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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter from William Crawford Williamson, to George Gabriel Stokes, regarding a paper 'On the organization of the fossil plants of the coal-measures.—Part XI' by William Crawford Williamson

Reference number: RR/8/268

Date: 31 October 1881

Description

Is surprised at not understanding what the referees wanted. Is amused that the referees condem his verbose style, while commentators in Europe praise his exactitude and clear descriptions. 'On this point I will only add that each man's style is his own, good or bad, and that to alter it materially is almost as difficult as altering the shape of his features or the tones of his voice'. Cannot add reference marks to the illustrations as they have now been printed. Considers the rferees to be systematic rather than morphological or physiological botanists. Considers the referees ignorant to have forgotten his earlier memoirs on the subject. Would be glad to have the referee visit to see his specimens. Is prepared to make minor alterations to the paper, but not conduct a re-write. Regarding the parts of specimens determined to be important or not 'I am more competent to judge than your referees are'.

Subject: Botany, Geology, Palaeontology

[Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society], 1881

Reference number
RR/8/268
Earliest possible date
31 October 1881
Physical description
Letter on paper
Page extent
6 pages
Format
Manuscript

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Citation

Letter from William Crawford Williamson, to George Gabriel Stokes, regarding a paper 'On the organization of the fossil plants of the coal-measures.—Part XI' by William Crawford Williamson, 31 October 1881, RR/8/268, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_8_268/letter-from-william-crawford-williamson-to-george-gabriel-stokes-regarding-a-paper-on-the-organization-of-the-fossil-plants-of-the-coal-measurespart-xi-by-william-crawford-williamson, accessed on 14 May 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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