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Letters from Sir Robert Moray to his friend Alexander Bruce, Earl of Kincardine, also known as 'The Kincardine Papers'. Bruce was sick of the ague in Bremen for part of this time, and the letters were written to alleviate the tedium of of Bruce's illness, hence ranging over topics which might not otherwise have been the subjects of correspondence. They include accounts of chemical experiments in his laboratory, his interest in magnetism, medicine in all its aspects, horticulture, fuel, whale fishing, its risks and profits, coal mining, water wheels and tide mills, stone quarrying and the various qualities of different stones, the pumping works needed for undersea coal mines at Bruce's home at Culross in Fifeshire, even to the trees whose wood was best for pipelines, and the diameter of the bore best suited to the purpose. Familiarity is shown with mathematical and surveying instruments, with music, and all sorts of mechanical devices and especially clocks and watches, more particularly the taking out of a patent in respect of a clock for use at sea for finding longitude. Bruce is advised on the choice of books over a wide range of subjects. Moray includes anecdotes to amuse his ailing correspondent; he describes his quiet life and is enthusiastic about many of his chemical experiments. Notable at the end of the letters Moray added what he described as his Masonic signature - a pentagram which also occurs in his crest.

Four letters from Edward Wortley Montagu to Sir William Watson, 1773-1779.

Files of papers and correspondence relating to the Royal Society's administration of its internal affairs. Currently, the bulk of this material falls within the period 1925-50, although the period covered varies considerably according to subject. At present, the collection forms an important source on the Society's activities during the Second World War, and includes files of the Central Register (Section for Scientific Reseearch) for 1939-1940. Section A of the series contains correspondence of a number of important Fellows; WH Bragg 1935-41; HH Dale 1926-45; ACG Egerton 1939-49; AV Hill 1949-45; FW Lanchester 1942-44; HG Lyons 1939-42; TR Merton 1941-56; R Robinson 1946-50; AC Seward 1932-41; FE Smith 1928-33; HT Tizard 1940

Single manuscript letters or small groups of related documents considered too small to be added to the Manuscripts General series. Includes various document formats. The collection contains all manner of papers by, about or belonging to the Fellows of the Royal Society. Subject matter covers all branches of the sciences and includes non-scientific material. Current accessions are limited to materials not generated by the Royal Society, but acquired by gift or purchase; these usually number less than 10 items per accession. This has not always been the practice, so that the collection also contains relatively large groups of papers, occasionally on Royal Society business.

Original of letters sent to the Royal Society, generally on official business, and usually to Officers or Assistant Secretaries. The collection is effectively in two parts; letters for the period 1800-1899 are bound as 17 volumes; those for 1903-1925 are held unbound in boxes. The full sequence forms a single chronological archive with only occasional gaps, the most notable being the complete absence of the years 1900-1902 and 1920. From 1885, the series may be used in conjunction with the New Letter Books, which contain the corresponding outgoing letters.

Papers relating to the Meteorological Council's relations with the Royal Society, containing extracts, copy and original letters with manuscript notes, and printed material from the Meteorological Council, including some minutes, 1872-1900; with a summary of relations between the two bodies arranged chronologically, 1854-1901.

Manuscripts of meteorological observations, with magnetic surveys and tide tables. The series contains 393 sets of results in all formats from tables to diaries, in all sizes from single sheets to runs of several volumes and from all areas of the world. This type of record has been solicited by the Society during several periods of its history. Its own observations until 1843 (when the duties were transferred to the Royal Greenwich Observatory) are recorded in 16 volumes for the period 1827-1843 (MA.230-249). Various other manuscripts cover the information gathering done by the Meteorological Committee.
Includes MA.154 observations sent by Michael Faraday to the Royal Society.

A collection of medals and tokens, largely scientific awards, but with some miscellaneous items in base and precious metals. The core of the series consists of specimens of the Royal Society's own 15 medals and awards, from the earliest (the Copley Medal 1731) to the most recent (the Gabor Medal 1989). This includes some given to named Fellows and returned to the Society as gifts or bequests. Other items include prizes of foreign scientific academies, and pieces commemorating individual Fellows and Foreign Members.

