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Somerville, Mary in correspondent 
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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
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[31 March 1829]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.327
Summary:

Thanks JH for his suggestions for her paper. Will accept any corrections he makes. Sends warm regards to JH and his new wife.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[20 October 1829]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.328
Summary:

Wants JH to return the last 8-10 pages of her manuscript. She wishes to correct and improve it.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
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
Text Online
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[23 February 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.329 (C: RS:HS 21.60)
Summary:

Sends 40 pages of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] along with suggestions for improvement. Suggests clarifying the principles of the first chapter and a fuller explanation of various other principles.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1 March 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.330
Summary:

Thanks JH for criticisms of her manuscript. Will outline principles more carefully. Hopes Lady Herschel is 'gaining strength.'

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[6 March 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.331
Summary:

Sends first revised pages [of MS's Mechanism of the Heavens] back for further opinion. Highly respects JH's comments and believes he will be a truthful critic as a friend.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[9 March 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.332 (C: RS:HS 21.61)
Summary:

Sends new translation of [P. S. Laplace's] Mécanique céleste. Says her revision [of MS's Mechanism of the Heavens] has been effective. Still doubts the derivation of the fundamental equation. Discusses force, resistance, and reaction with regard to this equation.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1830-3-9 or later]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.333
Summary:

Thanks JH for his communications. Anxious to get into the proof JH criticized. Sends [Joseph] LaGrange's variations of constant quantities.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[31 March 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.334 (C: RS:HS 21.66)
Summary:

Says manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] cannot be improved materially except perhaps on one or two small points. Will look at it again when it is together in a whole. Announces birth of JH's daughter [Caroline] that morning.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[5 April 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.335
Summary:

Offers congratulations on arrival of JH's first child. Thanks him for communicating his thoughts on her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] at such a time.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[15 May 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.336
Summary:

Sending back part of manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] for criticism. Hopes Mrs. Herschel and baby are well.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[15 June 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.337 (C: RS:HS 21.71)
Summary:

Will bring her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Apologizes for holding it so long. Critiques various passages concerning permanent rotation and equations of stability. Sends condolences on Dr. Somerville's loss.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[23 October 1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.338
Summary:

Sends a method of estimating the variations in the elements of orbits during the perturbations in longitude and distance. Used it in manuscript when examining Saturn and Jupiter.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.339
Summary:

Asks JH to send the astronomical part of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] by Mr. Richards on Thursday.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1830]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.340
Summary:

Used a counter spell to keep the moon at a 'due distance.' Her previous computations were careless. Asks JH to return part of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] for corrections.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[11 February 1831]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.341
Summary:

Wants to use method of indeterminate coefficients to integrate the differential equations of the planets' perturbations. [Originally written to W. Fairfax.]

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[3 March 1831]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.342
Summary:

Needs advice on integrating equations. Praises JH's book [Prelim. Discourse]. Says James Mackintosh and [Henry] Hallam also praise it. Note from William Somerville, which needs a reply, is enclosed.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
[8 March 1831]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.343 (ACCS: RS:HS 25.1.33)
Summary:

Explains to MS P. S. Laplace's method of indeterminate coefficients in mathematics. Thanks MS for her praise of his book [Prelim. Discourse], which JH values more highly than newspaper reviews.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse
Text Online
From:
Mary Somerville
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[28 May 1831]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.344
Summary:

Sends preliminary observations that will be prefixed to her book [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Wants JH to make any criticisms of it before it is published.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project, Brigitte Stenhouse