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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Referee's report by George Biddell Airy, on a paper 'On the degree of uncertainty which local attraction, if not allowed for, occasions in the map of a country, and in the mean figure of the Earth as determined by geodesy: a method of obtaining the mean figure free from ambiguity, from a comparison of the Anglo-Gallic, Russian, and Indian arcs: and speculations on the constitution of the Earth’s crust' by John Henry Pratt

Reference number: RR/5/205

Date: 08 April 1864

Description

Recommended for publication in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'. Has spent longer reviewing this paper than any previously, and with less satisfaction. Finds parts of the paper obscure. Thinks that this is a first draft of the manuscript, in which the author has become confused during writing. Wonders whether the methods used in the paper are better than those used by the Ordnance Survey. Sees no value in the paper. Suggests it may be more suited for the Philosophical Magazine, and wishes it had not been offered to the Royal Society. 'This is not the first time that I have entertained that wish, as regards the Archdeacon Pratt's [John Henry Pratt] papers'. Suggests that a second opinion be sought. Sends the manuscript to White [?].

Subject: Physics and Chemistry

[Published in the 'Proceedings of the Royal Society of London', 1864]

Reference number
RR/5/205
Earliest possible date
08 April 1864
Physical description
Letter on paper
Page extent
6 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

George Biddell Airy

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Citation

George Biddell Airy, Referee's report by George Biddell Airy, on a paper 'On the degree of uncertainty which local attraction, if not allowed for, occasions in the map of a country, and in the mean figure of the Earth as determined by geodesy: a method of obtaining the mean figure free from ambiguity, from a comparison of the Anglo-Gallic, Russian, and Indian arcs: and speculations on the constitution of the Earth’s crust' by John Henry Pratt, 08 April 1864, RR/5/205, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_5_205/referees-report-by-george-biddell-airy-on-a-paper-on-the-degree-of-uncertainty-which-local-attraction-if-not-allowed-for-occasions-in-the-map-of-a-country-and-in-the-mean-figure-of-the-earth-as-determined-by-geodesy-a-method-of-obtaining-the-mean-figure-free-from-ambiguity-from-a-comparison-of-the-anglo-gallic-russian-and-indian-arcs-and-speculations-on-the-constitution-of-the-earths-crust-by-john-henry-pratt, accessed on 16 March 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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