Two tracts on acids by John McNab comprising:

1. Experiments on Mineral Acids and Rectified Spirits of Wine, for finding the greatest degree of cold.

2. Experiments on the Congelation of Vitriolic and Nitrous Acids in Hudson's Bay.

An account of the Mato Grosso based on the Royal Society and Royal Geographical Society expedition to central Brazil in 1967-1969 by Anthony Smith. Typescript marked 'First draft'.

Observations at Greenwich Observatory by the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne, DD, FRS, covering; transits 1765-1810; zeniths 1765-1810 and observations of comets 1769-1790.

Letters of Nevil Maskelyne on astronomy.

Papers by, about or belonging to the Fellows of the Royal Society, and acquired by donation or purchase from outside sources. Large diverse series of papers intended to encompass all collections of documents which were not generated by the organization, but which were donated, purchased or otherwise acquired from outside sources. The series therefore contains all manner of papers by, about, or belonging to Fellows of the Royal Society. The subject matter is as diverse as the interests of the Fellows, and covers all branches of the sciences, including some non-scientific material. Generally, the Manuscripts are Western in origin. Also includes some records generated by the Society itself but added to the collection when considered unsuitable for existing categories.

Letters, papers and original drawings including the manuscripts of Marcello Malpighi's works published by the Royal Society.

The correspondence of Sir John William Lubbock, providing information on a wide range of Lubbock's contemporaries, not exclusively in the field of science. The largest collections of scientific letters are from George Biddell Airy (113 letters), John George Children (128 letters), Joshua Alwyn Compton, 2nd Marquis of Northampton (98 letters), G P D de Pontecoulant (67 letters) and William Whewell (87 letters). There are smaller but no less important groups of letters from Charles Babbage, Francis Baily, Francis Beaufort, Charles Darwin, John Couch Adams, J F W Herschel, Baden Powell and W H F Talbot.

Papers of Hugh Christopher Longuet-Higgins FRS (1923-2004), always known as Christopher, include correspondence, lecture notes and papers giving testimony to a long and varied career of over 50 years.

Some correspondence, papers, and publications of Otto Loewi. The manuscript material is of a personal rather than a scientific nature and provides an important biographical source about Loewi's escape from Nazi Austria and his resettlement in the United States of America.

Lists of Visitors introduced at Meetings of the Royal Society in 9 volumes as follows: Volume 1 1783-1788; Volume 2 1812-1820; Volume 3 1822-1832; Volume 4 1847-1855; Volume 5 1856-1866; Volume 6 1867-1877; Volume 7 1878-1888; Volume 8 1889-1898; Volume 9 1899-1906.

Congratulatory addresses on the occasion of the Royal Society Lister Centenary in 1927.

Correspondence, papers and notebooks including the dissertation 'The excitatory and inhibatory states in reflex action' by Edward George Tandy Liddell.

Scientific papers sent to the Royal Society, many of which were published in the 'Philosophical Transactions'. As the name implies, the series is a combination and continuation of Early Letters and Classified Papers into the 19th century. Later, the sequence divided into Philosophical Transactions and Archived Papers. From the time that the Letters and Papers (or New Guard Books as they were originally known) were created, none of these original papers were copied into Letter or Register Books. Scientists represented include William Herschel (66 papers) William Watson (36 papers) Henry Baker (32 papers) Everard Home (31 papers), William Stukely (30 papers), and John Smeaton (23 papers). As the series progresses, the character of the documents alters - the earlier decades contain larger numbers of short letters, but by the 19th century most of the manuscripts are in the form of long monographs. The texts are supported by a large quantity of original illustrations throughout the series. This collection provides a virtually unbroken run of presentations by leading 18th century scientists; the few gaps include 1746-1749, when no papers were collected. Occasionally such missing items may be located in the archives of other institutions.

Copies of letters received by the Royal Society, the originals of which are in the Early Letters collection. The Letter Books were copied (as were the Journal and Register Books) for security reasons. The numbering of the volumes and their chronological range is slightly eccentric. Volumes numbered 1-18 are letters of 1662-1727; within this group, Volume 11 has been extended into two volumes. No Volume 17 was created in order to leave a gap in the series for retrospective copying of original papers. The succeeding Volumes 19-26 overlap in time, giving correspondence for the years 1720-1740. There are also five supplementary volumes providing fair copies of letters omitted from the main run; these are labelled A-B, B-C, D-G, G-H and H-S, the letters being arranged in order of author.

