| Reference number | RR/8/196 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Fourth letter from Osborne Reynolds, to George Gabriel Stokes, regarding a paper 'On certain dimensional properties of matter in the gaseous state. - Part I. Experimental researches on thermal transpiration of gases through porous plates and on the laws of transpiration and impulsion, including an experimental proof that gas is not a continuous plenum. - Part II. On an extension of the dynamical theory of gas, which includes the stresses, tangential and normal, caused by a varying condition of gas, and affords an explanation of the phenomena of transpiration and impulsion' by Osborne Reynolds |
| Date | 23 October 1879 |
| Description | Sends a letter to be read by the Royal Society at their next meeting, or published in the Proceedings. Has avoided hinting at his surprise that James Clerk Maxwell was a referee on his paper, as he has not mentioned it, and uses his position to write a critique which 'must of necessity' appear before his [the author's] paper. Considers James Clerk Maxwell to have had a conflict of interest, refereeing on the paper whilst writing one of his own on the same subject. Suggests another referee may be necessary, or consideration of his paper be taken without reference to James Clerk Maxwell.
Copy of reply, dated 25 October 1879: James Clerk Maxwell is in grave health, with little hope given by Paget [James Paget or George Edward Paget]. The circumstances are peculiar, and will lay the matter before the Committee of Papers at their next meeting. Finds his tone to be that os irritation, which is unjustified given the courteous tone spoken of the paper by James Clerk Maxwell. Finds a serious error in the 'little paper' in referencing a paper of James Clerk Maxwell's, that Maxwell would be justified in replying to if he was in better health.
Subject: Physics and Chemistry
[Published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1879] |
| Extent | 4p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Physical description | Letter on paper |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| Access status | Open |
| Related material | DOI: 10.1098/rstl.1879.0078 Vol.170 1879 |
| Related records in the catalogue | RR/8/188 |
| RR/8/189 |
| RR/8/190 |
| RR/8/191 |
| RR/8/192 |
| RR/8/193 |
| RR/8/194 |
| RR/8/195 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA6993 | Reynolds; Osborne (1842 - 1912) | 1842 - 1912 |
| NA8283 | Stokes; Sir; George Gabriel (1819 - 1903); physicist | 1819 - 1903 |