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.
Robert Woodhouse is in immediate danger. Urges him to think again before he finally turns down the offer. Would like to visit him and discuss the matter. Can JH come up during the Christmas holiday?
Sending a clause from Dr. Thomas Plume's will which he hopes will remove JH's objections to the professorship at Cambridge. There should be no difficulty in traveling between Slough and Cambridge with steam carriages.
Robert Woodhouse has died and if JH intends applying for the position at Cambridge, he should lose no time in making his application.
Her mother has died and she would like him to use his influence at the R.S.L. to raise a subscription for the benefit of her and her brothers and sisters.
Comments on the observations in two of JG's papers.
Is grateful for his letter and also the address to the Astronomical Society. Comments on his own paper on satellites.
Is sorry to read in the papers the news of the death of William Herschel. Had he been near he would have liked to have attended the funeral.
Is grateful for his comments. Will withdraw his paper as requested; at the same time he points out various aspects of how he arrived at the results.
Is grateful for the present. Did not request the money as a gift.
Hoping that JH's goodness will help WG out of difficulty.
Is in financial difficulties and would appreciate £80.
Regarding the testimonial for W. S. Stratford, would like to be included among the subscribers. Hopes Stratford has found beneficial employment.
Regrets his health prevents him from attending the dinner in honor of W. S. Stratford. Will discharge his debt when called upon.
Sending some observations on a comet which appeared last month. Has had the pendulum up for some weeks but has been unable to carry out many observations owing to official duties. Has been working a good deal on occultations. Wishes some had been published as they are of great practical use.
Had no report he could offer the Astronomical Society. Outlines the situation in Chile. Hopes to arrange the material on his recent voyages in the form of a book.
Has requested his friend Thomas Henderson of Edinburgh University to call on JH. Would be pleased if JH can help him in any way.
The mistake was mutual; hopes to see him Friday for dinner.
Hopes to see him next spring, in England. Teodoro Monticelli often inquires after him. The steam boat goes on with great success. Small earthquake at Messina. Has toured the crater of Vesuvius. No news of Turks or Christians.
Is grateful for being recommended as a member of the Astronomical Society. Thinks the Society will confer great benefits in the field of astronomy.
Thanks for the double star catalogue of JH and James South; comments on observing Encke's and Biela's comets.