Briefs JH on his productive Paris visit and offers details concerning his upcoming England visit.
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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.
Briefs JH on his productive Paris visit and offers details concerning his upcoming England visit.
Deeply regrets having missed JH before departure. Thanks for priceless gift of William Herschel's works and for the glimpses of nebulae. Requests his catalogue on noteworthy nebulae when completed.
Reminds WS to select certain nebulae for 'communal observation.' Received good news from Finland. Gave [James] South the list of 36 double stars to be observed. Stars compare except result in smaller distances than JH's and South's observations.
Takes a moment to write. Sends various brochures and observations on magnetic intensity in Germany. Asks JH to give a copy of it to [Charles] Babbage and [Henry] Kater. Congratulates JH on being named correspondent to the Institute of France. Lost his father-in-law. Has asked [James] South to press construction of AQ's instruments, but no luck. Requests JH visit Edward Troughton and the instruments.
Announces second volume of translation of JH's Light is out in Paris. Is sending a copy. Work progresses slowly. Problems because of revolution. AQ's collaborator [P. F.] Verhulst is very ill. Will leave for Italy soon. Discusses his previous trip to Germany. Saw [William] Whewell. Has received Astronomical Society's memoirs.
On behalf of [J. F.] Encke, asks that Greenwich observations be given to library of Berlin Observatory.
Reports circumstances surrounding death of a Mr. Beckwith, for whom JH serves as an executor.
Cannot attend meeting [concerning the Nautical Almanac]. Makes numerous specific recommendations concerning its format and contents. Raises the theoretical question 'Does sidereal time flow uniformly?'
Responds to JH's request for RS's opinion on [H. C.] Schumacher's contributions to astronomy. Praises Schumacher extensively.
Has received and comments on materials sent, including Nathaniel Bowditch's translation of P. S. Laplace's Mécanique céleste and a paper by J. W. Lubbock.
Will not be coming to either meeting [see James Hudson's 1830-12-18], because JH has fully expressed himself previously on the matter of Southern Hemisphere observations, and had already asked to be excused from further association with Glass Committee and any other connection with 'that subject.'
Regrets lack of time for WH's paper but has been occupied with nebulae and double stars. Finds it difficult to concentrate on one subject. Has proposed Edward Quin for Astronomical Society membership. Mentions [Francis] Beaufort's penchant for astronomy and the recent R.S.L. elections, as well as JH's wish to meet WH personally.
Been working on a new mirror for the 20-ft. telescope; very pleased with its performance. Asks CH to distribute his fourth catalog of double stars among the Prussian and German astronomers.
Wishes to learn if Isabella Stewart's health has declined.
Sorry to hear that JH was not elected President of the R.S.L. Sending a supplement to WH's 'Theory of Systems of Rays' essay. Recommends [Edwin Richard Windham Wyndham-Quin,] Lord Adare for consideration as a member of the R.A.S.
Thrilled to be named godmother of JH's first child.
Reports on good health and behavior of JH's new daughter, Caroline Emilia Herschel. Comments on Greek music and on recent results of the R.S.L. Glass Committee.
Sending a box to JH, containing chiefly books.
Has difficulty observing sun spots. Thomas Maclear sends WS information for next year's occultation of Alpha Tauri. Completes rotating roof for personal observatory.
Giving observations on stars. Discussion of clock rates and sky sweeps.