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.
Having been provided with answers by JD to some questions by JH about color-blindness, JH now comments on them and offers some theoretical considerations.
Has sent to Francis Baily a copy of his Sailing Directions and a roll of charts. Hopes JH will point out any errors he may note.
Acknowledging the receipt of two boxes of manuscripts to be held at the R.S.L. until the return of JH from the Cape.
Acknowledging receipt of tin box containing the papers of the late Sir William Herschel.
Has now completed his examination of the mode of reading off the barometer of J. W. G. Bu[t]zengeiger, made under the direction of H. C. Schumacher. Comments on the readings. Has now sent off all the Italian papers. Hopes JH will have a prosperous voyage.
Will be at his service any time after the 29th. Congratulations for the boy. JH's political economy is quite good. Wrote out the verses of Homer. He can take them back with him when he comes. Is glad that [James] Grahame is satisfied.
Exhibits on Wednesday at 2 o'clock. Sends tickets. Hopes to dine at the Athenaeum.
Regrets he did not see more of him at the Cambridge meetings. [Herbert?] Mayo has promised to write a full report to JH of young [Robert?] Graham[e?].
Hopes to visit JH ere now but has been laid up with tic-douloreux. Moves to Weymouth in November. Glad to see the decided tone JH took on causation in astronomy. Cannot quite give up the Portsmouth Expedition.
Cannot move until Saturday due to medical reasons.
Expected another letter from JH. Awaits this letter before leaving Portsmouth.
Mrs. Jones is laid up with a cold, but hopes to go to Portsmouth on the 7th to arrange the lodgings. Is becoming more reconciled to the Herschels' expedition.
Has had no communication with Thomas Phillips regarding JH's portrait and they would approve of JH's choice of H. W. Pickersgill. Will call on Pickersgill when he is in town and arrange size of the portrait.
Expresses some concerns about the proposed painting of his portrait [see WJ's 1833-1-1].
Has been laid up with influenza, which delayed his answer. Has seen H. W. Pickersgill, who will be very pleased to paint JH's portrait. Can he arrange a meeting?
Will JH be able to dine with the other visitors at Greenwich on Saturday? JH has been awarded a Royal Medal. Thinks JH is wrong in not desiring a passage to the Cape in a Man of War.
Would be grateful for the loan of £10 to meet urgent needs.
Hears that JH wishes to be known to Dr. John Murray, so encloses a letter of introduction. Will find him a pleasant and amiable man.
Hears that JH is contemplating a rotatory roof for his telescope at the Cape. Sends details of a method he has devised for his own observatory. Will send a drawing of it next week. Will be pleased to show it to JH if he is that way.
Wife has been ill, which accounts for his belated reply. Comments on the pros and cons of taking furniture to the Cape. May leave the infant at home. Has received the plan of the observatory from Francis Beaufort.