Clerk Maxwell and the Michelson Experiment

Abstract

WE have received from Mr. Rollo Appleyard, author of “Pioneers of Electrical Communication”, a copy of correspondence that he has had with Prof. P. Lenard, of Heidelberg, on the association of Clerk Maxwell with the Michelson experiment. Prof. Lenard suggested that although it is universally acknowledged that Maxwell played an important part in instituting the inquiry, it would be helpful if references could be obtained to Maxwell's own account of his views, Mr. Appleyard accordingly furnished the following particulars, which Prof. Lenard requested might be published in NATURE, in order that full credit might be given to Clerk Maxwell for the part he took in inspiring the Michelson experiment.