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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.
Asks for the use of an invariable pendulum and a clock from the Board of Longitude so that G. B. Airy and William Whewell can carry out experiments to measure the change in gravity and the mean density of the earth, in a Yorkshire coal mine.
Outlining his Italian travels after leaving Naples. Had to return home as business pressed.
Tells AG that JH is a member of a committee looking for ways of making better glass, so AG should not reveal any secrets to JH. JH provides the names of the leading telescope-makers in London, whom AG may wish to contact.
Indicates the best way for the glass subcommittee [of the R.S.L.] to deal with the results of glass experiments at the Royal Institution [see MF's 1827-11-3].
Informs MF that JH has been called to serve on a grand jury and so may have to miss some glass subcommittee meetings. [This note enclosed the letter written by JH on 1827-11-6.]
Describes the tests JH made on a small glass prism of not very high quality, which JH has left at the Royal Institution.
Sends MF some older samples of imperfect glass. Talks about the way in which different kinds of glass should be layered in lenses.
EM has just missed being awarded a Royal Medal; it was given to W. H. Wollaston. Thinks it advisable for EM to draw up a brief resume of his own scientific discoveries.
It appears that J. T. Cooper would be willing to work in the performing of glass experiments. If this seems acceptable, then a meeting of the glass committee should be called.
P. L. Guinand has informed the Astronomical Society that he can make flint glass free from the usual imperfections. Would like any information from JN. One of his papers has been named as likely to receive a prize. Hears that an arithmetical machine has recently been demonstrated before the Institute. Have any details been made public?
Will send MS's communication about the theory of caloric to some scientific journals, rather than the Astronomical Society, where it would be inappropriate. Comments on caloric theory.
Informs HK that JH intends to resign as secretary of the R.S.L.
Has had some difficulty accepting JG's arguments about logarithms in a paper JG sent to JH.
Is pleased that the R.S.L. has decided to publish JG's paper [on logarithms, which JH earlier recommended JG withdraw from consideration; see JH's 1829-1-24]. Please convey JH's thanks to W. R. Hamilton for his letter supporting JG's paper.
The Council of the R.S.L. has asked JH to be the referee of JG's paper on logarithms, and JH disagrees with JG in a fundamental way. JH therefore asks JG to withdraw the paper and publish it elsewhere.
Looked for JS to talk with him about the secretaryship of the R.S.L., specifically discussing Charles Babbage's position. JH would prefer to have JS nominate Babbage.
Tells CB that everyone is anxious to have CB allow his name to stand for the Secretaryship of the R.S.L. JH lists many names of people who have all said they would vote for CB.
Is not able to accede to HD's suggestion that JH interview J. G. Children. JH now feels that given HD's views, JH must withdraw Charles Babbage's name from nomination for secretary of the R.S.L.
On 23 Nov. in the evening, at what JH calls an irregular meeting of the R.S.L., J. G. Children was elected Secretary, to serve with JH, who had been secretary for some years. JH urges that the R.S.L. and its members must now rise beyond this shabbiness and move ahead.
In describing the way in which J. G. Children was elected to the secretaryship, JH says 'the matter was irregularly brought by the President before a meeting of eight or nine persons whom he chose to call a council' to meet for a few minutes 'to transmit some business connected with the Treasurer's accounts.' JH feels Humphry Davy's actions will not be excused even by Davy's best friends.