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.
Is now committed to the Cape journey, and will be occupied most of the time till then with the reduction of JH's nebulae observations. Comments on several other astronomical matters. [Letter is finished on board a steam packet on the way to Hamburg to visit JH's aunt, Caroline, dated 1832-6-9.]
Is grateful for JH's letter and offer of assistance. Will come to London earlier than expected so that he can call on him and discuss his problems before foreign travel. Would be glad of an introduction to Mario Gemmellaro and other scientists JH thinks would help him in his studies.
In preparation for foreign travel, asks JH about instruments and method for measuring radiation.
Sends thanks and congratulations for paper verifying electric origins of all magnetism. Will give JF an actinometer with complete instructions. Includes some instructions for obtaining and using it. Sends regards to Mario Gemellaro, should JF go to Catania.
Will observe transit [of Mercury] hoping it will provide good meridian data. Encloses sketch of telescope in Bedford.
Sends Gamma Virginis observations. Devotes time to nautical astronomy; experiments with formulae for calculating occultations. Takes interest in eclipse of Jovian satellites.
Sends observations of Gamma Virginis, which differ from those of WS and James South. Observed transit of Mercury. Has abandoned plans of going to Cape of Good Hope this year. Plans to visit Caroline Herschel in Hanover.
Observations on the various ways of measuring angular positions (of double stars). Opinion on JH publishing his catalogue of nebulae. Remarks on the low standard of astronomical observations in England compared with the Continent.
Is trying to clean up JH's nebulae observations preparatory to leaving for the Cape; comments on communications from F. G. W. Struve about double stars.
Is grateful for GA's encouragement to prepare JH's nebulae observations for publication before leaving for the Cape; it now seems clear to JH that he cannot leave before 1833; JH has had further communications from F. G. W. Struve about double stars [see JH's 1832-5-4].
Would he inform him of the date of the next visitation meeting. Will bring his own catalogue of double stars for the next R.A.S. meeting. Thanks for his paper on proper motion.
Giving the dates of the visitation day. Also the date of the next meeting of the R.A.S. Has been experimenting with pendulums.
Regarding instructions for James Dunlop at Parramatta Observatory. Richard Copeland has been reappointed to the Meteor, now renamed Beacon.
Is sending letters from Thomas Henderson, the Cape Astronomer, also observations from St. Helena.
Has heard that JH is publishing an attack on JS's double star observations made in France. Is this correct?
Responds to JS's fear [see 1832-5-15] that JH has been preparing an attack on JS's double star observations by explaining in detail and providing extensive evidence that JH has no such intention.
Is proposing to visit the continent after the Oxford meeting to make observations and intends taking some meteorological instruments. Would like JH's advice on some points regarding the large thermometer filled with a blue liquid.