Description

Description: In this two page autograph letter signed, Wollaston states in part: “…though it be very desirable that…the theory of the equilibre mobile [mechanical explanation of gravity] should be published, it is very likely that the R. Society would not be inclined to print the paper. 1^st because much of the matter…is already published by Prevost. 2^nd because much belongs to [Daniel] Bernoulli & [Georges-Louis] Le Sage. 3^rd because the English…are too well satisfied with the conceptions of Newton…”.

Written on two pages of a folded 8″ x 10″ sheet of paper, docketed on verso: “Nov 7, 1807” and addressed to: “Dr. Marcet”. Item #A02055

William Hyde Wollaston (1766-1828), English scientist, was trained as a medical doctor who abandoned medicine to become a chemist and physicist. His skill was best demonstrated in his important investigations on platinum metals–discoveries of palladium and rhodium; he also developed a way to process platinum into malleable ingots. He built the first spectrometer in 1802 and coined the term bicarbonate. He also improved on John Dalton’s atomic theory. Mineralogists called upon him to determine the chemical composition of new minerals. Wollastonite was named in his honor for his contributions to crystallography. Fearful of competing interests, he was secretive about his work and, therefore, lesser known than Dalton or Humphry Davy. Wollaston was the godfather of William Blake’s son, Henry Wollaston Blake.

Dr. John Marcet (1770-1822) was popularly known as the fever doctor and was an accomplished British-Genevan chemist. He was physician at Guy’s Hospital between 1804-1819. He supported Edward Jenner in encouraging universal inoculation against smallpox. His medical publications include how to procure vaccines (with Jenner), studied the beneficial qualities of mineral water, accounts of hydrophobia, nephritis, alkali in blood, and “calculous disorders,” etc. His chemical papers were concerned with the use of nitrate as a test for arsenic, beneficial qualities of mineral water, etc.

Pierre Prevost (1751-1839) was a Genevan physicist and philosopher. He is remembered for having published, with additions of his own, the Traité de physique by Georges-Louis Le Sage, and for his enunciation of the law of exchange in radiation.

Condition: Mailing fold lines, otherwise very good.