Search: John Herschel in collection 
John Herschel Project in contributor 
Somerville, Mary in correspondent 
letter in document-type 
No in transcription-available 
Sorted by:
Modify Search

Showing 1–20 of 38 items

Herschel13532

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[14 March 1869]
Source of text:
TxU:H/L-0760.4; Reel 1089 (C: RS:HS 16.378 & 24.251)
Summary:

Commentary on manuscript [Personal Recollections?] that [MS] sent to JH one month ago. Career of scientific learning and domestic happiness will inspire future generations. Suggests publishing it posthumously for greater impact. Corrects passages about Charles Babbage. Gives purpose, history, and membership of each of two Standards committees, one of 1819 and one of 1838. Suggests avoiding topic of bitter controversy over invention of electric telegraph.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2637

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[1830-1?]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.382 (C: RS:HS 25.13.29b)
Summary:

Admires her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Wishes [P. S.] Laplace would have lived to see it. Notes a problem with the principle of virtual velocity.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2655

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Margaret Brodie Herschel
Date:
12 May] [1831
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.346
Summary:

Accepts her invitation.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2656

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[12 November 1843]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.347
Summary:

Asks JH to tell her where to find his newly published works on the action of light on chemical substances. Rome is not intellectually stimulating. Describes summer in Venice.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2657

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[17 March 1844]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.348 (C: RS:HS 22.148)
Summary:

Sending papers on actinochemistry (photography). Discusses [James] Forbes's viscosity theory, nebulae of Southern Hemisphere, great refractor at Collegio Romano, and Lord Rosse's telescopes.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2658

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[31 July 1844]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.349
Summary:

Will be in London and hopes to see JH. Thanks for his letter and the promise of sending his papers on light. Also wants information on [Louis] Daguerre's work.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2659

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[16 September 1844]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.350
Summary:

Thanks JH for papers on light and photography. Enjoyed her visit to Collingwood. Feels privileged to be godmother to JH's daughter.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2660

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[20 September 1845]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.351
Summary:

Discusses light experiments, which 'amused' her during summer. Has heard no scientific news lately. Describes summer in Rome.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2661

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[2 November 1845]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.352 (C: RS:HS 22.254)
Summary:

Discusses MS's light experiments. JH will present the results to Royal Society. Describes apparatus that may help her. Recently attended a meeting concerning continental magnetics and meteorology.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2662

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[23 February 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.353
Summary:

Delighted that her paper was read at Royal Society. Discusses discovery of new planet [Neptune], and the future. Asks about his work.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2663

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[8 August 1847]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.354 (C: RS:HS 22.324)
Summary:

Has noticed a resemblance between [Alexander von Humboldt's] Kosmos and MS's chapter, 'On Man,' in her manuscript. Advises her to revise. Sends results of observations at the Cape.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2664

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Margaret Brodie Herschel
Date:
[25 April 1848]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.355
Summary:

Sends Lady Herschel her book [Physical Geography] as a token of friendship. Discusses the current political turmoil. Regards to family.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2665

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[2 March 1851]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.356 (C: RS:HS 23.99)
Summary:

JH's new position [Master of Mint] took him by surprise. People seem 'wild' over renewed agitation of Papal aggression issue. Describes the discovery of Saturn's new ring.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2666

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[30 May 1853]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.357 (C: RS:HS 23.134)
Summary:

The year has been peaceful for the Herschels and JH is doing little scientific work. Discusses the 'delusion' about 'turning tables,' which JH finds ridiculous.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2667

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[17 April 1856]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.358
Summary:

Needs help understanding Percades [?] quantity. Inquires as to well-being of family and sends regards.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2668

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[14 April 1857]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.359
Summary:

Thanks JH for critiquing her paper during his illness. MS's On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences is to be published in translation at Cesna.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2669

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[20 January 1858]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.360 (C: RS:HS 23.217)
Summary:

Feeling better, but writing still painful. Writing articles on meteorology and geology for Encyclopaedia Britannica. May use information from her Physical Geography.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2670

From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[28 February 1858]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.361 (C: RS:HS 23.224)
Summary:

Lists facts from various astronomical catalogues, such as the number of fixed, double, and binary stars. Discusses parallax. Thanks her for second edition of Physical Geography.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2671

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[15 March 1858]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.362
Summary:

Enjoyed visit of Louisa [Herschel Marshall]. Wants copies of JH's new articles. Is witnessing a solar eclipse, in which half the disc was covered, as she writes.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project

Herschel2672

From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[21 September 1860]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.363
Summary:

Thanks JH for scientific papers. Is writing about relations between inorganic matter, physical and vital forces, and microscopic plants. Praises [Giuseppe] Garibaldi and his performance.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
Author
Addressee
Correspondent
Date
Document type
Contributor
Transcription available