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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.
The flood has done much mischief to his baseline; there are still some holes to be filled in. Has written to Col. G. G. Lewis. Hopes to see JH at breakfast on Thursday.
Proceedings with the Circle went on as well as expected; fixed the additional microscopes with plaster of paris. Sends the P.M.that contains F. W. Bessel's paper on the repeating circle. Opposition of Mars will require the use of the circle in the last of the present month.
The departure of missionaries [again; see JM's and WB's 1835-8-6] allows JM and WB to send along further material on the Mappa Selenographica.
Received JH's letter with pleasure; delayed replying as hoping to comment. Theories have been shown to Charles Lyell, William Whewell, etc. Gives his own comments on JH's theory. Installed Whewell as President of the Geological Society. Pleased JH is to become a subscriber to RM's book, which moves slowly along. Received a collection of fossils from Fernando Po recently.
JH's letter has appeared in print in Charles Babbage's Bridgewater Treatise. Comments on the books of Babbage and William Whewell. C. R. Darwin has read his paper on Coral Reefs. RM is to be General Secretary of the next B.A.A.S. meeting. [William?] Ayrton was elected F.R.S.
Comments on disagreements in stellar observations and on sun spot activity; and requests observations of a specific star.
About the observation of sun spots and the second satellite of Saturn.
About a variety of observations that JH has made.
About some observations, the weather, and the difficulty of establishing tide observations, given the slowness of the Admiralty.
Sends TM his nebulae observations and drawings of what he saw.
Talks about the very hot weather, and some matters of business that JH needs to work out with TM.
About the remarkably bright variable star, Eta Argus.
Sees little benefit in trying to triangulate between stations, certainly at this time; JH's mirror polishing has been very successful.
Compares his observations for some stars with the observations of TM.
Some minor matters of astronomical business followed by an extended list of principles on which a constellation reform might be undertaken.
Acknowledges receipt of JH's letter of last August. Sends a copy of the American Almanac containing a catalogue of all the solar eclipses made by himself. Had a magnificent display of red aurora on 25 Jan.
Sends hourly meteorological observations for March, June and September. Comments on these and the climate of New England. Further details of the fall of meteors. Francis Baily has sent his article on the eclipse of 1836. Delivered JH's message to Nathaniel Bowditch. Other scientific news.
Describes his observational activities, especially the discovery of the variable nature of Eta Argo, and the rediscovery of the sixth satellite of Saturn.
JH's observations disagree with JD's 'Catalogues of Nebulae and Double Stars' [observed at Paramatta, Australia]. Believes errors lie in JD's work. Will send copy of JH's catalogue as soon as it is printed. [8pp of notes extracted by JH from JD's catalog; 7 pp of JH's comments, written in another hand, about these notes.]
Donates £25 to fund for John Fairbairn, whose editorial enthusiasm led to Fairbairn's court conviction. Advises JR to frame this support on grounds that cannot be interpreted as challenging court's decision.