Formal note and stamp acknowledging receipt of £50 annuity from estate of William Herschel, sent by executor JH, followed by note to JH on arrangements for sending such payments. Asks for news about Stewart family.
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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.
Formal note and stamp acknowledging receipt of £50 annuity from estate of William Herschel, sent by executor JH, followed by note to JH on arrangements for sending such payments. Asks for news about Stewart family.
Lovingly describes various events regarding JH's children and relatives.
Been working on a new mirror for the 20-ft. telescope; very pleased with its performance. Asks CH to distribute his fourth catalog of double stars among the Prussian and German astronomers.
Has determined the periods of four double stars. JH considers the determination of the elliptical orbits of double stars as 'one of the greatest [discoveries] ever made.'
JH and Margaret Herschel visited the Isle of Wight.
JH preparing for his journey to Cape Town. Compiling a catalog of nebulae and clusters. Sending to CH a comparison of a new set of elements of Gamma Virginis and a set of observations of it from 1720-1833; JH asks CH to send a copy to Carl Gauss.
Sent to CH JH's fifth catalog of double stars. JH will send to CH his new nebulae observations very soon.
Ready to embark to Cape Town; JH expects to arrive at the end of January. Sent out the last proof sheet of JH's nebulae catalog last night.
Reports that they are 'safely landed and comfortably housed' in Africa. The Herschels were at sea for nine weeks and two days. Required several days to unload the instruments and luggage from the ship. Has chosen a house, about five miles from town, called 'The Grove.' Excited with the calm, clear nights, which will be excellent for observations.
Reports that JH has been looking at Halley's Comet 'every night.'
Copies the inscription on a vase awarded to JH to commemorate his work at Cape Town.
Sent to CH her diploma from the Royal Irish Academy on account of her election as an honorary member.
Prepared to send to CH copies of the Index to John Flamsteed.
Wishes to learn if Isabella Stewart's health has declined.
Thanks JH for sending a copy of his Prelim. Discourse; notes that it has been translated into German from a French translation. Laments that she is 'decaying.'
Received news from the Duke of Cambridge of JH's appointment to the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order.
Losing her strength and eyesight. Describes a conversation with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Reminds JH to send his catalog of double stars.
Feeling simply 'dismal.'
Wishes JH well on his upcoming trip to the Cape of Good Hope. Asks JH to study the lower part of the Scorpion, for William Herschel was mystified by the 'uncommon appearance of that part of the heavens.' [Written as a postscript to a letter by Margaret Herschel.]