Family news update.
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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.
Family news update.
Introducing Franklin Lushington who is going to New Holland on a surveying expedition. The ship carrying him will call at the Cape for instructions. Has written to the Governors here to induce them to adopt the Greek style, not the Gothic for the Houses of Parliament.
Is grateful for JH's kindness conveyed in his letter brought to him by Mohammed Ismail Khan. The latter has been attempting to persuade JL to go to Lucknow as an engineer, but has declined pending offer from the King of Oude. Will send his observations to Francis Beaufort after JH has left the Cape. Answers some of JH's queries.
Charles Babbage will publish JH's volcanic theory in Ninth Bridgewater Treatise, together with JH's letter to R. I. Murchison. William Whewell read both at Geological Society. Babbage wants to compare JH's theory with passage from Bishop [Samuel] Butler. Whewell's notion of new species. Charles Darwin's new theory of coral islands is forcing CL to give up CL's volcanic crater theory. [Letter continues 28 May.] Sends copy of Babbage's Treatise with quotes from JH. News of Charles Wheatstone's submarine telegraph and David Brewster's proof that diamond is of vegetable origin.
Received the enclosed communications by the steamer. Can JH send him a list of unobserved comet stars? Work on N. L. Lacaille's Observatory gives satisfaction. Regarding Capt. Mackonochee. Lacaille's angular measurements are not above suspicion. Observed the two rings of Saturn distinctly.
Will call on JH tomorrow as he intends visiting Simon's Bay. Is taking a proof sheet to Cape Town. There appears to be a great discrepancy between the Captain's statement and N. L. Lacaille's station. The latter's station at Rubeck Castel remains perfect.
The examination of the standard deal rod was commenced yesterday. Comments on the procedure and gives readings. The base line was levelled on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and he is now ready to measure it. Would like JH to be present if possible when he measures it. Had 25 visitors in one morning recently.
Returns JH's book of estimated magnitudes and would like it again when preparing his catalogue. Sends letters he received from Francis Beaufort and [Richard?] Jones. Is oppressed with business and an awful cough.
About the observation of sun spots and the second satellite of Saturn.
Has decisively mapped Saturn's sixth satellite; doubts, however, that he will ever see the seventh. Asks CH to inform Friedrich Bessel of his observation.
Asks TM to return JH's book of star magnitudes.