Declining the offer of a honorary degree by the University of Cambridge on the grounds of ill health.
Showing 81–100 of 122 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.
Declining the offer of a honorary degree by the University of Cambridge on the grounds of ill health.
Thanks for the diary and pocket book. Sees that A. V. Guillemin has published an illustrated Astronomy [Le ciel (Paris, 1864)]. Thinks there is scope for publishing a volume of engravings of astronomical objects. Gives his own idea for the construction of a photometer.
Comments on metrification.
Comments on some mathematical problems; asks if AD knows about a German geometer by the name of [Bernhard] Riemann; suggests some new names for trigonometry.
Comments on health of family, and on parliament considering a bill to change weights and measures.
Comments on the state of JH's health; about ciphers and about decimalization.
Comments on remedies suggested by AD [see AD's 1864-7-15]; on ciphers.
Comments on minting of coins [see AD's 1864-8-18], the state of JH's health, and the need for an elocution teacher for one of JH's sons.
On algebraic signs, riddles, and the state of JH's health.
If RC's formulas for sunspots are correct, then 'trade-wind theory' is challenged and sun's photosphere may behave as envelope circulating around sun according to laws of planetary motion. Questions formula relating to sunspot velocity.
Learned that R.A.S. plans to use aplanatic lenses for solar studies. Submits set of unpublished tables by W. L. Newman [see Newman's 1845-2-18] for calculating radii of such lenses. Refers to work of this kind by Josef Fraunhofer, [G. P.] Bond, K. A. Steinheil, and C. F. Gauss.
Agrees to sit for photographic portrait by WW. Thanks for reserving copy of WW's successful [Distinguished Men of Science Living 1807-8] for JH.
Received Indian survey chart. JH's son John wrote of higher-order ellipsoidal triangles with sides based on geodesical triangles. JH objects that these violate principle of diagonal bracing. Proposes different triangles and names sites in India as apexes. Received G. B. Airy's paper on reduction.
Sends congratulations on the Airy's daughter Hilda's engagement to Edward J. Routh; also thanks for the congratulations sent to JH's son William James on his engagement to Emma Hardcastle.
Charles Pritchard was wrong in ascribing priority for diagonal reflecting telescope in Pritchard's address to R.A.S. As early as 1825, JH was first to use diagonal reflector. Describes its construction.
Did not insinuate that RH plagiarized JH's idea of 'diagonal reflector,' but feels justified in defending JH's claim to being first to apply it.
Asks that consideration be given to 'wishes of the Cadet' in selecting a regiment for him.
In response to HS's query [1864-3-1] about the influence of Auguste Comte on English scientists, JH refers HS to JH's 1845 B.A.A.S. presidential address. States that calculating the motion of a projectile through a resisting medium is extremely difficult.
Asks RM whether RM thinks any of the geographical work of Karl Ritter should be translated into English.
Thanks JS for JS's speech. Discusses in detail JS's views on the introduction of a gold currency into India. Believes that this is a necessity and explains why. Notes problems and advantages involved in the circulation of money based on two standards, silver and gold.