Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from A. Gray
Title
Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from A. Gray
Creator
Date
Identifier
GFF 9/41
Description
A handwritten letter from A, Gray to Professor G, F, Fitzgerald
The writer informs Fitzgerald that Burke, along with two other candidates, for an assistantship, with the decision due next Wednesday. As the position involves preparing students for London examinations. The writer seeks Fitzgerald’s opinion on whether Burke is good enough for this kind of work. While confident in Burke's abilities based on his degree and Fitzgerald’s prior comments, a brief confirmation would be appreciated. The letter also references a missed opportunity to hear Fitzgerald's paper and clarifies a past misunderstanding regarding discussions on magnetic and electrokinetic energy.
4.pp
Transcription:
Dear Fitzgerald,
Burke with other two men, one from Edinburgh, and another from London (whom by the way you must have examined in 1892 as he got a second class in Exp. Physics J. & Edward Tyndall) is in the short list for my assistant ship & the election is to take place on Wednesday next.
We shall still, notwithstanding on our University, have to prepare students for London, and of course you know the kind of work a man should be able to do for the London examinations, and especially the higher practical examinations in physics. Now the question has been asked whether Burke is thoroughly conversant with the range and kind of work. I have not much doubt about myself the matter myself.
Having regard to his degree your testimonial, & what you told me of his good and bad points as Oxford, but it might be well if you would write me a line or two in answer to this question. I suppose he would compare well with a man you would have fallen a first class at London
I am very sorry that owing to the "trifurcation" of Section A I missed his paper.
an [Geissler?] tubes. I think there was a little misunderstanding between us when we talked about energy in the Park at Oxford. You were speaking of the energy thrown into the field by the battery in magnetising up a specimen of iron by the steps. I referred to electrokinetic.
Energy exciting in the medium, which if requires many of malfunction is event until it seems to me to be 1/2 HB. The energy given out by the battery includes energy spent in doing electromagnetic work over and above..........
The writer informs Fitzgerald that Burke, along with two other candidates, for an assistantship, with the decision due next Wednesday. As the position involves preparing students for London examinations. The writer seeks Fitzgerald’s opinion on whether Burke is good enough for this kind of work. While confident in Burke's abilities based on his degree and Fitzgerald’s prior comments, a brief confirmation would be appreciated. The letter also references a missed opportunity to hear Fitzgerald's paper and clarifies a past misunderstanding regarding discussions on magnetic and electrokinetic energy.
4.pp
Transcription:
Dear Fitzgerald,
Burke with other two men, one from Edinburgh, and another from London (whom by the way you must have examined in 1892 as he got a second class in Exp. Physics J. & Edward Tyndall) is in the short list for my assistant ship & the election is to take place on Wednesday next.
We shall still, notwithstanding on our University, have to prepare students for London, and of course you know the kind of work a man should be able to do for the London examinations, and especially the higher practical examinations in physics. Now the question has been asked whether Burke is thoroughly conversant with the range and kind of work. I have not much doubt about myself the matter myself.
Having regard to his degree your testimonial, & what you told me of his good and bad points as Oxford, but it might be well if you would write me a line or two in answer to this question. I suppose he would compare well with a man you would have fallen a first class at London
I am very sorry that owing to the "trifurcation" of Section A I missed his paper.
an [Geissler?] tubes. I think there was a little misunderstanding between us when we talked about energy in the Park at Oxford. You were speaking of the energy thrown into the field by the battery in magnetising up a specimen of iron by the steps. I referred to electrokinetic.
Energy exciting in the medium, which if requires many of malfunction is event until it seems to me to be 1/2 HB. The energy given out by the battery includes energy spent in doing electromagnetic work over and above..........
Source
RDS Library & Archives GFF collection letters
Contributor
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
Gray, A., “Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from A. Gray,” RDS Digital Archive, accessed December 5, 2025, https://digitalarchive.rds.ie/items/show/2355.