Is in Berlin together with the astronomers J. F. Encke and F. W. Bessel. Relates their researches. The new Berlin Observatory is a magnificent affair. May have to travel home sooner than expected owing to the illness of his mother-in-law.
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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.
Is in Berlin together with the astronomers J. F. Encke and F. W. Bessel. Relates their researches. The new Berlin Observatory is a magnificent affair. May have to travel home sooner than expected owing to the illness of his mother-in-law.
Hears that JH expressed to William Whewell great pleasure in parts of CL's book. Has been altered and improved since the 1st edition. When in Copenhagen last year [H. C.] Oersted was reading JH's paper on double stars. Murray has sold 1750 copies of CL's book.
Has interpolated the hourly tidal observations for Simon's Bay.
Will be obliged for the Tide Observations book of Table Bay. Intends to enter into an agreement with the Tide Master.
Sends the Tide observations made in Table Bay. These are now at a standstill due to the expense involved. Tomorrow he intends to engage the Tide Master. Do they wind up with a dinner?
Only made two copies of the Tide Observations, one for the Observatory and one to be forwarded to the Admiralty. Is engaged instrumentally with the transit instrument. Has engaged a new carpenter for the observatory.
Sends TM some tide observations, and some calculations done on them.
Glad the government has recognized Mrs. Somerville's work. Discusses the hostility toward natives at the Cape and criticizes actions of colonists. Astronomical observing conditions at Cape are very good.
Visits F. W. Bessel in Berlin to discuss pendulum experiments. [C. A.] Steinheil invented a photometer to measure relative light of different stars.
On JH's portrait, which RS is trying to send to JH at the Cape. Asks JH to forgive the 'liberty' he has taken with JH's 'physiognomy,' but RS wants to show off JH as an 'ornament' of Cambridge. Updates JH on Francis Baily's progress and the status of the St. Helena Observatory.
Busy interpolating the Simon's Bay tidal series; JH then intends to study Table Bay and to compare the results. Asked William Whewell to back an application to the British Admiralty for a tide clock to be erected at Simon's Bay as a permanent tide station.
Describes his comparison of the tidal series at Simon's Bay and Table Bay. Sending his barometer to TM.
Describes factors that led to C. P. Smyth's appointment to Cape. Uses rock crystal prism for double star observations. Continues observing JH's nebulae with equatorial clock. Approves of proposal for worldwide meteorological observations; will distribute brochures.
Sends his 1834 observations. Has received JH's weather observing instructions. Likely to accept the post of Astronomer Royal when John Pond resigns. Further remarks on new telescope and of E. J. Cooper's (near Sligo) - planetary disks - errors of divisions of circles. Possibility of small observatory in Upper Canada.
Further queries regarding the new water supply for Cape Town.
Regarding meteorology. John Pond has resigned as Astronomer Royal and G. B. Airy been appointed in his place. Has finished his own account of John Flamsteed and sent it to the press. Is drawing up a report for the new standard scale.
The Series of Brisbane catalogues has been interrupted. Regarding the appointment of a new Astronomer Royal. Reprint of one of JH's papers. Various scientific news.
Kaffirs dispossessed by colonists. Condemns 'Colonial insolence.' Editor John Fairbairn, detested by colonists, exposed this in South African Commercial Advertiser.
Describes in detail efforts, only partially successful, made by Thomas Maclear and JH to record tidal data at Simon's Bay and Table Bay. Gives some interpretation of the data.
Reports on efforts made in June 1835 by JH and Thomas Maclear to have tidal observations made at Simon's Bay and Table Bay. Reports briefly on JH's astronomical observations. Describes increasing tensions with the Caffers [Kaffirs] in the Cape region.