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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.
Congratulates him on his discovery of the parallax of Alpha Centauri. Comments on this and makes suggestions for further examination.
A note to accompany some letters being returned to GA.
Remarks on the significant increase in brightness of the star Eta Cygni, and comments on several other variable stars.
Mother and baby [Margaret and Julia] are doing well; JH asks questions relating to the Grovers giving up the lease on JH's property at Slough.
Convey his thanks to the King for the Order of Merit. Regrets he did not see the King or AH when they visited London recently. Gives astronomical information.
Comments on JD's work in photography; JH goes on to talk about JH's ideas of 'chemical' rays of light.
Sends CW a specimen of JH's 'mercurial photographic process.' JH is pleased that W. H. Fox Talbot received the Rumford medal.
Regarding the revision of the instructions for the magnetic observatories.
A revised set of proposals for Southern constellation reform [see JH's 1840] to be presented to the next B.A.A.S. meeting.
Writes to send thanks by way of AH to the King of Prussia for the award of the Order of Merit. JH also comments on some astronomical matters.
Comments on WL's finding a sixth star in the trapezium of Orion [see WL's 1842-3-10]; lists other catalogues that identify that star.
Urges some revision in both the report and instructions for the magnetic observations.
Is anxious for some means to be developed to get a measurable quantity [preferably by weight] from the action of a beam of light on a surface. JH has been experimenting in photography with 'flouric' compounds.
Is gratified that JM is taking an interest in double stars. Comments on some of the observations and time of their orbits.
Is anxious about his aunt Caroline Herschel and would like news of her health.
Comments on some papers on vision and photography by Mr. Moser, and compares this with some of JH's own writings on the subject.
Birth of JH's ninth child [Julia].
Sends description and drawings of JH's actinoscope. Requests estimate for time and expense of constructing it. Questions about clock mechanism and prisms.
Regrets that GD cannot build JH's entire actinoscope. If GD can make at least mechanical components, JH will supply optics and clockwork. Can GD complete these [by end of March]? Funds are limited; please estimate cost.
Confirms scale of drawings [for JH's actinoscope]. Has found simple contrivance to replace clockwork. Will order lenses and prisms from Munich; all English glass has color aberrations.