sun observed at Caroline Island, on 6th May, 1883' by William de Wiveleslie Abney

Reference number: RR/10/5

Date: 28 July 1887

Description

Not recommended for publication in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'. The paper 'is a most extraordinary jumble, and the style worse than slipshod'. The apparatus is described three times, in a contradictory way. Suggests the paper be re-written. The extract from Lieutenant Quathough's report is insufficient. Suggests including a description of the programme of works. Wonders 'who would trust a record of observations compiled in [such a] slovenly way?'

Subject: Astronomy

[Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1889]

Reference number
RR/10/5
Earliest possible date
28 July 1887
Physical description
Letter on paper
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

George Downing Liveing

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Citation

George Downing Liveing, Referee's report by George Downing Liveing, on a paper 'Total eclipse of the sun observed at Caroline Island, on 6th May, 1883' by William de Wiveleslie Abney, 28 July 1887, RR/10/5, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_10_5/referees-report-by-george-downing-liveing-on-a-paper-total-eclipse-of-the-sun-observed-at-caroline-island-on-6th-may-1883-by-william-de-wiveleslie-abney, accessed on 23 April 2025

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  • Referee Reports

    This collection contains reports on scientific papers submitted for publication to the Royal Society. Started in 1832 when the system was formalised, it is a record of the origins of peer review publishing in practice.

    Dates: 1832 - 1954

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