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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Referee's report by James Clerk Maxwell, on a paper 'On the sensitive state of electrical discharges through rarefied gases' by William Spottiswoode and John Fletcher Moulton, Baron Moulton

Reference number: RR/8/207

Date: 12 June 1879

Description

Recommended for publication in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society'. The paper does not indicate well the progression of thought from the beginning to the end. Suggests adding dates to the experimental discussion, or altering the beginning to show the whole theory. Suggests adding historical details instead of altering the earlier part, to show how and why the authors came to follow the line of research.

Subject: Physics and Chemistry

[Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1879]

Reference number
RR/8/207
Earliest possible date
12 June 1879
Physical description
Letter on paper
Page extent
6 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

James Clerk Maxwell

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Citation

James Clerk Maxwell, Referee's report by James Clerk Maxwell, on a paper 'On the sensitive state of electrical discharges through rarefied gases' by William Spottiswoode and John Fletcher Moulton, Baron Moulton, 12 June 1879, RR/8/207, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_8_207/referees-report-by-james-clerk-maxwell-on-a-paper-on-the-sensitive-state-of-electrical-discharges-through-rarefied-gases-by-william-spottiswoode-and-john-fletcher-moulton-baron-moulton, accessed on 16 September 2024

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  • Referee Reports

    Date: 1832-1949

    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.

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