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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.
Remarks about his recent tour of Italy including his meeting with G. A. A. Plana and other Italian astronomers How to observe the Moon's mass.
Will endeavor to obtain information about the fellowships at St. John's.
Difficulties over his machine. Joseph Clement threatens strike action. Would like to become acquainted with JH's friend. Advice on marriage given.
Regarding the monetary affairs of his sister-in-law. Has had discussions regarding his machine. Has just commenced writing a pamphlet on the state of science in England. Everyone has been asking for JH.
Sending the first volume of his translation of P. S. Laplace's Mécanique céleste.
Regarding F. W. Bessel's instrument for his zone observations. Who was the first to publish lunar distances from the planets?
Regarding apartments for the Astronomical Society at Somerset House. G. B. Airy called and left a parcel for JH.
Will be receiving a clock for Robert Molyneux. Comments on this and gives details of his latest observations.
Regrets he cannot carry out JH's request. Hopes to see him and Mrs. Herschel at dinner.
Suggesting suitable painters of miniatures.
Thomas Henderson will visit London and inform JH of events at Edinburgh Observatory. Will WW's paper on instrument for multiplication interfere with Charles Babbage's proposed machine?
Apologizes for delay in writing out what JH requested. He will have it tomorrow.
Compares hotels in Leamington. Recommends Regent for JH's friends. EW will soon visit JH and invalid Lady Mary Herschel.
JW has been at St. John's for fifty years. Wishes JH well in preparing for marriage. JH is entitled to quarters dividend from [feast of] St. Thomas 'to Lady day next.' Notify JW when wedding occurs. JH's fellowship will then be vacant. Please bring bride to visit Cambridge.
JH's determination of length of equinoctial year will remain for long time. Mrs. Young is delighted to hear of JH's new discovery.
Invites JH to join TY to meet Thomas Henderson at [Davies] Gilbert's party Saturday. T. F. Colby accepted payment from Board of Longitude up to Christmas; Henry Kater would not accept payment beyond dissolution of Board. TY believes JH should accept payment at least from March to June.
Measurement of moon's diameter and distance. Expects JH will soon have 'official authority over me' and [Nautical Almanac]. Astronomers probably regulate sidereal clock by variable equinox because they cannot find a fixed one. Errors in JH's equinoctial time.
Reports on meeting of Francis Baily, Francis Beaufort, and JS with Lord Melville on the subject of a new Board of Longitude. Discusses proposed voyage of [James] Ross. Activities at the Astronomical Society. Congratulations to JH on his marriage.
Reports unfavorably on the telescope of A. Rogers. Information regarding Charles Babbage and his engines. Controversy concerning the Nautical Almanac.
Will attend JH's marriage, but cannot be present for some preliminaries. Discusses relations between chemistry and mineralogy.