[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from J. E. Cullum],
Title
[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from J. E. Cullum],
Creator
Date
Identifier
GFF 5/96
Description
Handwritten letter from John Edward Cullum, Valencia Observatory, Cahirciveen, County Kerry, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 6 October 1887. Cullum discusses his scientific instruments (a magnet and chronometer), and the possibility of meeting up with Fitzgerald in Dublin.
Transcription:
“Dear Sir,
Many thanks for your kind and considerate letter of the 4th.
I am glad you approve of sending the magnet to Kew, for it would be a pity for the sake of such a small fee to have my Observations questioned. In writing to Mr. Whipple I will ask his opinion of the advisability of remagnetising the Coll. Magnet. What I meant by doubling the stirrup is that by putting a suspension fitting at the bottom of it, the Magnet can be reversed without turning it in its fitting, so that when its Magnetic axis is determined it can be fixed.
You must decide about the Chronometer, for I fear I shall not be able to begin Observing regularly until the beginning of the year, and it seems a pity to be paying for nothing. It has a large rate, and is not particularly handy, the tick being weak, and the dial not so clear as my own one.
If you wish I could bring it up to Dublin with me at the end of this month, for I hope to be there then for my marriage, and we can then go fully into the matter. I was sorry not to be able to have you in the Summer, but I hope next year you will be able to pay me a visit, and I shall always be glad to see Mr. Preston when convenient to him.
With kind regards
Believe me
Yours sincerely
J. E. Cullum”
Transcription:
“Dear Sir,
Many thanks for your kind and considerate letter of the 4th.
I am glad you approve of sending the magnet to Kew, for it would be a pity for the sake of such a small fee to have my Observations questioned. In writing to Mr. Whipple I will ask his opinion of the advisability of remagnetising the Coll. Magnet. What I meant by doubling the stirrup is that by putting a suspension fitting at the bottom of it, the Magnet can be reversed without turning it in its fitting, so that when its Magnetic axis is determined it can be fixed.
You must decide about the Chronometer, for I fear I shall not be able to begin Observing regularly until the beginning of the year, and it seems a pity to be paying for nothing. It has a large rate, and is not particularly handy, the tick being weak, and the dial not so clear as my own one.
If you wish I could bring it up to Dublin with me at the end of this month, for I hope to be there then for my marriage, and we can then go fully into the matter. I was sorry not to be able to have you in the Summer, but I hope next year you will be able to pay me a visit, and I shall always be glad to see Mr. Preston when convenient to him.
With kind regards
Believe me
Yours sincerely
J. E. Cullum”
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
Cullum, John Edward, “[Letter to George F. FitzGerald from J. E. Cullum],,” RDS Digital Archive, accessed May 17, 2025, https://digitalarchive.rds.ie/items/show/2011.