[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Unknown],
Calcium carbide.
RDS Library & Archives
Copyright RDS Library & Archives. Publication, transmission or display is prohibited without formal written approval of the RDS Library & Archives.
Text
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from J. W. Clark],
Clark, J. W.
Surface tension.
Temperature.
FitzGerald, George Francis, 1851-1901.
Physical Society (Great Britain)
Meniscus (Liquids).
Convex domains.
Royal Dublin Society.
Spheroidal state.
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from J. E. Cullum],
Meteorology
Light
Declination (Astronomy)
Handwritten letter from John Edward Cullum, Valencia Observatory, Cahirciveen, County Kerry, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 10 May 1890. Cullum describes his experiments with a declinometer, including initial struggles and variables. 1p. Transcription: "My dear Sir, If I have not written I have not been idle. My first attempts with the Declinometer were failures, and there was no use proclaiming them. The wire you sent me proved to be too weak, and broke in less than twenty four hours. I then applied to the Mechanism [?] at the Telegraph Station, and obtained from Line some fine copper coil wire, but that proved too soft, stretched and broke, and finally he gave one ounce thin brass wire, which I think will do very well. I have now commenced observing, hourly at present, from 8am until 11pm. until I can form some idea of the movements to expect. There is a decided Maximum and Minimum, with a range of ten divisions. I was at first very much bothered with the changes of light, sometimes getting a glare, and then not sufficient illumination. That I think I have now overcome, and have set up a lamp for night work. I think a series of these hourly readings will prove very interesting, if I can only keep them up a sufficient time to be of any use. I hope you have been able to send in the paper on last year’s observations. You will I am sure be very busy with the May Examinations, and I do not intend to trouble you with correspondence, but you may rest assured I am working away steadily, and am very interested in the the Subject. Mrs. Cullum has not been well after her return, suffering from Rheumatism but I am happy to say is much better now, and joins me in kind regards. Believe Me, Yours Sincerely, J. E. Cullum"
Cullum, John Edward
RDS Library & Archives GFF collection of letters
1890
Fitzgerald, George Francis, 1851-1901. Correspondent
Magnets
Royal Dublin Society
Climatology
Royal Meteorological Society
Handwritten letter from John Edward Cullum, Valencia Observatory, Cahirciveen, County Kerry, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 5 December 1895. Cullum seeks Fitzgerald's advice on where he should publish his research paper on the climatology of Valencia Island, and mentions beginning magnetic experiments with Mr. Watson. 1p. Transcription: "Dear Sir, Do you remember me asking you some time ago about a paper the Met. Office wanted me to write on the Climatology of Valencia Island from 20 years continuous Records? You then thought the Royal Dublin Society would publish it. It has now, under the supervision of Mr. Scott, made such discussions and he thinks scientific interest as to need your opinion whether it should go to the Royal Met. Soc. or even the Royal. Soc. for a larger circulation. In the interest of agriculture and the development of the country its chief value would be to Ireland, but the Meteorologists of the Continent have argued that such valuable data should give a good idea of the Climatology of the Atlantic, and therefore universal value. What do you think? Did I tell you I have sent Mr. Watson the comparison observations I made with him, and the Magnetic work is started again. There is the possibility of me being provided with a new Unifilar, but I expect nothing will be done until the comparison is discussed. With kind regards, believe me, Yours very truly, J. E. Cullum"
1895
Handwritten letter from John Edward Cullum, Valencia Observatory, Cahirciveen, County Kerry, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 3 March 1890. Cullum apologises to Fitzgerald for giving him incorrect instructions regarding a magnet, and mentions doing work on the house. 2pp. Transcription: "My dear Sir, I am very sorry to have to return you the Magnet; it is entirely my own fault in not telling you the house is arranged to observe it from the North. The bar will therefore have to be fitted to that end, and the scale at the South seeking end. I feel you have just cause to be annoyed with me, for I know how valuable your time must be. You will perhaps be able to experiment with a coating when the bar is dismounted. I find with its fittings it turns the ¼ lb. It is necessary I suppose for it to hang in the horizontal plane to determine the scale value, so I need hardly remind you of that. I am about to tar the roofs, and give the outside wood-work two coats of paint while the weather is dry. What I said the other day about a disturbance on the 15 Feby. is I find greatly due to a mistake in the reductions. I can use the observation, but nevertheless the magnet was unsteady. Apologising for all this trouble I am giving you, Believe Me, Yours very truly, J.E. Cullum"
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from W. H. M. Christie],
Christie, W. H. M.
Royal Greenwich Observatory.
