Letter to George F. FitzGerald from George James Burch
Title
Letter to George F. FitzGerald from George James Burch
Creator
Identifier
GFF 15/137
Description
Handwritten letter from George James Burch, 11 Beech croft Road Summertown, Oxford, to George F. Fitzgerald, undated. Burch writes of his struggle concerning his scientific work and implores Fitzgerald for help. 3pp.
Transcription:
"Prof. Fitzgerald
Dear Sir
You will doubtless remember a correspondence that passed between us some while since on the subject of the Capillary Electrometer - The interest you then expressed in my work encourages me to venture upon the request I am about to make. I propose to offer myself a Candidate for the vacant [Chair?] of Physics of Sidney - Unfortunately nearly all my work on the Capillary Electrometer has been done under the auspice of physiology, and as Prof. Lotch tells me, their testimonials would not have much weight for this purpose. Its a little disappointing after twelve years work to find that because this purely physical research happens to have yielded results, especially valuable to physiology, it should be difficult for me to reap the result of it But I quite realize that when I can get the testimony of physicists as to its value, it will be of very little benefit to myself. May I hope that you will be able to assist me in the matter? If the request is one that ought not to be made, please consider that I have only consulted you as to whether I might make it, and that I shall accept your advice in the spirit in which I am quite sure it will be given
Believe me
Yours Truly
George J. Burch
P. S.
I enclose an abstract of my paper on Colour Blindness now being printed in extenso in the Phil. Trans. - When it appears, I hope to send you a copy -"
Transcription:
"Prof. Fitzgerald
Dear Sir
You will doubtless remember a correspondence that passed between us some while since on the subject of the Capillary Electrometer - The interest you then expressed in my work encourages me to venture upon the request I am about to make. I propose to offer myself a Candidate for the vacant [Chair?] of Physics of Sidney - Unfortunately nearly all my work on the Capillary Electrometer has been done under the auspice of physiology, and as Prof. Lotch tells me, their testimonials would not have much weight for this purpose. Its a little disappointing after twelve years work to find that because this purely physical research happens to have yielded results, especially valuable to physiology, it should be difficult for me to reap the result of it But I quite realize that when I can get the testimony of physicists as to its value, it will be of very little benefit to myself. May I hope that you will be able to assist me in the matter? If the request is one that ought not to be made, please consider that I have only consulted you as to whether I might make it, and that I shall accept your advice in the spirit in which I am quite sure it will be given
Believe me
Yours Truly
George J. Burch
P. S.
I enclose an abstract of my paper on Colour Blindness now being printed in extenso in the Phil. Trans. - When it appears, I hope to send you a copy -"
Source
RDS Library & Archive 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
Burch, George James, 1852-1914, “Letter to George F. FitzGerald from George James Burch,” RDS Digital Archive, accessed December 6, 2025, https://digitalarchive.rds.ie/items/show/929.