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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.
Expressing his gratitude for the kindness received from JH while staying in England. Thanks for the Memoir he has received.
Asks for the use of an invariable pendulum and a clock from the Board of Longitude so that G. B. Airy and William Whewell can carry out experiments to measure the change in gravity and the mean density of the earth, in a Yorkshire coal mine.
Reports the death of Giuseppe Piazzi.
Comments on use of muriate of lime on plants. Also on existence of unexplained bands on film and on presence of red light beyond normal spectrum with light originating from certain sources.
May choose one of each of the new specimens of Boracite crystals; the remainder send to C. D. E. König at the British Museum, together with the enclosed letter. Is now recovering from his sickness.
Wishes to print the observations WP presented to the R.S.L. in his forthcoming Journal. Can JH assist him; has obtained permission from Humphry Davy.
Looked for JS to talk with him about the secretaryship of the R.S.L., specifically discussing Charles Babbage's position. JH would prefer to have JS nominate Babbage.
Tells CB that everyone is anxious to have CB allow his name to stand for the Secretaryship of the R.S.L. JH lists many names of people who have all said they would vote for CB.
Writing on behalf of her husband, Charles, who is away, GB expresses her thankfulness for JH's kindness, and believes Charles will agree to be nominated for secretary of the R.S.L.
Informs JH of the need for a short R.S.L. Council meeting.
Is not able to accede to HD's suggestion that JH interview J. G. Children. JH now feels that given HD's views, JH must withdraw Charles Babbage's name from nomination for secretary of the R.S.L.
Is anxious to talk to JH about the matter of Charles Babbage's election. Believes Babbage being out of town is best, thereby leaving matters in the hands of his friends.
FB has seen P. M. Roget and Stephen Groombridge, who both give their support to Charles Babbage's election. FB is very concerned about the lack of an R.S.L. Council meeting when most council members would attend.
On 23 Nov. in the evening, at what JH calls an irregular meeting of the R.S.L., J. G. Children was elected Secretary, to serve with JH, who had been secretary for some years. JH urges that the R.S.L. and its members must now rise beyond this shabbiness and move ahead.
In describing the way in which J. G. Children was elected to the secretaryship, JH says 'the matter was irregularly brought by the President before a meeting of eight or nine persons whom he chose to call a council' to meet for a few minutes 'to transmit some business connected with the Treasurer's accounts.' JH feels Humphry Davy's actions will not be excused even by Davy's best friends.
Has heard a report that [Humphry] D[avy] is not prepared to nominate Charles Babbage and that D[avy] would be glad if J. G. Children would become Secretary of the R.S.L. Nonetheless, WF hopes that Davy will change his mind.
Urges JS not to insist on a minor point of dispute about the title of a prospective member. JH feels it is inappropriate and will simply reflect against Charles Babbage, who proposed this person for membership.
Asks for JH's assistance in the acquiring of some astronomical equipment.
Kept busy by writing. Works with Teodoro Monticelli. Expects Captain [Richard] Copeland to visit.
Responds to receipt of sample impression of GP's memoir [see GP's 1825-12-3]. Comments on printing and paying arrangements, and to whom copies are to be sent. Comments on value of using an equatorial telescope as opposed to a meridian circle. [Some parts of the letter are illegible.]