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Somerville, Mary in correspondent 
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Herschel13532

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[14 March 1869]
Source of text:
TxU:H/L-0760.4; Reel 1089 (C: RS:HS 16.378 & 24.251)
Summary:

Commentary on manuscript [Personal Recollections?] that [MS] sent to JH one month ago. Career of scientific learning and domestic happiness will inspire future generations. Suggests publishing it posthumously for greater impact. Corrects passages about Charles Babbage. Gives purpose, history, and membership of each of two Standards committees, one of 1819 and one of 1838. Suggests avoiding topic of bitter controversy over invention of electric telegraph.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2637

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[1830-1?]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.382 (C: RS:HS 25.13.29b)
Summary:

Admires her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Wishes [P. S.] Laplace would have lived to see it. Notes a problem with the principle of virtual velocity.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2657

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[17 March 1844]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.348 (C: RS:HS 22.148)
Summary:

Sending papers on actinochemistry (photography). Discusses [James] Forbes's viscosity theory, nebulae of Southern Hemisphere, great refractor at Collegio Romano, and Lord Rosse's telescopes.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2661

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[2 November 1845]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.352 (C: RS:HS 22.254)
Summary:

Discusses MS's light experiments. JH will present the results to Royal Society. Describes apparatus that may help her. Recently attended a meeting concerning continental magnetics and meteorology.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2663

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[8 August 1847]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.354 (C: RS:HS 22.324)
Summary:

Has noticed a resemblance between [Alexander von Humboldt's] Kosmos and MS's chapter, 'On Man,' in her manuscript. Advises her to revise. Sends results of observations at the Cape.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2665

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[2 March 1851]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.356 (C: RS:HS 23.99)
Summary:

JH's new position [Master of Mint] took him by surprise. People seem 'wild' over renewed agitation of Papal aggression issue. Describes the discovery of Saturn's new ring.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2666

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[30 May 1853]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.357 (C: RS:HS 23.134)
Summary:

The year has been peaceful for the Herschels and JH is doing little scientific work. Discusses the 'delusion' about 'turning tables,' which JH finds ridiculous.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2669

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[20 January 1858]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.360 (C: RS:HS 23.217)
Summary:

Feeling better, but writing still painful. Writing articles on meteorology and geology for Encyclopaedia Britannica. May use information from her Physical Geography.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2670

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[28 February 1858]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.361 (C: RS:HS 23.224)
Summary:

Lists facts from various astronomical catalogues, such as the number of fixed, double, and binary stars. Discusses parallax. Thanks her for second edition of Physical Geography.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2674

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[12 April 1861]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.365 (C: RS:HS 23.328)
Summary:

Thanks MS for sympathy letter. Discusses present situation in Italy. Discusses his children and their scattered locations, e.g., a son fighting in the Indigo affair. Discusses his articles for Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2678

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[30 July 1863]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.369 (Draft: RS:HS 16:370)
Summary:

Is sending manuscript with comments. Congratulates her 'activity of mind.' Critiqued her paper according to the effect it will have when published. Working on catalogue of nebulae.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2680

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[11 April 1865]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.372 (C: RS:HS 24:104)
Summary:

Comments on the political change within Italy. Answers questions about spectrum analysis, spectra of nebulae, and [solar] 'willow leaves.' Says the view of universe as a collection of billiard balls is problematic. Includes postscript from JH's daughter Bella describing family events.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2685

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[30 July 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 24:275
Summary:

Attached comments [not included] convey JH's views on MS's new manuscript [On Molecular and Microscopical Science, 1869]. Expresses reservations about MS's endorsement of current ideas of forces and their correlation and conservation.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2690

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[1845 ?].
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.381 (C: RS:HS 25.14.4)
Summary:

Augustus DeMorgan and [Henry Fox] Talbot are sending their papers to her. Family is well. Outlines a process of photography.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel8379

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[10 April 1851]
Source of text:
RS:HS 19.183
Summary:

Poem, entitled 'Intelligence,' celebrating creation of mankind.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
Text Online

Herschel2638

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[23 February 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.329 (C: RS:HS 21.60)
Summary:

Sends 40 pages of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] along with suggestions for improvement. Suggests clarifying the principles of the first chapter and a fuller explanation of various other principles.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online

Herschel2641

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[9 March 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.332 (C: RS:HS 21.61)
Summary:

Sends new translation of [P. S. Laplace's] Mécanique céleste. Says her revision [of MS's Mechanism of the Heavens] has been effective. Still doubts the derivation of the fundamental equation. Discusses force, resistance, and reaction with regard to this equation.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online

Herschel2643

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[31 March 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.334 (C: RS:HS 21.66)
Summary:

Says manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] cannot be improved materially except perhaps on one or two small points. Will look at it again when it is together in a whole. Announces birth of JH's daughter [Caroline] that morning.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online

Herschel2646

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[15 June 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.337 (C: RS:HS 21.71)
Summary:

Will bring her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Apologizes for holding it so long. Critiques various passages concerning permanent rotation and equations of stability. Sends condolences on Dr. Somerville's loss.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online

Herschel2652

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[8 March 1831]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.343 (ACCS: RS:HS 25.1.33)
Summary:

Explains to MS P. S. Laplace's method of indeterminate coefficients in mathematics. Thanks MS for her praise of his book [Prelim. Discourse], which JH values more highly than newspaper reviews.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
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