Copy letter from Harold Warris Thompson to Robert Robinson, St John's College, Oxford Complaint on lack of spectrographic instruments available, despite demand. Highlights that Great Britain does not possess one single satisfactory ruling engine for diffraction gratings. Believes small diffraction gratings at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, unsatisfactory. Reports on approaching Dr Slade of I.C.I for grant of five thousand pounds and obtaining 'very favourable response'. Suggests approaching Wallace Akers. Has informally raised project with Henry Tizard, who thought it 'most desirable' and thinks it best if scheme initiated by Royal Society with committee containing Charles Darwin, Thomas Merton, Wallace Aker and himself. Tizard also suggests funds from Warren Research Fund or a Nuffield grant. 19 December 1947