Science
Letter to J. E. Cullum from Charles Chree
Chree, Charles, 1860-1928
Observatories
A letter from Charles Chree to John Edward Cullum. Charles Chree apologizes for the delay in responding, explaining that he waited to consult a member of the Kew Committee before sending his data. Although the 1893 results have not yet been officially published, he is willing to share them on the condition that neither Mr. Cullum nor Prof. Fitzgerald publishes them before the committee’s report is released or permission is granted. pp. 3 Dear Mr Cullum, I must apologies for the delay in answering your letter. This was due to me thinking it well to consult a member of the Kew Committee before yielding to my natural instincts to send you the data at once. The Kew results for 1889-1892 being already in the hands of the public I have no hesitation in sending you the data for these years in a [complete?] form. The results for 1893 are in a somewhat different position as no publication for them will be made by the Kew Committee until their report for 1893 comes out, which wont be for a month or two yet. After what the member of the committee says, however I shall take it upon me to send you the results for 1893 on the presumption that you and Prof. Fitzgerald do not publish them until after our Report appears, or until I obtain the permission of the committee to your doing so. If you want them to assist in working with your own results by throwing light on doubtful points, it would be a pity you should be delayed until after the next Committee meeting on March 30th. I shall have the data put together at once and shall send you as soon as possible. I respect that a small fee will have to be charged in accordance with the wages of the observatory. I have little doubt that your paper will prove an interesting one for us, as it will help to bring out what is local and what general. I could send the results direct to Prof. Fitzgerald if time is a consideration. Yours Faithfully, Charles Chree
1894
Fitzgerald, George Francis, 1851-1901
[Letter to Unknown from Edmund Catchpool],
Catchpool, Edmund
Cathode rays.
Ether (Matter)
Wave-motion, Theory of.
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from E. Tremlett Carter],
Carter, E. Tremlett
Heaviside, Oliver, 1850-1925.
Handwritten letter from Edward Tremlett Carter, Fleet Street, London to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 25 October 1898. Tremlett Carter responds to discourse surrounding Oliver Heaviside and "The Electrician" periodical. Transcription: "Dear Prof. Fitzgerald I hasten to reply to your letter of yesterday's date, to say how vexed I am that Oliver Heaviside's name should by any chance or mischance be associated with the note in question. Of course he has nothing to do with the matter, and I never dreamed that anyone could connect him with it. It is also disappointing to find that "The Electrician" could rest under the suspicion of such an attack as that you allude to. We would never think of such a thing! Probably you have not observed in contemporary technical and other journals a number of unsigned articles fearing ignorance and injustice upon their very face. The author of these desrves the censure implied in the note which seems to have created so much mystery. All this in confidence. Yours faithfully E. Tremlett Carter (editor)"
Carter, Edward Tremlett (1866-1903)
1898
Carter, Edward Tremlett (1866-1903). Correspondent
Preece, W. H.
Institution of Civil Engineers (Great Britain).
Typed letter from Edward Tremlett Carter, Fleet Street, London to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 19 June 1899. Carter requests Fitzgerald's views on scientific theory and practice for publication. "Transcription: Dear Sir, The remarks made by Sir William Preece on the relation between theory and practice in his Presidential Address before the Insititution of Civil Engineers on the occassion of the recent Conference have attracted considerable attention from theorists and practicians. These remarks are embodied in my leader in the current issue of "The Electrician" and it seems probable that the remarks, together with my comments thereon in the leader, will elicit considerable discussion. The present seems a particularly opportune moment for reviewing the interdependence of science and commercial practice, or of theory and practice, and of investigating the claims of each upon the other. I should esteem it a favour, therefore, if you can let me have a letter for publication embodying your views on this important question. Yours faithfully, E. Tremlett Carter
1899
Lyle, Thomas R.
Handwritten letter from Edward Tremlett Carter, Fleet Street, London, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 4 August 1898. Carter accepts an offer from Fitzgerald pertaining the "The Electrician" periodical. Transcription: "Dear Prof. Fitzgerald I am much obliged for the offer of Prof. Lyle's paper referred to in your letter of the 3rd. inst. If the paper is not excessively long I should be pleased to publish it in The Electrician. Will you kindly send me the M.S. at your earliest convenience. Proofs had better be sent to you, I presume, in the event of the paper being of suitable length for acceptance. I will send you duplicate proofs and will be much obliged if you will revise and return one of them. If you can let me have one or two editorial notes commenting on the paper, or a leader on its subject matter, I would be additionally pleased. I suppose I shall have the pleasure of seeing you at the B.G. at Bristol next month. Yours sincerely, E. Tremlett Carter (editor)"
Cullum, J. E.
Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland)
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from E. D. Crowe],
Crowe, E. D.
[Letter to Unknown from the Secretary of Inland Revenue],
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Edward Carson],
Carson, Edward Henry Carson, 1854-1935
Technical education.
[Letter to Unknown from Thomas Carroll],
Carroll, Thomas
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Thomas Carroll],
Dairying.
Bacteria.
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Lord Cadogan],
Cadogan,
Technical education
Preston, Thomas, 1860-1900.
Dublin Castle (Dublin, Ireland)
Clausius, R. (Rudolf), 1822-1888.
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Sir Joseph Larmor].
Larmor, Joseph, b. 1857.
