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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.
Responds to JH's request for RS's opinion on [H. C.] Schumacher's contributions to astronomy. Praises Schumacher extensively.
Has received and comments on materials sent, including Nathaniel Bowditch's translation of P. S. Laplace's Mécanique céleste and a paper by J. W. Lubbock.
Will not be coming to either meeting [see James Hudson's 1830-12-18], because JH has fully expressed himself previously on the matter of Southern Hemisphere observations, and had already asked to be excused from further association with Glass Committee and any other connection with 'that subject.'
Regrets lack of time for WH's paper but has been occupied with nebulae and double stars. Finds it difficult to concentrate on one subject. Has proposed Edward Quin for Astronomical Society membership. Mentions [Francis] Beaufort's penchant for astronomy and the recent R.S.L. elections, as well as JH's wish to meet WH personally.
Been working on a new mirror for the 20-ft. telescope; very pleased with its performance. Asks CH to distribute his fourth catalog of double stars among the Prussian and German astronomers.
Wishes to learn if Isabella Stewart's health has declined.
Sorry to hear that JH was not elected President of the R.S.L. Sending a supplement to WH's 'Theory of Systems of Rays' essay. Recommends [Edwin Richard Windham Wyndham-Quin,] Lord Adare for consideration as a member of the R.A.S.
Thrilled to be named godmother of JH's first child.
Reports on good health and behavior of JH's new daughter, Caroline Emilia Herschel. Comments on Greek music and on recent results of the R.S.L. Glass Committee.
Sending a box to JH, containing chiefly books.
Has difficulty observing sun spots. Thomas Maclear sends WS information for next year's occultation of Alpha Tauri. Completes rotating roof for personal observatory.
Giving observations on stars. Discussion of clock rates and sky sweeps.
Informing JH that he and GA have just been appointed to a committee to consider the extension of the Astronomical Society's catalogue. Observations on this catalogue.
Wants JH's views on a 20-foot reflector. Inviting him to Cambridge. With this letter he encloses Volume 2 of the Cambridge Observatory's Observations and Lectures in Optics.
Sends volume of observations. Remarks on A. J. Fresnel's experiments. Lists errors in JH's treatise on light. Requests information on circular double refraction.
Encloses paper 'Figure of the Earth.' Wants information on rays in quartz. Has tried A. J. Fresnel's experiments.
Thanking him for his letter and announcement that he has been made a foreign correspondent of the Royal Academy of Sciences of France. [Also contains part of a letter to J. B. J. Fourier which is copied out fully in RS:HS.21.58.]
South's double stars. Regarding Francis Baily's observations and catalogue of stars.
Has heard the news about Government support for the machine; is this correct?
Latest news of his machine. His book is going to press in 10 days. Would like proofsheet of last sheet of JH's 'Sound.'