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 swamped with the demands of the Melbourne University professor search [see JH's 1854-6-16] and major upheavals at the Mint.
Clears up confusion about one candidate for the Melbourne University professorship by realizing there are two with the same last name [see JH's 1854-6-16].
Sends acknowledgment for meeting date and receipt of letters [see JH's 1854-6-17].
Sends some new, negative information about one of the prime candidates for a Melbourne University professorship [see JH's 1854-6-17].
Must use the information available, and so need to select the next candidate in line for the Melbourne University professorship [see JH's 1854-6-20].
Commenting on the health of some mutual acquaintances, and on son Willy's poor memory.
About Willy being in some kind of trouble, articles by friends in the Westminster Review, the Crimean War, and the health of MH and JH.
Family news such as the death of Mrs. Knowles [servant?], JH took Margaret Louisa dancing, the school progress of John and Alexander, and comments about the Crimean War.
About Willy Herschel's health, and JH's heavy work load and his desire for a relaxing time away from work.
News of some of the children with JH or near him, such as Caroline and Margaret Louisa; comments about son Willy.
Of the heavy work load dealing with Melbourne University appointments [see JH's 1854-5-[21]], and of Charles Babbage's unacceptable behavior at a meeting of the Royal Observatory's Board of Visitors.
Computation of Alpha Centauri's angle and distance, derived with JH's 'graphical method.' Compares this with results by other astronomers.
Has received [J]S's letter and testimonial