Steam-engines.
Magnetism
Handwritten letter from John Edward Cullum, Valencia Observatory, Cahirciveen, County Kerry, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 8 May 1894. Cullum describes a research paper he has sent Fitzgerald, and asks what form their joint research is going to take going forward. 1p. Transcription: "Dear Sir, I send you a manuscript copy of a further paper of Mr [I Sigelouis?] on the connection between Magnetism and Meteorology which my brother extracted from a larger volume of Reports, too heavy to send by post. I had asked him to forward me any more publications on the subject which might fall under his notice, and as this appears to follow I think your own ideas somewhat I think you will like to see it; but I see Mr. [Hazan?] of the American Weather Bureau predicts “bitter disappointment” to those who are attempting to trace a connection between the phenomena. So you have got a further grant to carry on our observations. Have you decided on what form they are to be? I am quite ready to go on with them if you consider them of any value, or take up another set if I can give the time. With kind regards, Believe me, Yours sincerely, J. E. Cullum"
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Emma Marie Caillard],
Caillard, Emma Marie, 1852 -
Religion.
Lodge, Oliver, 1851-1940.
Religion and science.
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Stafford M. Cox],
Cox, Stafford M.
X-rays.
Barrett, W. F.
Radiation.
Motion.
Tait, Peter Guthrie, 1831-1901.
Kinetic theory of gases.
Pearson, Karl, 1857-1936.
Force and energy.
Matter.
Maxwell, James Clerk, 1831-1879.
Hertz, Heinrich,1857-1894.1857-1894.
Gravitation.
Caillard, Emma Marie, 1852-1927
Letter from Emma Marie Caillard to Professor Fitzgerald dated 28.4 197 [1897].
1897
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Edward P. Culverwell],
Culverwell, Edward P.
Haughton, Samuel.
Mathematics.
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Edith G. Culverwell].
Culverwell, Edith G.
Mathematical physics.
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Edith G. Culverwell],
Cotter, J.R.
Diamagnetism.
[Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from Sir Oliver Lodge],
Meetings
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 21 Waverly Road, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 13 October 1891. Lodge discusses plans for meetings held over three days. 1p. Transcription: "M d F I think we must try and manage the [?] in 3 batches of 32 each Fri morn., Fri afternoon and Saturday morn. Say 20 upstairs and 12 down. What think you of this? Shall you be up for the paper pass on 30th inst.? If not shall you send a substitute? I half think of going myself, but I can't easily get there till 2.30, and I should like to get away at 4, final day; second day 10-1 is all right. OL"
Lodge, Oliver, Sir, 1851-1940
1891
Electromagnetic fields
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 29 February 1880. Lodge discusses scientific ideas regarding electromagnetic propagation and Ether. Lodge notes that he would like to read Fitzgerald's papers. The letter is incomplete. 2pp. Transcription: "My dear Fitzgerald, Many thanks for your kind and prompt reply. I see that I had run against a wrong idea respecting EM propagation. I thought Maxwell talking of its [r?] all through but I see now that it is only of the wave motion which the EM induction considers to be analogue to diffusion or heat conduction which of course has no [?]. I am very glad to have this connected. I should greatly like to see your paper (and any others you can show of yours) for I want to get hold of the EM theory of light as it is evidently the true one- but I have never set properly to it yet- moreover I am brutally ignorant of the ordinary undulatory theory at present. I shall not understand your paper therefore at first but I shall [?] to it. It has for some time seemed to me pretty clear that we have no direct way of acting on moving the ether. We can move matter and orderly forces and so the Ether which cling to it (après Fresnel Fizeante) or we can move more Electricity and electromotive forces, but then Electricty is certainly not Ether because it has no inertia. My whim, which I think you don't..."
1880
Kelvin, William Thomson, 1824-1907.
Tourmaline.
Electrometer.
A handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 17 Parkhurst Road, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 7 December 1879. Lodge discusses scientific ideas relating to Tourmaline, electrometers and induction. 2pp. Transcription: "Dear Fitzgerald, Peccari. I have been away from home and idle and though your letter was forwarded to me (after some delay) I have not answered it yet! I am much obliged to you for your suggestion regarding Tourmaline I haven't been able yet to think it over very rigidly but it is a notion worth attending to. But have you not made a slight misunderstanding about the current [ley?] crusts. It was when the temperature was crust that no unilation effect could be perceived. However I am immersed in an induction balance just now and have fuzzy ideas for everything else. With regard to the Electrometer the guard ring is [?] the [?] with Platinum and the disk Aluminium from which we may gather that Sir W.T. does not [?] much in sufficient diff of not being produced by contact to be perceived by an electrometer and quite right too I think. I believe that all parts of a conductor at which E is at rest are at once polarised whether it be homogenous or not, (whether the air in contact with the metals is at the same pol is another thing; and whether this is what is imparted to [?] is another [?] I am unable to think of just now). However, this is I suppose unorthodox and in general with regard to conduct EMF as somebody says in Geo [?] latest with regard to the Tides, "some fools say one thing and some another" but if I was to give my opinion it'd not be different. Yours very truly, Oliver Lodge"
1879
Stoney, G. Johnstone 1826-1911.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 17 Parkhurst Road, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 9 November 1879. Lodge expresses his gratitude for Fitzgerald's comments on his book. He mentions a negative review he received and notes his sadness at the passing of James Clerk Maxwell. 2pp. Transcription: "My dear Fitzgerald, I am very much obliged to you for your kind criticisms on my little book. I like having the defects pointed out because then they can be corrected in a future edition. What you say about fig 49 and the pump values is quite true. I would have been better to draw the valve with that only I feared it would not be too clear. The siphon explanation is also I perceive a little hazy though it is the one I usually give to a junior class. I shall think it out more carefully in future. As to compounding ref. with acc. I am not prepared to acknowledge the incorrectness of this at the moment. But I will keep myself open on this point. It had never struck me as [questionable?] before. I am very glad that you and Mr Stoney like the book on the whole. I took a good deal of trouble with it. The review in Nature last week cut it up rather viciously but his criticisms are not fair nor true ones at all. They are mostly nonsense. How frightfully sad it is about Maxwell. It feels like a personal loss. Utterly irreparable. Yours very truly, Oliver Lodge"
Multiple integrals
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 12 March 1899. Lodge discusses scientific and mathematical topics including magnets and the Stokes number. He includes an equation and a diagram in the letter. 2pp.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 19 February 1899 and arranging Fitzgerald's visit. 1p. Transcription: "M d Φ, I do hope you won't have to make such a rush of a visit. A room here is entering at your [d?]. Come on Friday if you can and don't think of leaving on Sat night. Leave on Sunday morning or Monday morning according to necessity. It's very good of you to come at all. I hope you won't have to rush it. From, Λ"
Opacity (Optics)
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 17 January 1899. Lodge asks Fitzgerald to look at his sheets on opacity of shift convection of Maxwell, which he will be including in his address to the Physical Society. 1p. Transcription: "M d Φ In my prospective address to the Phys Soc I am dealing with opacity of shift convection of Maxwell. Incidentally I have [h?] in your convection under your semi-dense object. Anyhow I enclose the 2 sheets landing on this point, which I will ask you to pass on to [s?] or to amend as seems best to you. I mean the bits scored in blue. From, Λ"
Largely illegible handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 15 February 1899. Lodge notes that he hears Fitzgerald was appointed a Commissioner on Education. 1p.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 9 January 1898 and discussing plans to meet up. 1p. Transcription: "M d Φ I think the date is Feb 4. I think its at 1 [l?] at 4pm. If this is wrong I wish you would drop in a postcard later on. Certainly I will swim with you with pleasure but I don't think my wife will come. She doesn't like water. I feel that she won't but if I find otherwise I will tip you a hint later on. No she can't family go. I am just back from London. A cross of [s?] lectures. Λ "
Equations
Mathematics
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 12 January 1889 and including several equations. Lodge refers to Volume II of the Scientific Papers of James Clerk Maxwell. 2pp.
1889
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 8 February 1898. Lodge discusses his journey home from an event on the previous Sunday. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ Back again after Sunday adventures. I found there was no train on from Cherte on Monday am so I night at Holyhead and went on the Day Mail to Leicester via rugby getting there about 6pm. Unfortunately my Telegram written on Saturday evening at Trin 6th and taken charge of by Mr Dixon was never sent. I suppose the gate's porter did not take it. Consequently my wife was rampaging about all Sunday night after 3:30am thinking I was lost at sea. The telegram told her I should probably go direct to Leicester without passing through Liverpool but she never got it. I ought to have taken it myself to the office. It is always the safest plan. The passage was sufficiently quiet. You spent a lot of time and trouble on my visit. I wish I had given a letter [?] that Dublin Physicists would be present. I did not think of this possibility in time. From, Λ"
British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Electrolysis.
Universities and colleges
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 21 Waverly Road, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 28 May 1891. Lodge discusses an report on Electrolysis and meetings of the British Association for the Advancement of Studies. 1p. "Transcription: I expect to be in London on 12 June and can therefore [l?] [M?] on that day. M d Φ The Electrolysis Report will not be ready before the Cardiff meeting (Griffith knows this for he [p?] probably) and it will be short. The fact is I have too much of other work on hand just now and intent to resign the Secretaryship of Cardiff. My idea is that a few years lapse will be [?] then to a good start later when [?] has been done. You can report that I am responsible for it and if you don't mind it may be well to draw the money to cover some [s?] expenses in circulars arising at Leeds meeting which have been incurred. The excess can be repaid later. Yours, OL"
Lenses.
Rock salt.
Pupil (Eye).
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 10 January 1899 and discussing an experiment involving sending a beam of light through rock salt lenses and through a wound coil. The letter includes equations and a diagram. 1p.
