| RefNo | MS/242/28 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Augustin Jean Fresnel to Thomas Young, dated at Paris |
| Date | October 1824 |
| Description | Fresnel currently examining at the Ecole Polytechnique which is exhausting him and "nearly made him sick" and will keep him busy for the coming fortnight. Hoping Young has received articles by Fresnel on double refraction from crystal rock and the law of modification of reflected polarised light. If Young doesn't have access to the Bulletin des Sciences de la Societe Philomatique, will send him a copy of his article published in the issue for April and May 1822. Hasn't devoted any time to the study of optics for a while, but in two weeks would be able to write a treatise on the topic [for the Encyclopedia Britannica], which would state his view of the topic and can be completed within a month, but declines to write the historical part of the article as his linguistic abilities prevent him from reading the English literature on the topic, and lack of time means he also has gaps in the French literature.
Apologises for the state of the letter in closing, noting his complete exhaustion and need for sleep. |
| Language | French |
| Extent | 2p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7947 | Young; Thomas (1773 - 1829); physician, physicist and Egyptologist | 1773 - 1829 |
| NA7031 | Fresnel; Augustin Jean (1788 - 1827) | 1788 - 1827 |