Transcribed from the original Letter Books. Contain fair copies of letters received by the Royal Society, the originals of which are in the Early Letters. Volumes 1-18 are letters of 1661-1727; within this group, Volume 11 has been extended into two volumes. Volume 17 was created in order to leave a gap in the series for retrospective copying of original papers. The succeeding volumes overlap in time, giving correspondence for the years 1720-1740. There are four supplementary copies, labelled A-B, B-C, D-G, G-H.

Extensive correspondence of Sir Joseph Larmor relating to his work on electromagnetic theory, optics, analytical mechanics, and geodynamics.

The Croonean Lectures on Muscular Motion by Browne Langrish MD, read before the Royal Society in 1747, being a Supplement to the 'Philosophical Transactions' for that year.

Letters and papers of Alexander Gordon Laing chiefly relating to his last and fatal expedition to Timbuktoo.

Kew Observatory Sunspot measurements from 24 January 1864 to 9 April 1872.

The Journal Books exist in Original and Copy versions. The Journal Books contain minutes of the ordinary minutes of the Royal Society, setting out the following information: person in the chair, news of elections to the Fellowship and Council, non-Fellows given leave to be present, and books and rarities presented to the Society. Letters and papers read before the Society are given in abstract with any subsequent discussion. By the 19th century much of this earlier detail is lost, so that , for example, only titles of papers are recorded.

The Journal Books exist in Original and Copy versions. They contain minutes of the ordinary meetings of the Royal Society, setting out the following information; person in the chair, news of elections to the Fellowship and the Council, non-Fellows given leave to be present, and books and rarities presented to the Society. Letters and Papers read before the Society are given in abstract with any subsequent discussion By the nineteenth century much of this earlier detail had been lost, so that, for example, only titles of papers are recorded. This copy version is a transcription of the Journal Book Original.

Original plates by George Lindsay Johnson from the paper 'Opthalmoscopic Studies on the eyes of mammals', published in 'Philosophical Transactions' B Volume 254, 1968.

Original Drawings of the Mammalian Eye by George Lindsay Johnson created for paper in 'Philosophical Transactions' B Volume 194, 1 and Volume 254, 207.

Some correspondence, papers, notebooks and publications of Sir James Hopwood Jeans. Early manuscripts in the series relate to Jean's education at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the form of early lecture notebooks, largely on mathematical topics. A collection of letters, 1901-1907, documents his treatment for tuberculosis at Ringwood Sanatorium, where he completed work on the theory of gases; correspondents included G H Hardy and Adam Sedgewick among others. Jean's engagements in popularizing science are represented by proofs and typescript of lectures and essays, especially those written for the BBC, 1934-1935, together with associated letters and press cuttings. The series contains collections of offprints, reprints, and extracts of published works by Jeans and others, notably from the Philosophical Transactions and the Philosophical Magazine.

Correspondence, papers, notebooks and specimens (copper and photographic) compiled by Sir Henry James.

The majority of this correspondence is based around the following themes: James's work for the Ordnance Survey (particularly the book of maps and photographs produced by the OS of Jerusalem), James's investigation of the corrosion by sea water of the copper bottoms of ships, letters discusing George Biddell Airy's proposed system of projection and personal letters of invitation to James.

The majority of the photographs relate to 'The Wreck of the RHONE', and in particular, of a survivor of the shipwreck, a cabin boy called John Bailey. (The RHONE was a steam packet ship, built in London in 1865. It sank off the coast of the Virgin Islands in October 1867, after being struck by strong winds. Of the 197 people on board only 24 survived. The wreck of the RHONE is now regarded as one of the world's most famous wreck dives).

The sketchbook consists mostly of sketches of trilobites drawn whilst James was in Ireland and the notebook contains notes on military topics.

A dictionary (Italian/English) of Italian proverbs rendered into English, by Benjamin Polsted. A-I only.

