Hi Mike,
I just ordered my copy online, so it will take me a few days to get the
book.
But Franklin was a real scientist - a respected one at that in Europe. So
I'll have to see what the book says for myself.
Regarding Woodhouse, Silliman seems to have had a bad relationship with him
and would not show him his manuscript on the Weston meteorite when he went
to visit Woodhouse in Philadelphia. It should also be pointed out that
Woodhouse was Silliman's chemistry teacher, and died soon after the Weston
meteorite literature was published, so he didn't really get a chance to
discuss it. But he did conduct an analysis of the Weston stone, perhaps
before Silliman - I am in the process of obtaining the original papers. The
question is how good the analyses were.
So, you have the advantage on me since you have the book! :-) I'll have to
take a wait and see attitude until I have a chance to read it.
But anyone who says that the Weston meteorite was the birth of American
science in light of the accomplishments of Franklin and Woodhouse, is going
to get strange looks from me without providing a pretty good explanation!
As noted in Burke, both Silliman and Woodhouse were familiar with foreign
chemical analyses, and knew that they should be looking for nickel.
It's more likely that Silliman's real contribution to American science was
the establishment of the American Journal of Science in 1818, and not the
analysis of the Weston meteorite. Sounds like an exaggerated title for the
book.
Then again, my impressions have been made from the book reviews, and not the
book, so we'll see!
Thanks for you initial thoughts, Mike!
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Bandli" <[email protected]>
To: "'Mark Grossman'" <[email protected]>; "'Jason Utas'"
<[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 1:08 AM
Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] Speaking of Weston...
Hello Mark,
I'm now half way through the book and can report that Prince does explain
and relate everyone in your #2. I think the reader will find Silliman's
and
Woodhouse's relationship to the Weston fall quite interesting.
As for #1, I think perhaps "Turning Point" would have been a better choice
and less controversial than "Birth." She has made a strong case so far,
though, as it pertains to the general state of science in America at the
time.
I haven't found anything yet that confirms the wild review claim in your
#3,
but I still have half a book to go. I did find myself having to re-read
several paragraphs after thinking "That's not true!", only to realize that
it was prefixed with "...the first *American* to..." You'll see that
Prince
is very careful with her wording in some places and it seems to me that,
at
times, this can pump up Silliman's accomplishments. She does write that
Silliman drew on the work of Chladni and discusses other falls and figures
later in the book, but really tries to stay within the parameters of
American figures, events, and milestones.
There are a couple of glaring errors related to meteorite history that do
stick out. I'll see if others pick up on them as well.
So far it is a solid book. The accounts of the Weston fall are
particularly
fun and Prince does a good job painting an image of early life and
hardship
in Weston and the fall as described by the residents.
I'll finish the rest tomorrow.
Time for bed...
Cheers,
Mike
----------------------------------------------
Mike Bandli
Historic Meteorites
www.HistoricMeteorites.com
and join us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Meteorites1
IMCA #5765
-----------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Grossman [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 6:00 PM
To: Mike Bandli; 'Jason Utas'; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Speaking of Weston...
I just took a quick look as some of the reviews of this book that were
written by CT newspapers, and I will have to read the book to determine
the
accuracy of some of the statements.
1. As far as the birth of American science - "science-oriented statesman"
Benjamin Franklin preceded Benjamin Silliman in giving American science a
name abroad. He was held in the highest respect as a scientist just as
much
as a statesman in Europe for his electrical investigations, and attended
the
salon of the Lavoisiers in Paris regularly.
2. What happened to mention of James Woodhouse of Philadelphia
(1770-1809),
who had a laboratory in Philadelphia that Joseph Priestly, the discover of
oxygen, used to visit? Woodhouse also analyzed the Weston stone, but
off-hand, I don't know who has priority. I hope the book mentions
Woodhouse.
3. Weston - the first scientific investigation that proved that
meteorites
came from outer space? What happened to mention of Edward Howard,
L'Aigle,
Chladni, etc.?
Again, I haven't read the book yet, so perhaps the reporting is
inaccurate.
But if there is any truth to reviews that I have seen, this book is headed
for trouble.
I would be interested in any comments from those who have already had a
chance to read or peruse the book.
Thanks.
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Bandli" <[email protected]>
To: "'Jason Utas'" <[email protected]>; "'Meteorite-list'"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 12:29 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Speaking of Weston...
There is a new book out:
http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_167
&products_id=2027
I'll be reading it this week and hope to give a review soon. Looks like
it
will be good!
(Thanks to R. Wesel for the gift!)
Cheers,
Mike
-------------------------------
Mike Bandli
Historic Meteorites
www.HistoricMeteorites.com
and join us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Meteorites1
IMCA #5765
-------------------------------
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