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Document number: 1672
Date: 12 May 1828
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: YOUNG Thomas
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA28-28
Last updated: 28th January 2013

Park Square
12 May 1828

My dear Sir

It happens by a singular fatality that while I am in hopes of obtaining from you a valuable fragment of literature, I should have to apply to you for a no less valuable fragment of profound science

Mr. Herschel <1> informs me that you are in possession of a demonstration of the remarkable theorem by which the late Mr. Fraunhofer <2> deduced the discontinuous colours of his spectra from the laws of interference: and as I am too lazy, or perhaps too busy, or too ignorant to attempt to make it out for myself, I should be much obliged if you would favour me with a sight of it: concluding, as I do from Herschel’s expression, that it has not been published –

Believe me Dear sir very sincerely yours
Thomas Young

W. H. Fox Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street

Notes:

1. Sir John Frederick William Herschel (1792–1871), astronomer & scientist.

2. Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787–1826), optician, Munich.

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