Encloses application for meteorological and magnetic observatories from governor of New Brunswick. May establish observations in all colonies for limited time. Puzzled over [John] Lefroy's results from Athabasca.
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.
Encloses application for meteorological and magnetic observatories from governor of New Brunswick. May establish observations in all colonies for limited time. Puzzled over [John] Lefroy's results from Athabasca.
Copies of 1847-2-20 letter will be sent to observatories utilizing actinometers. Earlier series will be replaced with accurate figures. Suggests method to measure temperature in actinometers.
Should ES send thermometers to observatories? JH and [Francis] Beaufort to consider debt owed to Hudson Bay Company. Sends letter describing photometer of [John] Ball for JH's opinion.
Sent new actinometers and thermometers to various observatories along with JH's instructions.
Discusses Mrs. Sabine's translation of [Alexander von] Humboldt's Cosmos, particularly some theological passages.
Further discusses the translation of [Alexander von] Humboldt's Cosmos [see RS:HS 15.207].
Preparing instruments and instructions for various expeditions. Discusses ES's wife's translation of [Alexander von] Humboldt's Cosmos and the [R.S.L.] Council.
Discusses the meteorological observations made on board the Pagoda, particularly the effect of latitude and longitude on barometric readings.
Received memorandum from JH concerning magnetic instruments and instructions for their use. Happy to comply with Lordship's request for general instructions for magnetic instruments. Received meteorological observations from around the world.
R.S.L. selecting foreign members. Asks JH's opinion of a number of foreign scientists and also his opinion of what he, as foreign secretary, should do in this matter.
[S. J. A. Compton,] Lord Northampton will resign as president of R.S.L. ES discusses proposed changes in office of president, and asks JH to consider taking the office under the newly proposed changes.
Sends own article on magnetic surveys at sea. Requests comments. Discusses foreign distribution of star catalogues approved by the council and election of foreign members of R.S.L.
Sorry JH will not undertake R.S.L. presidency. Discusses meteorology and magnetism. [J. D.?] Robinson's instrument works well.
Sends astronomical observations of the Rattlesnake received from Mr. Dayman.
Will correct his contribution to JH's scientific manual. Discusses [Humphrey] Lloyd's apparatus for measurement of total force.
Sorry JH's family has influenza. Encloses letter from [John] Lefroy regarding actinometers.
Sends meteorological register contracts from [John] Lefroy. Discusses observations of aurora in North America. Discusses recent magnetic disturbances and similar disturbances in 1841 and 1847.
Discusses reduction of observations, continuation of various observatories, and the necessary financial arrangements for each. JH's actinometer instructions were misunderstood at Toronto.
Hopes JH can attend council meeting on 7 July. Thinks Kew Observatory could be made an important magnetic and meteorological station.
Hoping JH receives [Francis] Ronalds's and [W. R.] Birt's statements regarding Kew Observatory. Asks JH to bring William Parson's note to their [JH and ES's] upcoming meeting. Discusses finances of Kew.