| RefNo | AP/9/21 |
| Level | File |
| Title | Unpublished paper and letters, 'On the variation of the compass' by John Ross |
| Date | [1818] |
| Description | Ross describes the history of compass variation and then recounts his own experiments and observations on compass variation and terrestrial magnetism undertaken aboard HMS Isabella from May-July 1818 and aboard HMS Alexander in July 1818. Preceded by a covering letter from Ross to Sir Joseph Banks and followed by a letter providing further observations from HMS Alexander.
Subject: Geodesy
Communicated by the President [Sir Joseph Banks].
The Royal Society did not publish this paper as Ross planned to include it in a published narrative of his voyages. Ross' narrative was published in 1819: Ross, John. A Voyage of Discovery, made under the orders of the Admiralty, in His Majesty's Ships Isabella and Alexander, for the purpose of exploring Baffin's Bay, and inquiring into the probability of a North-west Passage. Vol. 1. London: Printed by Strahan and Spottiswoode, for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1819. |
| Extent | 14p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| RelatedMaterial | Ross, John. A Voyage of Discovery, made under the orders of the Admiralty, in His Majesty's Ships Isabella and Alexander, for the purpose of exploring Baffin's Bay, and inquiring into the probability of a North-west Passage. Vol. 1. London: Printed by Strahan and Spottiswoode, for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1819. |
| Ross' narrative available in the Royal Society Library: RCN27713 |
| RelatedRecord | AP/9/21/1 |
| AP/9/21/2 |
| AP/9/21/3 |
| AP/9/21/4 |
| AP/9/21/5 |
| AP/9/21/6 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8116 | Banks; Sir; Joseph (1744 - 1820); naturalist | 1744 - 1820 |