Physical Society of London.
Coherer
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 16 January 1899. Lodge discusses his games at the Hoylake Club in Liverpool and his plan to give a presidential address at the Physical Society of London. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ We should greatly like to have you here for a week. I could find you [m?] [d?] of the Hoylake Club. I fear we have no other form of exercise there joy. Except knocking a bladder over a string in the hall. Which is a good game and makes one properly hot. But it happens that I have to be in London on 27 to 29 and probably Mrs L too. That's unfortunate not necessarily fatal but I feel you could do better with your time. Almost any other time it could be done well. On 8th Feb I have to give a Presidential address to the London Phys Soc so I must work at that. Also I have just connected a telegram to give a Friday every R.I. on 24th Feb. This [i?] be a job! I have said "Coherers". Got any tips for me? Will you come on 25th enroute somewhere? We might get back from London sooner. Λ I enclose a card in case any friend of yours in London is interested in [Richet M?]."
[Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from Sir Oliver Lodge].
Perry, John, 1850-1920.
Glazebrook, Richard, 1854-1935.
Thomson, J. J.1856-1940.1856-1940.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, to George F. Fitzgerald, without date. Lodge is writing to arrange a meeting of the British Association of the Advancement of Science. He also discusses Michelson and Morley's experiment to detect the relative motion of matter. 2pp. Transcription: "Φ Delighted to hear you will be at Perrys. Hope he will get his shop locked before I come. I don't come until Wed every. I will fix the BA meeting on Fri 8th at 3pm if possible at [A?] St. But I am 1st writing to ask Glazebrook if that will do for him. He rather wants Thursday. What hour on Thursday is your brand of [G?]. I have very carefully gone into Michelson and Morley's theory, working it for any obliquity - not only for 0° and 90°. And after many [m?] and much scepticism have reluctantly come to the conclusion that they are right (it by no means follows that they are, though). [Sliding?] motion doesn't alter result of comm but it lengthens the path. Cosine-wise. Rays, always rays, when direction has to be considered. Yes a departure from French law has its consequences, all contrary to experiment, unless ether near earth is [?] stagnant. There are ad lib of 4ps which require either French Law or Stagnation and M&M requires the last. But then I haven't been through the exps and things with JJT in my mind yet. Instead to when I've time. But wait for my spinning disk exp and see what that says!!! Λ "
Rayleigh, John William Strutt, 1842-1919.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, without date. Lodge criticises the science journal, the Electrician, for not publishing Fitzgerald's letter and discusses future plans. He speculates whether William Thomas Kelvin and John William Strutt Rayleigh will come to the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. 1p Transcription: "Φ, What's that about the Electrician not publishing a letter of yours? You ought not to sit quietly and submit to that. They would have a rebellion if it were known. No one of importance would write. As to Cardiff I appreciate your kindly wish to come but Mrs Morgan the paramount has claims. You can't come under the circumstances, unless indeed they should happen to turn out more propitious than they usually do. So I shall not expect you, notwithstanding that it will be very dull without you. Try and get things over before 19 Aug if possible. I don't think W.T. is coming either. I hope old R is. I fear everybody is saving up for Edinburgh. It's not surprising. λ"
Thompson, Silvanus Phillips, 1851-1916.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald. The letter is partially illegible but Lodge is discussing a sensitive subject that he notes Silvanus Phillips Thompson is concerned about. He offers for Arthur Prince Chattock to make a report. Transcription: "It is no concern of mine of course, and I send it to you because I know you so well. I know that when these mishaps occur allowances are made, but [?] seen to have [a?] on her, and girls are unduly sensitive" S.P.T. is more concerned but he has not mentioned [C?] [M?], so it is more discrete to read it to you and get you to act as you wish [p?] without divulging anything to him. The candidate of course is not told anything, nor must be. If you like Chattock could be asked to make a report on her late work. As a supplement to her [?]. I don't know anything about her myself. I go to the [E?] Hotel tomorrow. You will let me know if you are willing to see a confidential report for Chattock or would rather not. Λ"
Physics.
Largely illegible handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 4 August 1898 and on the subject of an abstract of a paper written by the physicist William Sutherland. 1p.
Thomson, J. J. 1856-1940.
Röntgen, Wilhelm Conrad, 1845-1923.
