About an anomaly in one of JH's lists of observations.
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.
About an anomaly in one of JH's lists of observations.
About the principles whereby the nomenclature of the constellations might be reformed.
Has installed his astrometer to help judge star magnitudes; also makes a comparison of barometric observations with those of TM.
Has compared TM's observational measurements with those of the Brisbane catalogue, and finds TM's observations to be better; is working on a star photometer.
JH's observations of the comet [Halley's], together with comments on constellation nomenclature and stellar magnitudes.
Sending some equipment back and forth, and some astrometer readings.
Sends observations of several more standard stars, and of the comet.
Sends formulae for dealing with the apparent differences, in viewing the comet and compared star, due to the effects of parallax and refraction.
Calms TM about not having his comet observations published yet; those published so far are not of much value.
A note along with a request from Niccolo Cacciatore for some observations that JH says he cannot make.
Received the print of JH with great pleasure. The picture by H. W. Pickersgill seems a truthful likeness. The bulbs have been planted and are thriving. Has just returned from the continent, where he visited Caroline Herschel, who is still well in mind, but weak in body. Church building progresses at Slough.
Wonders if people at the Cape observed the large fall of meteors during the night of 12 Nov. 1833; comments on this and gives theories of one professor. JH's name was used for newspaper article on discoveries on the moon; the person responsible was R. A. Locke. Encloses one of his own memoirs on the eclipse.
Comments on observation of comets, the position of Southern Hemisphere stars, and the observation of an annular eclipse.
Comments on inaccuracies in earlier Southern Hemisphere star catalogues, along with an extended description of comet observations.
Comments on the accusations made about himself before the Aborigines Committee.
Comments on communications with the Cape. James Stewart (Margaret Herschel's brother) is well liked by the family. GP is sending on his meteorological observations, noting that he has reduced his emphasis on astronomy. Is working on a long memoir on integral calculus. [Many parts of the letter are illegible.]
Thanks for alerting JH to extraordinary hoax in New York Journal of Commerce (2 Sept. 1835). Invites [Caldwell] to visit JH at Feldhausen.
Having read John Burrow's book, JH proposes procedure for analyzing masses of data from [African] Expedition. Will volunteer to interpolate chronometer errors if TM will undertake computations.
JH's theory of meteors. Will convey to England RP's recent observations of eclipses. Received New York paper claiming discoveries in moon by JH. Invites American observers to join international system for simultaneous meteorological observations.
Advice on how best to survive business world of Canton. [Letter continues from Hout Bay:] Family finances. [Letter continues 9 May at Feldhausen:] Asks help in developing JH's 'Phonetic Alphabet' of Chinese language. Considers writing book for Chinese. Comments on Chinese literature and culture. JH has changed shipping agents in Cape Town. Poem by JH.