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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.
Gratitude to Gioenian Academy of Natural Sciences of Catania [Sicily] for electing JH a corresponding member. [P.S. 1 Oct. 1825:] Reports elevations on Mount Etna measured by JH with mountain barometer in July 1824, with confirmation by Niccolo Cacciatore. [JH's annotations explain sources of errors in elevations.]
In response to an article in The Record, JH writes to The Times to explain what has happened to date regarding the expenditure of public funds for the calculating devices of Charles Babbage, who was then out of England.
Accepts honor of joining committee at ceremony to lay first stone of new bridge. Proposes including platina copies of standard British measures of length and weight in foundation as part of 'precious records' preserved for posterity.
Written from Palermo, this chatty letter describes JH's time in Italy and Sicily. JH mentions having ascended Mt. Etna and having spent the night on its summit. A second part of this letter is dated July 19 and its location is given as Naples. On way to Hanover.
Assures SW that slanderous reports regarding SW's nephew James White have not reached JH or Lady Herschel.
JH carried portable barometer by Edward Troughton and thermometer by Mr. Newman to Europe and compared these to instruments used by individual scientists and observatories. Reports results to Board of Longitude.
JH, Charles Babbage, Richard Jones, and George Peacock arrived in France after difficult voyage.
Leaving Paris tomorrow for Geneva and Milan. Describes tour through France. Names scientific men whom JH, Charles Babbage, Richard Jones, and George Peacock met. Visited French Board of Longitude. Alexander von Humboldt was of great service.
Describes scenery at Mont Blanc. Trip by mules into mountains. Barometer measurements by Charles Babbage. [Letter continues 16 Aug.:] Plans today include visit to Mar de Glace glacier. [Letter continues 20 Aug.:] Found excellent guide, Coutet, with knowledge of geology. Describes expedition to Mar de Glace glacier and JH's sketches. More barometer observations. [Letter continued 22 Aug. in Geneva:] No mail arrived from Slough. Leave tomorrow for Chambéry and Turin. Planning to leave Italy by 2 Sept.
Describes Como [Lombardy]. Visit with Pietro Configliachi [professor of physics at University of Pavia]. Crossing of alpine passes and Lake Maggiore. Ascent of Monte Rosa. JH was first Englishman to reach summit. [Letter continued 17 Sept. in Berne:] News from Slough of death of JH's uncle [Alexander Herschel]. Expects to return home in three weeks.
Windy passage across Channel. Will arrive home in two days.
Travels with James Grahame from Calais to Brussels. Visit with General Pierre Cambronne and tour of Waterloo. Leaving tomorrow for Antwerp. Mr. Gibson is useless as traveling companion.
Mrs. Babbage, still recuperating, wishes to visit Slough. Recent publication of Charles Babbage's book should excite insurance directors. Paper by Mary Somerville was read at R.S.L. last week. Invitation for MH to visit Somervilles at Chelsea. JH admitted to Geological Society yesterday, presided over by William Buckland. Encloses JH's diploma from Royal Academy of Copenhagen. News of MH's London acquaintances.
Foul weather in Dover delays departure of JH and servant James Child for Calais. Geological formations along road to Dover. Instructions on numbering and preserving personal letters.
Weather is good for Channel crossing. Returns 'book of rates.' It is too cumbersome.
Arrival in Paris. Names chemists, mathematicians, and others whom JH met at Institute. Breakfast with D. F. J. Arago at observatory. Problems with passport. Purchase of carriage for trip to Italy. [Letter continued same day from Melun:] En route to Lyons.
Describes travels in Savoy and Sardinia. Snowstorm on Mont Cenis. Arrived in Turin on Good Friday. Meeting with G. B. Plana at Turin observatory. Leaving for Rome next week.
Describes Turin and church politics. Ill health of the Pope {Leo XII]. [Letter continued 27 April between Genoa and Modena:] Met F. X. Zach in Genoa. Incident of anti-Jewish bigotry in Genoa. [Letter continued 2 May in Florence:] Met G. B. Amici in Modena. Clarity of Amici's telescope. Describes Bologna.
Describes monastery. [Letter continued 12 May in Arezzo, Tuscany:] Journey from Bologna. Describes Florence and Florentine art. [Letter continued 16 May at Città di Londra Hotel in Rome] Received mail from home. Death of [JH's godmother] Susan White. Describes Rome. Will search for Mr. Kestner.
Disappointed with Roman ruins and art. [Letter continued 24 May:] Hopes to receive mail from Slough in Naples. [Letter continued 27 May:] Viewed pope's benediction in St. Peter's Square. Roman weather. JH's itinerary for June and July.