Rayleigh Collection at the Science Museum

Abstract

AMONG recent additions to the Science Museum, South Kensington, is a most interesting collection of apparatus used by the late Lord Rayleigh in the course of his scientific research. On the occasion of the unfortunate fire, last year, at Lord Rayleigh's home at Terling, Essex, a considerable quantity of apparatus was destroyed, but the historical apparatus was fortunately undamaged and the bulk of it has been generously given by the present Lord Rayleigh to the Science Museum, where it should prove a continual source of interest and inspiration to professional and amateur scientific workers alike. It is scarcely necessary to remind readers of NATUBE of the extent and importance of the late Lord Rayleigh's contributions to science. During a period of more than fifty years he published no fewer than 446 papers, every one of which made a distinct addition to our knowledge of the subject and was characterised by that lucidity and elegance of expression for which its author was renowned.