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The Sir John Herschel Collection
The preparation of the print Calendar of the Correspondence of Sir John Herschel (Michael J. Crowe ed., David R. Dyck and James J. Kevin assoc. eds, Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998, viii + 828 pp) which was funded by the National Science Foundation, took ten years. It was accomplished by a team of seventeen professors, visiting scholars, graduate students, advanced undergraduates, and staff working at the University of Notre Dame.
The first online version of Calendar was created in 2009 by Dr Marvin Bolt and Steven Lucy, working at the Webster Institute of the Adler Planetarium, and it is that data that has now been reformatted for incorporation into Ɛpsilon.
Further information about Herschel, his correspondence, and the editorial method is available online here: http://historydb.adlerplanetarium.org/herschel/?p=intro
No texts of Herschel’s letters are currently available through Ɛpsilon.
Approves of the plan for the observatory. Comments on some of the features. Good equatorial is a necessity. Will try to obtain a copy of the plan of the Cambridge Observatory.
Has just returned from abroad and found his letter of April awaiting him. Hoped to visit Vienna when abroad. Has received money for the clock. Hopes to send his own paper on double stars later. Encloses some papers for distribution. Measured height of Etna when in Italy. Met Josef Fraunhofer and had an instructive discussion with him.
Charles Babbage communicated [Edward] Smedley's note requesting JH to write an article on 'Heat' and an Introduction to Physical Science. Appears to be some misunderstanding as JH does not wish to write on Heat, no interest in the subject, but is prepared to write on Physical Optics. When will the latter article be required?
Directs JP to additional sources of biographical information about William Herschel [see JP's 1823-12-13], and comments on some other details of JP's letter.
Received MB's letters of 19 and 28 May [1824]. Responds to news from Slough. Expedition to Sicily was successful, but C. G. B. Daubeny contracted malaria. Summer climate in Rome and Pontine Marshes. Danger of malaria forced JH and servant James [Child] to travel separately. [Letter continued 7 Sept.:] James arrived from Naples. JH's trip to Tivoli. Itinerary home through Germany. Send letters to Munich.
Letter to [Edinburgh Philosophical] Journal calling attention to 1809 article by [Paul] Erman of Berlin, which some say anticipated JH's 1824 Bakerian lecture on 'Motions produced in fluid conductors when transmitting the Electric current.' JH compares both papers, admits Erman's priority on some theoretical points but claims originality for JH's experiments.
Accepts honor of joining committee at ceremony to lay first stone of new bridge. Proposes including platina copies of standard British measures of length and weight in foundation as part of 'precious records' preserved for posterity.
Written from Palermo, this chatty letter describes JH's time in Italy and Sicily. JH mentions having ascended Mt. Etna and having spent the night on its summit. A second part of this letter is dated July 19 and its location is given as Naples. On way to Hanover.
JH carried portable barometer by Edward Troughton and thermometer by Mr. Newman to Europe and compared these to instruments used by individual scientists and observatories. Reports results to Board of Longitude.
Mrs. Babbage, still recuperating, wishes to visit Slough. Recent publication of Charles Babbage's book should excite insurance directors. Paper by Mary Somerville was read at R.S.L. last week. Invitation for MH to visit Somervilles at Chelsea. JH admitted to Geological Society yesterday, presided over by William Buckland. Encloses JH's diploma from Royal Academy of Copenhagen. News of MH's London acquaintances.
Foul weather in Dover delays departure of JH and servant James Child for Calais. Geological formations along road to Dover. Instructions on numbering and preserving personal letters.
Weather is good for Channel crossing. Returns 'book of rates.' It is too cumbersome.
Arrival in Paris. Names chemists, mathematicians, and others whom JH met at Institute. Breakfast with D. F. J. Arago at observatory. Problems with passport. Purchase of carriage for trip to Italy. [Letter continued same day from Melun:] En route to Lyons.
Describes travels in Savoy and Sardinia. Snowstorm on Mont Cenis. Arrived in Turin on Good Friday. Meeting with G. B. Plana at Turin observatory. Leaving for Rome next week.
Describes Turin and church politics. Ill health of the Pope {Leo XII]. [Letter continued 27 April between Genoa and Modena:] Met F. X. Zach in Genoa. Incident of anti-Jewish bigotry in Genoa. [Letter continued 2 May in Florence:] Met G. B. Amici in Modena. Clarity of Amici's telescope. Describes Bologna.
Describes monastery. [Letter continued 12 May in Arezzo, Tuscany:] Journey from Bologna. Describes Florence and Florentine art. [Letter continued 16 May at Città di Londra Hotel in Rome] Received mail from home. Death of [JH's godmother] Susan White. Describes Rome. Will search for Mr. Kestner.
Disappointed with Roman ruins and art. [Letter continued 24 May:] Hopes to receive mail from Slough in Naples. [Letter continued 27 May:] Viewed pope's benediction in St. Peter's Square. Roman weather. JH's itinerary for June and July.
Asks for news of MH's health. Lists all letters JH has sent. Problems with European post. Trip from Rome to Naples. Neopolitan countryside. [Letter continued 2 June:] At Hotel de la Città di Napoli on Bay of Naples. Describes Mount Vesuvius. Visit with Teodoro Monticelli and British minister W. R. Hamilton. [Letter continued 3 June:] Attended opera at Europe's largest theater. Prefers Naples to Rome; will stay at least one month.
Describes last letter to MH. [Letter continued 9 June in Naples:] Will write to J. H. Nelson. Problems with postal service in Naples. Met European nobility at dinner of British minister W. R. Hamilton. Ascent of Mount Vesuvius with Nicola Covelli. Barometer observations, chemical experiments, and camera lucida drawings. High society in Naples. Describes 'ridiculous' religious practices at church of Madonna dell'Arco and barbarian lower classes of Naples.
Received mail from MH, Mary Baldwin, and J. H. Nelson. Death of George Gordon (Lord Byron). Dined with British minister W. R. Hamilton. News of English residents in Rome. Recent archeological discoveries in Naples. Describes Pompeii, Solfaterra, and Puzzuoli. Religious procession of king through Naples. [Letter continued 18 June:] Met British admiral H. B. Neale at Hamilton's. Problems with Dey of Algiers.