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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.
Instruct all daughters to date letters to JH. Loss of dear friend [Miss Maria Tunno?] leaves JH with no desire but to come home and be with family. Send carriage to railway station on chance that JH can get away from work tonight.
Visit to Collingwood lifted JH's spirits. Finances for Mrs. Rennie. Received copy of [William?] Platt's latest work from Miss Lipscombe. Sends condolences to Miss E. Tunno. Hopes loss will set young gentlemen thinking about 'brainless ardours.' Returns books to Collingwood.
Duties of Examiner of superannuation claims for Treasury will not permit JH to live in Collingwood and may be more burdensome than those of Mint. Upset at losing Charles Elouis, who will leave Mint to replace Mr. Watt as superintendent of bullion at mint in Sydney. Concern for daughter Caroline, whose husband, [A. H.] Gordon, leaves before March, leaving her alone in Malta when 'her hour is due.'
Deeply disappointed by Treasury's failure to pay an adequate salary to W. H. Barton for combined duties of deputy master and comptroller. C. E. Trevelyan granted only a junior and inexperienced clerk to assist JH. Feels 'sickened and disgusted' by Trevelyan's pettiness, which is crippling the effectiveness of the Mint staff.
Mostly family matters, especially the education of several of their sons.
Describes how time is spent at a conference, with a large section being directed to JH's daughter Isabella and written in Latin.
Commenting on aspects of family life, obviously raised in an earlier letter by MH.
Commenting on the health of some mutual acquaintances, and on son Willy's poor memory.
Mostly about the health of MH and several of the children, and about JH's health.
Instructions about ordering wine, etc., for a [Christmas?] party.
Talks about their son Alexander's nature, and JH's busy weekend and headaches.
Complains of overwork and of other people trying to involve JH in their quarrels; is glad MH has company.
Discusses rumors about the war on the continent, news of some visits JH had, and JH's dream life.
Writes to commiserate with MH during a difficult time for her; is coming home on the weekend and bringing daughter Isabella with him.
Mostly about bonnets, and letters to be directed to the family at Collingwood.
Concerned about son Willy, who seems very lonely in India.
About the school progress of sons John and Alexander; JH is in a very depressed state, looks at his current life [at the Mint?] with 'loathing,' and cannot imagine surviving it for more than a few months.
About their son Alexander, and the striking of 60,000 medals.
Concerned about their daughter Caroline, who is considering going to Constantinople.
Very discouraged about the current state of the Crimean War.