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.
After collecting and reducing all nebula observations by JH and William Herschel, JH objects to GA's suggestion that JH should pay for calculations needed to prepare catalogue of nebulae. Hesitates to request additional funds from R.S.L.
Not aware of any changes in trust fund status of T. H. Hollier since 1861. Returns letter to bank accountant.
Nebulous nature of some stars. Recent reports on variability of some nebulae.
Suggests Albert Marth of Durham observatory as possible assistant to WL. JH's notes and diagram of nebular ring.
[Printed notice] Solicitation by Geological Society of contributions for Charles Nichols, 22-year member who has 'fallen into...difficulty.'
Asks help of R.S.L. in reducing all observations to 1870 in JH's catalog of nebulae. Estimates cost at £10.
Needs to know soon if R.S.L. will approve grant to expand JH's catalog of nebulae. Otherwise G. B. Airy will dismiss man employed to do those computations. [JH annotation: Sent similar letter to G. G. Stokes on same date.]
[Rough draft (1p) crossed out, followed by:] Confidential propostion that G. B. Airy submitted to Board of Visitors is inappropriate. Queen's warrant does not empower Board to consider such matters.
Objects to Board of Visitors acting as 'self-constituted Court-Martial' to examine personal conduct of Board's chairman [James South], whom G. B. Airy no longer recognizes as competent. [JH notes that he did not send this letter, but kept it because it gave the reasons behind the shorter form [TxU:H/L-0374], which he preferred.]
Withdraws article that JH submitted to Cornhill Magazine because, as GS noted, it was meant for different class of readers. But asks for 250 copies to be printed for JH's private circulation.
Wants JH to write to the Public School Commissioners to express his views on what direction education should take in the public schools, especially JH's views on the teaching of the physical sciences.
Informs JH of a meeting of the finance committee of the Hawkhurst Volunteers.
Announces a meeting of the Ball Committee to be held at Cranbrook.
Thanks for superb new information about nebulae in William Herschel's list. Wishes Alexander Herschel could serve as [WL]'s assistant in Valetta. Success of JH's son Alexander in chemistry and meteor research.
[Written on back of printed notice from Smithsonian Institution, asking British correspondents to forward literary and scientific materials via WW in London.] Received JH's note and vol. 7 of Smithsonian Collections. Sent JH's parcel to Washington.
Marquis of Bute [J. P. C. Stuart] purchased property of CB's sister [Mary Anne Hollier] in Cardiff. [Charles] Few & Co., managers of property, sent title for CB's and JH's signatures. Sorry that JH was troubled again by pressure from CB's nephews for money.
JH regrets he will not have time to review paper on Indian meteorology.
Requests that JH return a paper sent to him.
Requests return of proofs, in triplicate, of JH's report on a paper on stopping cracks in cement.
Comments on matters relating to the provision of a reflecting telescope to Melbourne University [see JH's 1862-12-10].