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.
R. A. T. Gascoyne-Cecil (Viscount Cranborne) would like JH's opinion on the value of the investigations carried out by Messrs. Schlagintweit in 1854; four volumes have already been published.
Lord Cranborne is grateful for JH's full and complete report on the scientific investigations of Messrs. Schlagintweit.
Was interested to read in JH's Familiar Lectures the chapter on sensorial vision; has been subject himself to the phenomenon described by JH. Queries one of the statements and would like verification from JH on this point.
Intends to apply for a professorship at Owens College and would like to use JH's letter as a testimonial. Would also like to send a copy of this letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Was flattered by JH's message and regrets JH was unable to be present at the Prize-giving. Thinks he may like to see the enclosed extract from Engineering on the tides. Thinks good will come from the Royal Commission on Coal.
Asks JH to autograph a copy of Essays Q.E.R., which HK wants to send to a friend.
Letter of general adulation.
Sending a pamphlet on the quality of refracted light. Hopes JH will communicate it to the R.S.L.
Has now received his pamphlet. Does not agree with its findings, but will submit it to the R.S.L., though it cannot be printed in R.S.P.T. as it has already appeared elsewhere. Comments on some of EK's theories.
Is grateful for his friendly letter. Gives a fuller explanation of his own theories on light. Would be glad if he would show this letter to Professor G. G. Stokes.
Would like JH's comments on one of his own theories regarding screw propulsion of ships. Sent it to the Admiralty, who rejected it. Can JH's son recommend a good resume of the physical and chemical composition of aerolithes?
Carefully describes how to pack actinometers being shipped to India.
Mostly about arranging a meeting with both JW and G. B. Airy at the Greenwich Visitation.
Is indebted to JH for a number of scientific memoirs, including the General Catalogue of Nebulae and the tract on Physical Geography, both of which he highly esteems. Sends via the Smithsonian his own pamphlet on the Aurora Borealis.
Sends some queries regarding meteor showers.
Did not mean to say that meteors describe an exact circle round the sun. Comments on the phenomena of meteors.
Has seen JH's nephew and will be pleased to sign his certificate. His instinct and reason are against dating Stonehenge as post-Roman.
Thanks for his letter. Agrees that the stones of Stonehenge must have come from the neighborhood. The chips in the barrows must have come from the hewn stones of Stonehenge.
Hopes to send a copy of his new edition [of Principles of Geology] in a few weeks. Hopes he will be satisfied with the manner in which he used JH's drawings. Comments about variations in the obliquity of the ecliptic. Quotes correspondence he has had with E. J. Stone of Greenwich Observatory. Would like JH's opinion on the matter.
Did not intend to trouble him with his proofs, but as he has cited JH in the chapter dealing with the astronomical effect on climate he sends proofs for this chapter. Would like to quote JH's two letters on the subject. The whole book is set up and hopes to send the volume in November.