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RefNoMS/123/13
LevelItem
TitleLetter from John Herapath to the Duke of Sussex
Date17 November 1832
DescriptionHerapath reminds the Duke of Sussex that his paper 'On Some New Optical Phenomena' had been read before the Royal Society and blackballed. He has been told that the Duke always wishes 'to do that which is strictly right' and as such is making this private application to the Duke.

Herapath reports that in the Spring of 1830, he had lost a valuable employment through the opposition of the Society. At the recommendation of a member of the Society he had written and presented the paper to the Society in June 1830, and he was assured by this gentleman that it would receive high approbation. Paper extends the discoveries of Knox[?] (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 1818) and corrects his errors. It was hinted that Herapath should withdraw the paper. After writing several times to Mr [Davies] Gilbert [President of the Society from 1827-1830], Mr [Peter Mark] Roget [Secretary of the Society from 1827-1848] and once to the Duke, he was informed on 11 January 1832 that his paper had been blackballed. He was later informed that this had occurred on 26 February 1831 and that the delay in informing him was due to the fact that the Society did not have his address (which Herapath disputes).

Herapath states that the conduct of the Society has thrown odium on him. He asks for the paper to be reconsidered and for any member's objections to be given in writing, with the name of the objector, who shall be accountable to him for their objections.
Extent4p
FormatManuscript
AccessStatusOpen
Fellows associated with this archive
CodePersonNameDates
NA8338Augustus Frederick (1773 - 1843); Duke of Sussex1773 - 1843
NA8707Gilbert; Davies (1767-1839)1767-1839
NA6616Roget; Peter Mark (1779 - 1869); physician and philologist1779 - 1869
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