JH cannot attend Aberdeen [B.A.A.S.] meeting due to severe illness. Will try to sketch draft of response to application to British and foreign governments for cooperation in magnetic projects.
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.
JH cannot attend Aberdeen [B.A.A.S.] meeting due to severe illness. Will try to sketch draft of response to application to British and foreign governments for cooperation in magnetic projects.
Requests information concerning a letter to the Treasury, which ES had asked JH to write, regarding funding for [meteorological] stations in Vancouver, Shanghai, Newfoundland, and the Falkland Islands.
Would be glad to accompany JH to Kew to see instruments.
Will accompany ES to Kew Observatory. Serving as legatee for the recently deceased Elizabeth Baily, sister of Francis Baily.
Will travel to Kew Tuesday. Encloses answer to Duke of Newcastle regarding proposal for colonies. Welcomes any comments from JH.
Encloses letter from Colonial Office to R.S.L., which was referred to ES because [B. C.] Brodie was out of town. Brodie hopes to see JH when JH comes to London.
Plan of Colonial Office submitted to R.S.L. does not yet have a 'definite or practical shape.' Recommends JH as best person to aid in matter.
Reluctant to recommend undertaking major scientific projects in colonies at government expense. Believes situation there will work itself out.
Discusses [Angelo] Secchi's letter. Can supply the Jesuits in Cuba with magnetic apparatus they need. Discusses Secchi's views on cause of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Must postpone meeting at Kew Observatory because of a severe cold. Asks JH to choose a later date.
Responds to GA's account of his tour [see GA's 1859-8-13] with interest, and adds a description of JH's poor health.
Explains and encloses abstract of paper on action of magnetic oxides under various conditions. Discusses their purifying influence on water.
Outlines B.A.A.S.'s proposals regarding magnetic and meteorological observations, to be laid before Prince Albert.
Wishes JF success and rest in his new position [at St. Andrews].
Announces appointment of James D. Forbes to the Principalship of the United College at St. Andrews.
Again admires WH's quaternions but begs that WH make them more accessible. Suggests book with rules clearly stated and examples relating them to ordinary problems.
Reports favorably on sections of WH's book [Elements of Quaternions] that JH read. Predicts its importance and wide circulation. Is too busy to read more now.
Expresses appreciation for JF's publication on glaciers.
Comments on paper on [Strati?-]friction of electric light.
Discusses installation of a 4-ft. aperture equatorial telescope. Describes plans for a glass polishing machine in great detail.