| RefNo | MS/957/35 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Thomas Young, Worthing, to Mrs [Mary Frances] Kater |
| Creator | Young; Thomas (1773-1829); British physician and natural philosopher |
| Recipient | Kater [née Reeve]; Mary Frances (d.1833); British author |
| Date | 4 August 1819 |
| Description | Young was delighted to hear of her proceedings but her sudden departure from Dieppe 'spoiled a chance that I might of had of getting my wife drowned in the attempt to pass a few days with you there...'. She should make up Agnes's sea-bathing by coming to Worthing on her return. He will not attempt to add to her amusements in Paris, but asks that she tell Major Kater that he has 'delightful accounts' from Egypt, where Young's vocabulary has been applied to the interpretation of inscriptions in Nubia, with success. He adds a commission from Emily, 30 yards of Ruban de fil, and enloses a paper for Arago and the Annales de Chimie. They have no news of affairs in Harley Street. He hopes that Major Kater was interested in the account of [John] Playfair's funeral, wondering 'did he fret himself to death because perpetual motion was not discovered?'. In a postscript, Young relays to Henry Kater that he will suggest to the Committee on Weights and Measures 'the adoption of 1,000 ounces of water to the cubic foot in vacuo as the maximum of density'. He concludes on his influence in an appointment of the Clerk to the Commissioners for Examining Charities. |
| Extent | 4p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| Dimensions | 181x112mm. |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7947 | Young; Thomas (1773 - 1829); physician, physicist and Egyptologist | 1773 - 1829 |