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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.
About possible changes in the second edition of JH's Outlines Astr. due to the writings of another astronomer, Ignatio Porro.
About viewing the solar eclipse, and the many errors in G. B. Airy's Lectures.
Sorry to hear he has been laid up, but his recovery has been quicker than his own. Unable to help him as his own lands have to be sold, but encloses a check for £20, which please acknowledge with a promissory note.
Is dismayed to find in the new edition of his own Outlines Astr. that he has attributed the discovery of Hyperion to W. R. Dawes without crediting WL; will have this corrected in a future edition.
Agrees to write memoir [of George Peacock], but this will take some time as he is taking son [John] to Southampton to leave for India.
Invites ES and his wife [at St. Leonard's] to visit . JH is impressed with ES's ability to develop a working plan for terrestrial magnetism observations. Is prepared to write a review article [about magnetism?] if invited, but JH refuses to write such articles and offer them 'for acceptance or rejection.'
Thanks ES for receipt of information about magnetic curves and the work of [A. D.] Bache. JH is glad to hear ES is back to active work again, but JH says he is too ill to go to the B.A.A.S. meeting [in Aberdeen].
Has incorporated ES's suggestions into the draft report about [the University of] Kasan.
Dismisses the lectures of a Mr. Parallax, who is going about the country lecturing against the basic views of science, and using JH's ideas in support.
Humphrey Lloyd wants R.S.L. and B.A.A.S. committees on magnetism to meet together at B.A.A.S. meeting in Leeds. JH suggests inviting Edward Sabine.
Finds no inaccuracies in statement made to TA about Hollier's trust fund. Knows of no incumbrances on reversionary interests of W. H. B. Hollier.
Received another notice from General Reversionary & Trust Society regarding H. J. Hollier. JH asks again to be replaced as trustee for Mary Anne Hollier trust.
R.S.L. committee for considering continuance of magnetic observations has recommended that hourly observations be carried out at Falkland Islands, Newfoundland, and Vancouver Island. Alternate stations are Ceylon and Bermuda. Will not print all observations. Hopes colonial governments will participate. JH and William Whewell will be at [B.A.A.S. meeting in] Leeds.
If only one observer is assigned to Peking, observations could not be conducted. Describes staff and expenses at other magnetic observatories. Edward Sabine's plan to adapt all instruments to photographic self-registering instruments.
Send names of members of B.A.A.S. committee appointed to cooperate with R.S.L. committee for purpose of procuring continuance of observations of terrestrial magnetism.
[Extract] Learned that JH was appointed by R.S.L. to committee to cooperate with B.A.A.S. to promote continuance of terrestrial magnetism survey. Asks ES to send committee summary of results already obtained and ES's opinion of how best to conduct future observations.
Assures EW that earth is spheroidal and that sun and planets follow laws of gravitation, contrary to absurd claims of Mr. Parallax. Regrets that Parallax is using JH's name to support 'ridiculous opinions.'
R.S.L. committee recommends continuing three magnetic observatories at Falkland Islands, Newfoundland, and Vancouver Island.
Thanks GA for a letter of introduction to friends in Rome [used by JH's daughter Margaret Louisa and her new husband, Reginald Dyke Marshall]; JH is willing to serve on a committee with GA and others if he does not have to go to London for meetings.
Suggests GA alter some phraseology and tone in his response [see GA's 1858-5-4] to Edward Sabine's report on magnetic observatories.