| RefNo | MS/603/1/177 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from G H [George Hartley] Bryan, Plas Gwyn, Bangor, N. Wales, to Sir George Darwin |
| Creator | Bryan; George Hartley (1864-1928); Irish mathematician |
| Date | 28 January 1908 |
| Description | He asks why Darwin does not make an application to the University for assistance in selecting candidates for the Smith's Prize. Previous practice is out of keeping with the current, more specialised state of mathematical knowledge. Senate and Court would not expect them to examine dissertations without assistance from a duly appointed paid referee. The University of Cambridge could not refuse his strong claim. Candidates could not be expected to write an essay on the subject chosen by Mr. Follett without some advice. Bryan discusses Follett's case, saying he did not see the essay before it was sent in. The formulae were unknown to Bryan before Darwin sent the essay to him. The equations and conclusions deduced by Follett forwards their knowledge of statistical thermodynamics and he hopes there will be further discusion on the subject. He highlights one conclusion, stating that it is a Newtonian field, 'This is probably the explanation of certain astronomical phenomena in particular the absence of any resemblance between the cosmic universe & a system of gas molecules'. |
| Extent | 7p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA1659 | Bryan; George Hartley (1864 - 1928); applied mathematician | 1864 - 1928 |