Comments on JH's laying to rest of William Herschel's 40-foot telescope.
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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.
Comments on JH's laying to rest of William Herschel's 40-foot telescope.
On the effect of JH's visit to Nantes.
Note accompanying a sketch of an earlier time in the lives of JG and JH (sketch by Jane Grahame).
Francis Beaufort has shown him his copy of the 'Requiem' and would be pleased if JH would send him a copy. Mr. Harvey and himself have been observing nebulae on the clear nights. Is having a Munich object glass mounted. Will be in town towards the end of the month.
Wishes JH would lay hands on the memorandum concerning the Zenith observatory on Etna. Explains why JH's theories regarding a point in gunnery do not work in actual practice. Queries the measurement given by JH for the height of Etna.
Regarding the correct figure for the height of Etna, W. H. Smyth favors the half foot measurement. Regarding falls of stones from Vesuvius. Encloses calculations made by professor at Naval College. Remembers large balls of lava at Teneriffe.
Was not certain how to reply to his last obliging letter. Has resolved to write to Professor [J. P.?] Müller. Thought it right to inform JH of his plans.
Drawing attention to his prediction of the storms of 1838 and 1839.
Affairs at the Cape; thinks Andries Stockenström is the man to be sent out to negotiate with the Boers. Would like JH's views on the subject.
Has been applying his mode of calculation for the barometrical heights for the years 1815-23 and sent the results to the R.S.L. As JH may not see them he sends a few comments on them. Would like a suitable colleague to share his labors.
Encloses some more calculations of height by means of the barometric mean temperature. Comments on these. Staying at Ackworth until April.
Would like JH's account of his own method of fixing a photograph as noted in his memoir. Singular phenomenon of the Daguerreotype. Hopes to produce a photographic paper to equal the silver plate before the month has expired. Will let him know when his process is complete.
Is grateful for the handsome manner in which JH has acknowledged RH's work. Would be willing to prepare a memoir for the R.S.L. Does Louis Daguerre's patent affect RH's manufacture of photographic papers? Has not studied the bromnets so far, but has studied the effects of bromine on plates. Comments on his results.
Sends his paper for communication to the R.S.L. Will send some more examples later as his camera has developed a defect.
Returns the photographic drawings of W. H. Fox Talbot with many thanks. Fears for their permanence. Has produced similar pictures himself acting on bromide of silver with hydrocholoric acid. Has had trouble with his periscope lens.
Was gratified to receive his memoir and to find many of his doubts corrected by JH's experiments. Hoped to enclose some sulphuretted papers but the chemicals went astray in the post. Intends to follow JH's example and precipitate a glass.
Is grateful for the suggested emendations to his paper. Comments on the action of iodine on silver and its oxide. When can he expect publication of his paper? Has noted a peculiar property in the calorific rays when copying engravings. Encloses some Daguerreotype papers.
Arrived in England two days ago after a tedious voyage. Would like to visit JH. Off to Scotland next week. Called at the Colonial Office and had a friendly reception. G. T. Napier's dispatch has been received.
Is puzzled by JH's use of a word in his volume on astronomy; can he explain its meaning. Points out further misprints. Hopes JH will edit the works of his father [Sir William Herschel].
Would like permission to make a copy of one of the plates from JH's book on astronomy in order to print it in one of his own works intended for amateur astronomers.