Waves.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 1 February 1896. Lodge discusses the physics theories regarding propagation of longitudinal waves. He mentions the physicists J.J. Thomson, James Clerk Maxwell, Philipp Lenard and Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ J.J. has a notion that by [dividing?] + and - charges amassed waves of similar size so as not to average up the propagation of molecules but to distribute the [u?] then Maxwell's equation allows a finite propagation of longitudinal waves. I don't like it when he takes bad equations without your recommendations. But he's likely to be right of course if he really has gone into it. It seems to me however that he's knocking his head on that bother of longitudinal propagation of electrostatic potential. We have got effect from sun + arc and em [fas?] lamps- but all are spurious. Light gets through thin aluminium [?]. I can't make out about Packer. I expect he's spurious too. See this weeks Electrician for my articles re Lenard. I don't think you had better depend much on Rontgen's 1/d2. If you want to [?] a pulsating repair with a different law. Λ"
1896
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 21 Waverley Road, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzpatrick, dated 26 June 1892 and divided into three parts. In one part, Lodge discusses money that Fitzgerald owes. In the second part, Lodge hopes that a report on an exam will be postponed. In the third part, Lodge writes about potential energy. 3pp. Transcription: "M d Φ I have been on the verge of writing you about the ECBA. The last sum I had from you was Oct 9 1890 £2-17-6. Will you verify this. The enclosed ofcs are now with paid or waiting to be paid and I enclose account. Please draw on the Treasurer- I suppose for the exact amount. Λ If you paid anything in 1891 please let me know and return these. L.M. It's a [m?] about the syllabus I wrote asking for it to be delayed another year and hoping that a report of the exam would be far postponed for the present. I have not yet had Matric papers either. They were to go to you first. Best stir them up. Your pot energy and mine are not the same. My pot energy is all static energy or energy of [s?], whether due to gravitation direct or to weight of superincumbent materials i.e. grav indirect. This energy you exclude from your pot energy. I don't see why you treat Grav as an [?] force in addition to potential for without it there would be no Grav potential."
1892
Carbon disulfide.
Ultraviolet radiation.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 16 March 1893. The handwriting is largely illegible after the first page, and includes several diagrams. Lodge discusses his experiment using a prism, light and nicol. 3pp. Transcription of first page: "M d Φ I lately got Hilger to make me a Quartz 60° prism for some ultra-violet exps. But I have to amuse myself with putting it together so as to make a [F?] prism of it and trying for those lateral pair of interfering forces seen with a li prism and [B?] due to the R and L circular light using an analysis of course. I got them all right, but I find the li prism is unnecessary to show interference when [arrow] and [arrow] says for the [F?] prism."
1893
Microscopes
Radiation
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 9 March 1894. Lodge discusses scientific equipment such as a microscope, a lamp, an oscillator and a radiation detector. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ Yes I'd like your model ether and scope. But I should like to receive them at Liverpool some time before hand so as to get used to them. The scope includes the picture of course? I will write about them later. Yes I know the oil spark dodge. What do you make out is the reason why you can write lamps through your body? Is it a condense action with a big C2 but small C? Which sounds nonsense but see today's Nature page 441. I have got a big oscillator, but not so big as 12 ft square, but big enough and non portable. I incline to do [c?] the less known things like effect of light on spark and perhaps impact times. As a detector of radiation I propose to blow some fuses if I can make what mess I like of min E light system. I am interested just now in colour vision and would sooner have done that, but they seemed to pine for another Hertz lecture. I have read, or rather skimmed, your wild pioneering article in "Sci Progress". I enclose a [s?] from my brother, to whom I mentioned your wish that Heinrich had stuck with orthodox. S V q. Probably you're too busy to read it. If so just return it. Λ"
Hertz, Heinrich, 1857-1894.
Trouton, Frederick Thomas.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 6 March 1894. Lodge notes that he will be giving a lecture at the Royal Institution on the work of Heinrich Hertz and asks if Fitzgerald has any materials that could be of use. 1p. Transcription: "M d Φ I am asked to give a lecture at R.I. on the work of Hertz soon. Have you any out of the way materials for the purpose? Or anything suitable for lending? Some of the less know exps I should especially like to demonstrate. I expect you and Trouton have lots of things of one sort or another. It will not be necessary to show again what you showed 2 years ago. Except that I should like to show your many lens [?] kaleidoscope or whatever you called it and any other Irish wave demonstrations. Λ"
Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from Sir Oliver Lodge
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 1894. Lodge discusses Fitzgerald's boat journey on the sea, and he explains a formula of Oliver Heaviside. Lodge states that the formula is correct. 1p.
Heat
Physics
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 25 May 1893. Lodge discusses how a body can cool and heat up again. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ A body can cool by leaking its heat away, or by converting it into another form of energy. In heat energies it is the working substance that is cooled not the source. It is cooled by converting its heat into work. It is easy to let it cool too much, but in [?] can heat with flow in as soon as connection with old body is established. The only effective cooling is from O to O'. is. the same as it can [a?] do if left to leakage. Doesn't this come in all right? Λ"
Largely illegible handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 14 January 1993. Lodge discusses scientific topics such as ether and atmospheres. He explores the ideas of William Thomson Kelvin and John William Strutt Raleigh. 3pp.
