Going to live at Nantes for awhile; asks JH's help with Customs.
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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.
Going to live at Nantes for awhile; asks JH's help with Customs.
Is quite prepared to contribute an article on Light by 1830 for DL's Cyclopaedia. Would like William Whewell as the contributor on Sound. Suggests other names. Would not like to use colored plates as they are so poor. Gives him an idea of the style of engraving.
In response to an article in The Record, JH writes to The Times to explain what has happened to date regarding the expenditure of public funds for the calculating devices of Charles Babbage, who was then out of England.
Is now prepared to write a signed article on light requested by DL [see JH's 1828-7-25]; JH encourages DL to ask William Whewell, W. H. Fitton, and George Peacock to write as well; recommends against use of color printing of pictures as the reproduction is too poor.
Comments on a paper about differential calculus, prepared by Mr. Knight, which JH confesses he does not understand. Adds some astronomical observations JH made at Slough before leaving there, and noting the appearance of J. F. Encke's Berlin Ephemeris concludes with 'England is fated to lag in the rear of all her neighbours—at least in science.'
Commenting on the praise that she received upon the awarding of her Astronomical Society Medal, she notes that 'whoever says too much of me says too little of your father!' Soon will send to JH 'every scrap of paper' that has assisted CH while writing her memoirs.
Mr. Stocken[?] has discovered a comet; have been unable to observe it due to poor weather.
Regarding an anonymous letter concerning her son (Charles Babbage), which has appeared in The Record.
Thanking her for the information on the anonymous letter. Would like a printed copy. Will write an answering letter to the Times.
Unable to send the cutting from The Record yet. Will try to obtain it from her daughter. Views of friends on the attack.
Is sending the cutting.
Thanking him for refuting the attack on Charles Babbage.
Further invitation to visit him at Tytherley. Will be using a new telescope. William Wallace's paper for the Monthly Notices.
Sudden demolition of Board of Longitude. TY is left as superintendent [of Nautical Almanac]. Notes quality of J. F. Encke's almanac for 1830. Should English compete with German astronomers, or discontinue almanac supplements? TY's paper on 'Astronomical Chronology' in W. T. Brande's [Quarterly Journal of Science and Art] illustrates JH's equatorial time.
Encourages TY to publish 1829 supplement to Nautical Almanac. JH originally proposed supplement to introduce improvements that would bring N. A. to be like Encke's Ephemeris. That is all ended now. English are dropping behind French and Germans in science. JH refuses to accept money from government 'which treats its agents so cavalierly.' Reduction of Parramatta [Australia] observations. Did not see TY's paper in W. T. Brande's [Quarterly Journal of Science and Art], but objects to substitution of true for mean equinox.
Will not hold JH responsible for accuracy of William Richardson's computations. No instructions yet from Admiralty about Nautical Almanac, which goes to press soon. TY will insert JH's equinoctial time. Notes two works by A. F. C. Kollman on harmony and [Beck] on 'thorough-bass.'
Gives references to good sources on astronomical projections. Discusses this subject and also logarithmic tables.
Regarding a suitable book on the Isle of Wight. Regarding Dionysius Lardner and his projected Cabinet Cyclopaedia. Urges JH not to reject idea until he has made further inquiries. Affairs of the Board of Longitude.
Regarding the projected Cabinet Cyclopaedia and its authors. State of Ireland in 1828. Feels hard against the Saxons.
Expressing thanks for his third paper on Observations made with a 20-foot telescope.