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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Referee's report by James Clerk Maxwell, on a paper 'On the thermal resistance of liquids' by Frederick Guthrie

Reference number: RR/6/315

Date: 20 April 1869

Description

Recommended for publication in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'. Suggests clarifying and defining the term 'thermal resistance'. Refers to work of Balfour Stewart. Suggests the Proceedings as an alternate place for publication, as the research 'should not be lost to the public'. However, the author's statements about "'arrested heat" and methods of calculation should [not] receive any sanction from the Royal Society as they stand. He should either defend them, modify them or withdraw them'.

Subject: Physics and Chemistry

[Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society]

Reference number
RR/6/315
Earliest possible date
20 April 1869
Physical description
Letter on paper
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

James Clerk Maxwell

View page for James Clerk Maxwell

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Citation

James Clerk Maxwell, Referee's report by James Clerk Maxwell, on a paper 'On the thermal resistance of liquids' by Frederick Guthrie, 20 April 1869, RR/6/315, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_6_315/referees-report-by-james-clerk-maxwell-on-a-paper-on-the-thermal-resistance-of-liquids-by-frederick-guthrie, accessed on 11 July 2025

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_6_315/referees-report-by-james-clerk-maxwell-on-a-paper-on-the-thermal-resistance-of-liquids-by-frederick-guthrie

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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

    View collection