Inconsequential chatter [letter completed 1829-2-7].
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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.
Inconsequential chatter [letter completed 1829-2-7].
Has requested his friend Thomas Henderson of Edinburgh University to call on JH. Would be pleased if JH can help him in any way.
Has some difficulty in producing his article on Light for the Cabinet Cyclopaedia as the publishers of the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana consider it would be harmful to their own publication.
Regrets to hear of JH's difficulties. Will consult the proprietors and let him know the answer later.
Has met the proprietors of the Cabinet Cyclopaedia. Would JH be agreeable to write an article on Astronomy or Optics, instead of Light? Will approach David Brewster regarding Light.
Is concerned to discover if the various packages of memoirs that GP sent have been received by JH. Talks about coming to London to present several papers.
Appears to have refused an offer of a payment or position.
A note accompanying a list of mathematical and astronomical works, to which JL asks JH to add names of others to make the collection more complete.
Thinks his telescope was not well executed. Would be pleased if James South tried another. Advises how to improve performance of telescope.
Expresses views on nature of exponential functions and defines terms that may have caused confusion in [J. T.] Graves's paper, which JH found unsatisfactory. Requests JH's reply.
Regarding F. W. Bessel's instrument for his zone observations. Who was the first to publish lunar distances from the planets?
Will be receiving a clock for Robert Molyneux. Comments on this and gives details of his latest observations.
A note of praise for Margaret Stewart [JH's fiancée] as a covering note for an enclosed 6pp letter from JH's cousin, Mary Baldwin, to CH, describing Margaret and her family.
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.
Accepts arrangement proposed by DL. JH will write a volume on astronomy [Treatise Astr.], but will need time. 14852