| Reference number | NLB/43/543 |
| Alternative reference number | NLB/43 p331 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Copy letter from Robert William Frederick Harrison, to Professor John Henry Poynting, Fellow of the Royal Society |
| Date | 7 February 1911 |
| Description | Before carrying out Poynting's instructions to send Mrs Ayrton a copy of the referees' criticisms, Harrison would like to send Professor Hicks' detailed report and ask whether he really thinks it expedient to place it in the hands of Mrs Aytron, and whether it would not be likely to lead only to controversy instead of her acceptance of the Committee's decision.
Harrison has seen so much of authors' readiness to controvert criticism that it explained to him the fixity of the older practice of never giving reasons for the decision on papers. The Physics Committee's decision on Mrs Ayrton's paper was that the descriptive part only of the paper, together with eight of the 11 figures submitted, be recommended for publication, and nothing was said about furnishing her on the grounds on which their decision was arrived at, but if Poynting still thinks that some of the referees' remarks should be communicated to the author, he should mark on the report the passages which he thinks might suitably be copied out and communicated to her.
Kirkby and Andrade were furnished with the referees' reports, and wrote long controversial letters in reply. |
| Extent | 1p |
| Format | Carbon |
| Physical description | Typescript |
| Access status | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA7852 | Poynting; John Henry (1852 - 1914) | 1852 - 1914 |