Fitzgerald, George Francis, 1851-1901, Correspondent
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 8 January 1993. Lodge discusses scientific ideas regarding gravitation and friction. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ Of course I'm coming on the 21st since you have laid commands upon me. Very enterprising of you. How's Pioneer getting on? Haven't seen a review of it yet. Hope it will sell. You have read page 208. Better than publishing your letter [o?] for other folk to benefit and would be for you to work these thing out and publish most elaborately. No I don't think that gravitation is known by [u?] nearer the u2/V2 and in a resisting medium deviation and friction would [n?] one another to a very high order (as far as direction was concerned) and as regards speed, deviational force would defend a 1n power of velocity; and by Ohm's Law etherised friction is probably also 1n power of velocity (distance matters nothing in either case). Very likely also friction would depend on moving mass [?]; and if its compensation ever for any one body means compensation always for all, expect for the expected thing, you mention, about target and radius vector not being perpendicular to each other. I [r?] however your ingenious Doppler mode of [c?] counteracting even this. Λ"
Refraction.
Comets.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 1892. Lodge discusses scientific ideas regarding light, dust particles, reflexion and absorption. 1p. Transcription: "M d Φ Thanks for papers. They are cut off. I interfolded a paper on Light repulsion at Cardiff giving [?] a bright dust particle [?] for which suns light repulsion would overbalance its gravitation attraction. Reflexion is better than absorption. I did not know you had done it all in 1882. But the dust particle is much bigger than a molecule. I forgot the result, but the pressure is about 100 microdynes per square centimetre at Earth's distance. (on Langhry's estimate of nodiation rec). Many thanks for papers. I wish you had sent me them all long ago. Have you no more now? Λ"
Hydrostatics.
Bryn Afon
1885
Pendred, V.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 21 Waverley Road, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 21 October 1889. Lodge discusses the ideas of Vaughan Pendred and the topic of ether, and he disagrees with Fitzgerald's criticisms of Lodge's models. 2pp. Transcription: "My dear Fitzgerald, I forget I told you that the BA knocked me up and I am only getting right again now. You [m?] about Browns 10- it was included in the 5.16- you sent me and in the ofc receipted sent in. The paper was sent as a voucher. Everything is square to date. I wish indeed you had been at N'carth to lighten us up and to give us more about [c?] ether or to draw more from W.T. on the subject. Fancy you wasting 25 good sheets on Pendred! He is hopeless but his nonsense unfortunately does no discredit to a large number of British [E?]. There are heaps who think similarly and the great [h?] of them are ignorant which may pride themselves upon the fact. Hence I think Pendred is doing service by his outspoken representation of the book which is current; and if corrected the correction should be public. Your [?] ether is very nice. I am sorry you disliked my models so much but I am not altogether surprised. I don't greatly harken after them myself except as a step and better than nothing and I feel the force of most of your remarks. I don't understand why you say I mix up mechanical and elastic force though. None of my models show mechanical force that I remember. Is Liverpool never on your way from Dublin to London? We would amply like to put you up. Yours muchly, OJL"
Armatures.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 21 Waverley Road, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 1 January 1892. Lodge discusses an experiment involving rotating disks using an armature and wires. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ Delighted to hear about your 106 per sec idea. Don't fully understand it. Don't want to. Don't tell folk but [p?] it at one. I run my disks now at 3000 revs a minute, the armature is specially wound with that wire live to brace up its wires, and I should have no compunction in running it at 6000. It has run at 4 or 5 [?] I had it. It is a gramme ([?], Malter and Platt). Its diameter is I suppose 8" or 2 feet round, hence it has a peripheral velocity of 100 feet a second when running at 3000 so I feel sure that your 100 meters per sec is within reach. (The run of steel disks goes at 500 feet a second- but that's different.) Your high speed armature ought to be globular not cylindrical. T=PV2 give the maximum velocity for a hoop (about ⊥ axis) of any substance whose tensity is T and density P. I don't know about Fison and music. Must find out. What was the 2 [g?] for? I went up to the B. Sc. I forget what happened but is no matter. I can be up from evening 21st to 23rd and go to Rayleigh on 22 (RI). Hooray for old Thomson. Λ"
Schuster, Arthur, 1851-1934.
Education.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 19 March 1894. Lodge discusses his student and Victoria University exam questions. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ Schuster says he is going to see you soon about Hons Physics question. I send him a no. of suggested questions for you to modify. He will bring them you (ID sheets). Also I send a brief summary of what my candidate is able to do. He is very anxious to get a first class. He has some chance I think. If he doesn't break down with over work and write books. He won't take exercise and lately has written some books. Some months back he was very hopeful. Enclosed from my brother of [a?] to saying that he was talking pedagogy and you were thinking of real scientific work. Tear it up. Please see that you have my questions before you when setting- as well as those of other colleges so can there be any sort of uniformity or fairness of standard. Λ"
Milman, Arthur.