Correspondence and papers relating to the Royal Society relations with the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), current files contain:

a) British National Committee for Geodynamics (BNC Geodynamics) 8 files, 1970-1980

b) International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) 24 files, 1963-1980

c) International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) loose papers, 1980-1982

d) International Union of Radio Science (URSI) 6 files, 1968-1976

e) International Biological Programme (IBP) 4 files, 1970-1975 (but a much larger collection of IBP papers from the Society's modern records centre has been microfilmed between 2001-2005 and the originals destroyed because of their poor physical condition). The archive holds mateial relating to the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957-1958, particularly the establishment, administration and scientific results from the Royal Society Base at Halley Bay, Antarctica.

Agreements for printing and publishing the international catalogue of scientific literature between the Royal Society and Messrs Harrison and Sons, 1901-1911.

Papers relating to the International Association of Academies including Generalplan zur Grundung einer internationalen Association der Akademien, 1899; Statuten der internationalen Assoziation der Akademien, 9-10 October 1899; Letter from J Larmor, Secretary of the Royal Society, to the President of the Council of the International Association of Academies, Imperial Academy of Sciences, Vienna 21 December 1905; Letter from Chevalier Edm. Marchal, Secretaire perpetuel de l'Academie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, 16 May 1905; Letter from Robert Harrison, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society to The President, Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, 14 February 1906; Letter from J Gollancz, Secretary of the British Academy to Professor Victor von Lang, 26 February 1906; Letter from Robert Harrison to Professor Arthur Schuster FRS, 16 March 1906; Minutes of first sitting of General Assembly of the International Association of Academies, 29 May 1906; Minutes of the Committee meeting held on, 1 June 1906.

Illustrations of Pharaonic Egypt: plates (nos 25-36) and corresponding text sheets for a publication (volume 2) by American Polytechnic Co (Limited), Buffalo, NY (Publishers), depicting mummies, obelisks and a map of Thebes.

Drawings of the customs and manners of Tonkin [Hanoi], Vietnam, to accompany the written description of Samuel Baron (fl.1670s-1690s) of Fort St George, Madras. Engraved versions of these illustrations were later published as part of 'A collection of voyages and travels, some now first printed from original manuscripts', ed. Awsham and John Churchill (London, 1732). Manuscript amendments and inscriptions indicate some pre-publication correction, probably by the printer.

Papers on mathematics and physics collected by the Reverend Samuel Horsley DD, FRS.

Corrected page proof of 'Interneurons; their origin, action, specificity, growth and plasticity' by George Adrian Horridge, published in London by Freeman.

Draft and copy minutes of Royal Society meetings taken by Robert Hooke, the first 120 pages consist of notes taken by Robert Hooke after going through the draft notes of his predecessor, Henry Oldenburg, as Secretary. Remaining pages are notes taken by Hooke as Secretary attending the Society meetings. Includes a folder of loose material which was removed from the folio without noting where they came from before it was acquired by the Society.

'Journal of Samuel Holmes of a Voyage to China and Tartary, 1792-1793, during his attendance, as one of the guard, on Lord Macartney's Embassy to China'. The original manuscript of the book published in 1795. Also a letter dated Reading 7 December 1799 from Holmes to Sir William Young.

Papers relating to Thomas Henry Holland's relations with Russia and visit to the 220th anniversary of the Academy of Sciences of USSR in 1945. Also papers relating to a National Trust visit where Lady Holland was a member of the group in 1966.

The papers are not extensive and consist almost entirely of laboratory notebooks and working papers relating to his early work on molecular reactions and gas reactions, 1919-1938. There are also notes and reports of work on respirator design undertaken by Hinshelwood and his team for the Chemical Defence Board, Ministry of Supply, during the Second World War.

General Catalogue of new Nebulae and Clusters of Stars by Sir William Herschel.

General Index of the 2500 Nebulae of Sir William Herschel drawn up by Sir John Herschel.

'The Right ascension and Polar distance brought to January 1800 of the 2500 Nebulae and Clusters of Stars', printed in the Philosophical Transactions by Sir William Herschel.

Copy of the diary of Sir John Herschel 1834-1870.

Catalogue of nebulae of Sir John Herschel: A bundle of working sheets with the title 'Sir J F W Herschel's Catalogue of Nebulae'.