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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.
List of papers JH took from CLH on his 'last visit' to [Hanover]. Miscellaneous notes about relatives and acquaintances.
Gives reasons why CH rejoiced at news of Mrs. Papendick's death, and grieves that two daughters of Papendick are gaining influence at Court.
Hopes to introduce to Margaret Herschel some of her acquaintances, including the family of General Baron Hugh Halkett.
Lists those who visited CH on her birthday.
Angry that many call William Herschel's 40-ft. reflecting telescope 'useless.'
Asserting that her memory remains sharp, CH promises that she will periodically describe 'what passed in old times.'
Promises in her next letter to comment about JH's 'chrysotype' photographic process.
Describes the visit of the Crown Prince and Princess [of Hanover?] on her 93rd birthday (16 March).
Urges JH to study a temporary index made by William Herschel that contains observations about types of zodiacal light.
Remarks that the citizens of Hanover 'are all out of their senses' over the newly completed railway. Has been confined to the upstairs of her home since 3 February.
A collection of birthday greetings from JH, his wife, Margaret, and seven of their children, six of whom wrote their greetings in German. JH refers to Biela's Comet having thrown off a portion of itself, producing what JH calls a 'Double Comet.'
Packing up the 7-ft. and 10-ft. reflecting telescopes for their trip to Collingwood in Hawkhurst in Kent, JH's new home.
JH has given away his sweeping telescope to [Johann] Hausmann and the 5-ft. Newtonian reflector to the R.A.S. to be preserved 'long after I and all the little ones are dead and gone.' The skies have been excellent for JH to observe variable stars and to connect the northern with the southern magnitudes. Proved that Alpha Orionis is both a variable star and a periodical star.
JH and family are beginning to feel at home at Collingwood.
Reports the birth of Amelia Herschel, JH's eighth child. Forwarding to CH an article describing the telescope of William Parsons.
The reductions for JH's Cape Results are progressing. JH's mapping work has been 'carried over the whole surface of the heavens' this year.
Is confident that by summer his sweeps will all be reduced and arranged in three catalogs for JH's Cape Results.
Met Friedrich Bessel at the Manchester B.A.A.S. meeting; invited him to Collingwood, where he expects Bessel in a few days. Enclosed with the letter a specimen of a new photographic process called 'Chrysotype.' Marvels at traveling from Hawkhurst to Manchester round trip (420 miles) in under 23 hours!
Reports the erection of an obelisk at Feldhausen to commemorate the site of JH's 20-ft. reflector. Back at Cape Town, Thomas Maclear is measuring N. L. Lacaille's Arc of the Meridian. JH received the Prussian Order of Merit.
JH finished his catalog of stars for his Cape Results; hopes to be finished with his nebulae and double star catalogs soon.