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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.
Sending back part of manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] for criticism. Hopes Mrs. Herschel and baby are well.
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.
Sends a method of estimating the variations in the elements of orbits during the perturbations in longitude and distance. Used it in manuscript when examining Saturn and Jupiter.
Asks JH to send the astronomical part of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] by Mr. Richards on Thursday.
Used a counter spell to keep the moon at a 'due distance.' Her previous computations were careless. Asks JH to return part of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] for corrections.
Thanks JH for attention to Mrs. Somerville's work [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Please send any part of the work that he has finished.
Mrs. Somerville cannot decide what to call her book [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Please advise so publishing can commence.
Glad WS is coming to England but cautions that London empties in June. Congratulates WS on measurement of a 'great Northern arc.' Complains about the division of the Royal Society into 'parties'. Adds [James] South's results showing a sixth star, nearer than WS's fifth, in trapezium of Orion.
Tells AQ of 'negligent inattention' regarding Belgium's instruments. Has extracted promise from [William?] Simms that the equatorial should be finished by Christmas and mural circle within the following year. Mentions seeing Colonel Blake and [G. P.] Dandelin. Regrets [P. F.] Verhulst's illness. Discusses lichen.
Hopes to meet JH and [James] South in summer. Announces emperor's decision to support measurement of the 3.5° latitude meridian throughout the entire Russian empire. WS is responsible for directing work in the north. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining correct linear standards uniform with both France and England. Requests a copy of the English standard so as to compare it with the Russian measurements of degrees.
Requests advice in determining optimal time for visit to England. Thanks for invitation to Slough. Mentions completion of his sixth volume of observations, the introduction of which could prove interesting to JH. Fascinated by JH's observation of a sixth star in the trapezoid of Orion.
Will arrive in England in mid-August. Mentions convention of German scientists on 18 September and invites JH.
Briefs JH on his productive Paris visit and offers details concerning his upcoming England visit.
Deeply regrets having missed JH before departure. Thanks for priceless gift of William Herschel's works and for the glimpses of nebulae. Requests his catalogue on noteworthy nebulae when completed.
Reminds WS to select certain nebulae for 'communal observation.' Received good news from Finland. Gave [James] South the list of 36 double stars to be observed. Stars compare except result in smaller distances than JH's and South's observations.
Takes a moment to write. Sends various brochures and observations on magnetic intensity in Germany. Asks JH to give a copy of it to [Charles] Babbage and [Henry] Kater. Congratulates JH on being named correspondent to the Institute of France. Lost his father-in-law. Has asked [James] South to press construction of AQ's instruments, but no luck. Requests JH visit Edward Troughton and the instruments.
Announces second volume of translation of JH's Light is out in Paris. Is sending a copy. Work progresses slowly. Problems because of revolution. AQ's collaborator [P. F.] Verhulst is very ill. Will leave for Italy soon. Discusses his previous trip to Germany. Saw [William] Whewell. Has received Astronomical Society's memoirs.
On behalf of [J. F.] Encke, asks that Greenwich observations be given to library of Berlin Observatory.
Reports circumstances surrounding death of a Mr. Beckwith, for whom JH serves as an executor.
Cannot attend meeting [concerning the Nautical Almanac]. Makes numerous specific recommendations concerning its format and contents. Raises the theoretical question 'Does sidereal time flow uniformly?'