| Reference number | MS/843/17 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from John Frederick William Herschel, Collingwood, to Edward Sabine |
| Date | 17 May 1862 |
| Description | On the award of the Rumford Medal. Herschel considers that the researches of Joule, Thomson et al are not yet mathematically sound. Professor Tyndall's work falls exactly within the terms of the award and is sufficiently established. Mentions researches in lines of spectra by Sir David Bewster and J H Gladstone, and discusses in detail recent work by Kirchhoff and Bunsen. The latter 'certainly eclipses all that has lately been done on the spectrum'. Suggests that the Copley Medal might be appropriate for Kirchhoff [Bunsen and Kirchhoff were the first Davy Medallists in 1877]. Refers Sabine to Graham's paper on liquid diffusion. |
| Extent | 4p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Access status | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA8238 | Herschel; Sir; John Frederick William (1792 - 1871); astronomer | 1792 - 1871 |
| NA8279 | Sabine; Sir; Edward (1788 - 1883) | 1788 - 1883 |