Showing 61–80 of 155 items
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.
Apologizes profusely for not having written earlier. Thanks for a wonderful stay in England. Has been pressured into new and undesired positions. Sends porcelain tea service from Sèvres.
Discusses his itinerary for the British Isles. Gives address where he may be reached. Wishes to visit JH at Collingwood. Congratulates JH on his improved health.
Thanks JF for his dissertation on the Progress of Mathematical and Physical Science. Discusses health of JF and JH. Suggests that some actinometric measurements are not as seriously flawed as at first thought [see JH's 1847-3-1].
Remarks on physical properties of ice and their bearing on glacial phenomena. Asks for help inventing term for idea of 'fracture and renewal' of glacial bendings.
Will send JS's treatise; wishes could offer something 'more intrinsically valuable' as token of gratitude for everything.
Interprets [John] Dalton's theory of the nonelasticity of gas particles, expressing its limitations, particularly in regard to a Mr. Paton's paper.
Sends sketch of lecture on structure and motion of glaciers. Wants to conduct experiments on physical properties of ice, and applying polarized light. Beyond paper, is interested in cleavage of ice.
Thanks for lecture on glacier cleavage. Wonders how 'regelation' occurs when two masses of ice at 32° are placed in contact.
Is returning C. P. Smyth's paper ['Report on the Teneriffe Astronomical Experiment of 1856,' [R.S.P.T., 148, 165-], believing it now 'unobjectionable for publication.'
Sends barometer readings.
Agrees to support C. P. Smyth for membership in R.S.L. Objects to C. P. Smyth's statement regarding his discoveries observing at high altitudes. Stresses importance of variable star work.
Informs JH that he wrote a book on Baconian philosophy inspired by JH's Prelim. Discourse.
JH's letter of recommendation for C. P. Smyth misdirected. Little time remains for nomination.
Has heard WS is publishing an English translation of François Arago's astronomical writings. Urges against including Arago's lectures if the Italian translation is indicative of their level of accuracy. Lists numerous errors in that edition. [Marked 'not sent.' Note added to CDraft (RS:HS 25.13.13) states: 'A letter differently worded but noting some of these points, but not all (for particular reasons) if I remember right was sent.'
Sends atmospheric observations to JH before transmission to Admiralty.
Asks JH to look over JS's paper on correcting tables for barometric readings.
Thanks JH for advice on several persons and for suggestion concerning the Leviathan. Remarks on R. C. Carrington's circumpolar star work. Writes to R.S.L. Council concerning François Arago's nomination for medal.
Leviathan successfully launched. Forwards papers from W. H. Smyth. Congratulates JH on coming 'happy event' [marriage of Margaret Herschel].
Sends data from Harbour Office; discusses observation of the tides.
Places JH's name in a volume containing an account of the meteorite that struck ground [in North America]. WP also includes a description of the coca trees of Peru [in which JH took an interest].