Copy letter from Robert William Frederick Harrison to, G Jasper Nicholls LLB, Bideford, North Devon Acknowledges their letter of 16 February, and reminds him that it is the practice of the Royal Society to never give their opinion as a body on subjects submitted to them. However, though it is well known that the mean sea level is never maintained, and that great mountain masses like the Himalayas exercise a considerable gravitational affect in their region, it would be difficult to obtain a serious scientific opinion from the vague statements he sends. It is probable that the S S Rewa burnt more coal in going from Madras [Chennai] to Calcutta than from Calcutta to Madras, not because the route was up hill and the other down hill, but for a variety of practical reasons. 27 February 1903