Energy.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 17 May 1893. Lodge discusses a letter he wrote to Arthur Milman, and scientific ideas regarding heat, potential energy and force. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ I have written to Milman to fix a line for show paper. They will probably want to [f?] - for the calendar. I think your No 4, too hard, I mean, but the first three will do excellently. He might be asked in addition what precaution he took about the escape of heat from the ends of his cooling bar and whether he was troubled with waves of heat therein as Forls was. If you like me to write out your question I will do so gladly. I return them first for final comments or attention. Many thanks for remarks on my Phys Soc Paper, which are excellent ones. See Nature this week if you have time. Slipping is [p?], but the tangential component is ineffective if smooth and if rough the force tilts to match. I admit that a point can't have potential energy and that any theorem involving potential energy cannot be an [a?] one. There is something blindfold about it and I have come round to see that both energies may be transferred in a lot of cases. A body may lose both as you say. But I will consider your instances and the whole matter further. Λ"
University of Manchester.
Nasal polyps.
Ozone.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 9 October 1893. Lodge encourages Fitzgerald to be an external examiner at the Victoria University of Manchester, and he notes that he has some nasal polyps. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ Will you please indicate you're willingness to the Victoria University to be External Examiner in Physics provided an [adequate?] arrangement be made about travel expenses. I'm anxious to get you, and they do allow [?] for travelling and money for distant ones. I see no reason why they shouldn't pay you the whole if you can. They have plenty of cash. Write then at once. The [r?] vector is manifesting. Λ Oddly enough I have been having small nasal polyps removed, same as Hertz. Word is it's ozone. Modestly painful [b?] but not incapacitating. Lecture last week and another today. Not enough to need ether. Λ"
Rayleigh, John William Strutt,1842-1919.1842-1919.
Magnetism.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 19 December 1893. Lodge thanks Fitzgerald for his reply regarding Oliver Heaviside and states that he will send it to John Perry. Lodge discusses a theory about flow along magnetic lines. 2pp. Transcription: "Λ Thanks for reply re. O.H. am sending it on to Perry. Have been much excited about Larmor's paper though I have only seen the abstract. Rayleigh offered at Council to refer it to me, but I said you lest I didn't understand it at all. It is not interesting. I had an hour talk with him about it. I can't find any flow along magnetic lines in air though. If any it must be very slow. About a yard an hour per CGS unit λ field. I should have seen what you think of this failure. It means [d?] if theory is correct. But perhaps your [formula] explains it. Does it? The [l?] he has put into McCullagh is very interesting. Shall hope to hear more of your sunspot period someday. What are you doing with the English language? Don't understand the reference. Wife desires her best wishes and remembrances. Λ"
Bentley, Alfred T.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 15 October 1893. Lodge discusses a letter sent by Alfred T. Bentley and apologises for telling Fitzgerald some information prematurely. 1p. Transcription: "M d Φ Bentley's is a stupid letter. I am sorry I told you prematurely. I didn't know it was premature. I was talking it over with Schuster and thought that now was the time to drop a hint, Glad to hear of Larmor's good work. He seems to be on the right track. Has he been to Dublin? Or how do you know about it? Λ"
Maxwell, James Clerk,1831-1879.1831-1879.
Heat.
Entropy.
Diffusion.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 7 April 1894. Lodge writes from a golfing trip at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, Birkenhead. He discusses scientific ideas regarding heat, diffusion and entropy. The letter includes several equations. Lodge concludes the letter by congratulating Fitzgerald on the birth of his fifth daughter. 7pp.
Experiments
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, 2 Grove Park, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 2 November 1890. Lodge apologises for not returning Fitzgerald's list of experiments with comments and makes plans for a meeting. 2pp. Transcription: "M d Φ I am very much ashamed of myself to find that I had not returned your list of exps with comments. I was sure I had. But I have found it now here. I write [p?] to Dickens and expect to hear from him again as to details. I arranged another two candidates. 1/2 are to come in morning and 1/2 in afternoon and all are to be down on the one day. You will travel up on Wednesday might I suppose. I return your duplicate list. Λ"
Dust
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, Victoria University, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 12 December 1894. Lodge invites Fitzgerald to stay at his home and asks about an experiment with a glass tube and dust. 1p. Transcription: "M d Φ You will please come to us 2 Grove Park on Saturday if you can. We are looking forward to your visit. We shall be perfectly ready and can easily put you up. On Thursday we are having a house warming so to speak, but it will be all set straight. When you stroke a glass tube to get dust figures, the dust inside the tube gives quite a different pattern to dust in another tube end on. [Diagram] Nodes much further apart, Why is this? Yours etc, Λ"
Electricity.
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, University College, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 26 April 1895. Lodge discusses the questions he is writing for students at Victoria University. 1p. Transcription: "M d Φ Such a job I have had to make questions after the holidays. I always feel perfectly ignored after holidays. I hope a [s?] no of them will do. I think among them there are enough for paper V, especially if you add one or 2. I enclose another of Howard's (I enclosed 3 of his last time). The questions are not in order of difficulty, I must leave that to you. But the M.Sc. men will need a fair supply of easy ones for the 1st 3 papers. I fancy my Electricity ones are rather hard. Perhaps Schuster's are better for this part. Yours, Λ"