Letter from Arthur Schuster, on a paper 'A comparative study of the spectra, densities and melting points of some groups of elements and of the relation of properties to atomic mass' by Hugh Ramage to Joseph Larmor

Description

Sectional Committee: [Physics and chemistry]

In writing out the report on the paper, he tried to think what he would do if one of his students brought him something of the same nature. He would undoubtedly ask him to shorten it and publish it, but he would not send it to the Royal Society. Still thinks a good deal of the paper should be published but Philosophical Transactions is not quite the right place. He thinks they would all agree on this were it not for the diagrams. Knowing that a good many of these discussions turn on printing diagrams, he makes it his practice as referee always to read the paper completely before looking at any figures. If he understands the paper he concludes the diagrams are not necessary; which is what happened in this instance.

Feels inclined to let the paper be published in the Proceedings and not to cut him down too much. The diagrams might perhaps be simplified so as to be reducible to the proper size, but if Larmor would like to give the author the benefit of the doubt and publish the paper in Philosophical Transactions, he will not stand in his way. Agrees with Larmor about Rydberg. Advises Larmor not to be influenced by what other Committees are doing on the same Committee in other subjects.

[Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1902].

Reference number

RR/15/245

Earliest possible date

20 December 1901

Physical description

Letter on paper

Page extent

4 pages

Format

Manuscript