Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Ettrick W. Creak
Title
Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Ettrick W. Creak
Date
Publisher
Identifier
GFF 5/104
Subject
Description
Handwritten letter from Ettrick W. Creak to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 16 November 1886. Creak discusses the increasing changes in the field of magnetic science as well as instruments he believes are needed for further advances. 4 pp.
Transcription:
"Dear Professor Fitzgerald,
I have been absent from London for ten days and unfortunately your letter was not forwarded to me as you should been answered much sooner. I am glad to hear that you have discovered an enthusiastic magnetic observer at Valentia as eventually he may be of help to magnetic science when most wanted. With regards to the fortnightly observations at Valentia, I hardly think they would come up to modern requirements . With the general knowledge we [can?] process of the Earth's magnetic state at given [spaces?], I have come to the conclusion that we require something very [exact?] for further investigations into the subject. The degree of precision I would [?] advocate is nothing less than that derived from self registering instruments - for Declination Horizontal & Vertical intensity accompanied by an Earth currant apparatus. This latter I consider an important addition as we have so little information therein. The magnetic instruments of the Kew pattern. As a preliminary to the most excellent way, Mr. Cullum might be given a differential declination magnetometer which he might observe hourly (absolute time) for 24 hours every fortnight which compared with Kew would give a general idea of the relative motions of the [?] of the [?] places Kew and Valentia. If his zeal also carried him so far he might make numerous eye observations in days of undoubted disturbance. Preliminary observations of this kind would probably tell us whether the expenses of the self registering instruments was worth incurring. Fortnightly observations of [?] the three elements would furnish good value if carried out through the year, and furnish data for secular change in after years. I am glad you are [?] Cork on the question of a Naval observatory. Is the trade there large enough to support it without Government aid?
Your Sincerely Ettrick W. Creak"
Transcription:
"Dear Professor Fitzgerald,
I have been absent from London for ten days and unfortunately your letter was not forwarded to me as you should been answered much sooner. I am glad to hear that you have discovered an enthusiastic magnetic observer at Valentia as eventually he may be of help to magnetic science when most wanted. With regards to the fortnightly observations at Valentia, I hardly think they would come up to modern requirements . With the general knowledge we [can?] process of the Earth's magnetic state at given [spaces?], I have come to the conclusion that we require something very [exact?] for further investigations into the subject. The degree of precision I would [?] advocate is nothing less than that derived from self registering instruments - for Declination Horizontal & Vertical intensity accompanied by an Earth currant apparatus. This latter I consider an important addition as we have so little information therein. The magnetic instruments of the Kew pattern. As a preliminary to the most excellent way, Mr. Cullum might be given a differential declination magnetometer which he might observe hourly (absolute time) for 24 hours every fortnight which compared with Kew would give a general idea of the relative motions of the [?] of the [?] places Kew and Valentia. If his zeal also carried him so far he might make numerous eye observations in days of undoubted disturbance. Preliminary observations of this kind would probably tell us whether the expenses of the self registering instruments was worth incurring. Fortnightly observations of [?] the three elements would furnish good value if carried out through the year, and furnish data for secular change in after years. I am glad you are [?] Cork on the question of a Naval observatory. Is the trade there large enough to support it without Government aid?
Your Sincerely Ettrick W. Creak"
Source
RDS Library and Archives GFF collection of letters
Rights
Copyright RDS Library & Archives. Publication, transmission or display is prohibited without formal written approval of the RDS Library & Archives.
Relation
RDS Science Archive
Format
Manuscript
Language
English
Type
Coverage
1870-1901
Collection
Citation
Creak, E. W. (Ettrick William), 1835-1920, “Letter to George F. FitzGerald from Ettrick W. Creak,” RDS Digital Archive, accessed December 6, 2025, https://digitalarchive.rds.ie/items/show/1882.