Encourages GA to consider favorably the offer of Hugh Percy [Duke of Northumberland] of donating a telescope to Cambridge Observatory.
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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.
Encourages GA to consider favorably the offer of Hugh Percy [Duke of Northumberland] of donating a telescope to Cambridge Observatory.
Of ill health and medical stories [letter completed 1833-2-2].
Of health and reminiscences of the past [letter completed 1833-2-22].
Sharing some good and some bad news.
Bad news about the health of JG's daughter Matilda.
Preparation to go to Madeira for health reasons.
On the state of Matilda's health [letter completed 1833-10-2].
His son Thomas has set out for France and he himself is in London to see the passage of a bill through Parliament. Would be grateful for letters of introduction to M.P.'s with which JH is acquainted.
James's daughter has improved in health and there are hopes for her recovery. Bill passed through the House of Commons successfully. Would be glad to receive letters of introduction to any members of the House of Lords with which JH may be acquainted.
Congratulations on his addition to the family; hopes all are well. Would like JH to meet T. T. Grant, who has a new invention, which may prove of great utility.
Sending his sextant and instructions for its use, which he will doubtless find useful. Also a copy of James Horsburgh's Directions. Has not heard from Captain Hardy regarding the rope. Advises boxes covered in mackintosh. Plans to publish his book on Saturday.
Pleased to hear of JH's success with his application to the Treasury. Would like a statement from him on the nature of his communication to the Cambridge meeting concerning the actinometer. Hopes he is not too busy preparing for his voyage.
Has taken some time to consider the climate at the Cape in response to JH's request. Gives details of the climate, suitability of site for observatory, and general conditions at the Cape. There is a reasonable library at Cape Town.
Has resolved to leave the Cape and soon after JH receives this letter he hopes to be in England. Will bring the barometer and the exterior thermometer. Saw Dr. Duncan Stewart yesterday.
Has written two letters from the Cape. Arrived three days ago. Will shortly proceed to Edinburgh. Has left the barometer on the ship. Compared this barometer with the one at St. Helena.
Proceeds to Edinburgh in the course of a few days and intends to compute the star declinations. Has some suggestions to offer before JH sails for the Cape. Would be glad to hear of the comparison of the barometer and thermometer. Left a [Thomas] Jones thermometer at the Cape.
Memorandum on the site of N. L. Lacaille's Observatory.
The observational data from FS regarding Gamma Virginis are so significant that JH begs FS to continue to observe and send JH the results. Comments on a number of other astronomical observational matters.
Gently rejects MP's offer to accompany JH to the Cape to act as JH's assistant. JH claims the voyage to be a 'pure family party of pleasure,' and if astronomy can not be well practiced at the Cape, the family may go on to India to visit the relatives of JH's wife, Margaret.
Comments on, and compares, WD's observations of several double stars with the observations of JH and other astronomers. In a postscript JH says 'The papers have told the truth for once—we sail sometime between Sept. and Dec.'