Had a card to visit Greenwich Observatory the same day as he received JH's letter so was unable to visit him.
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.
Had a card to visit Greenwich Observatory the same day as he received JH's letter so was unable to visit him.
Thanks for having been informed of the death of an acquaintance.
Sends his fractional approximation of a sidereal revolution. Would like his opinion on its accuracy. Clock will not be finished for several years.
Reports on a meeting of the R.A.S., mostly talking about sun spots.
On the evening of 4 Jan. he found a nebulosity in or near Draco that he has been unable to discover in any catalogue. Has discovered another red star in Taurus, which is not given in JH's list.
In looking through Lamont 1845-6 he found two observations of Neptune not previously recognized. Thanks for his memoir on the orbits of double stars.
Sends an interesting result of the comet computed by Mr. Barber of Etwell. W. R. Dawes's observations are about to be printed. Wilhelm Struve has some curious optical equations. Will be pleased to see Dr. [Henry?] Holland when he arrives.
Has just received a memoir from Bastiaan Bomme of Middelburg on the comet of 1264 and 1556. Sends the chief results. Comments on the findings and future appearances of the comet.
On Nov. 4 observed a red star, which does not appear in any of the recent maps or charts. Gives readings. JH may be able to throw some light on it.
Is grateful for JH's efforts in bringing his case before the government. Hopes to prove useful to the cause of science if his health permits.
Has discovered another planet {Irene]. Gives readings. Suggests source of name.
Thanks for the name [Irene]; will lose no time in making it known. Observed a faint nebulous light around the planet.
Has received the elements of Irene from J. F. Encke, which places the planet near Egeria. Eduard Heis has asked for JH's address as he has prepared a paper on variable stars.
Sending a table of variable stars. Appears to have seen the new planet [Psyche] on 29 Jan.
Takes the earliest opportunity of announcing the discovery of a new planet [Melpomene]. Gives readings.
Regrets the trouble JH has been caused, but it was due to the non-arrival of his letter. Cannot claim fellowship of the R.S.L. as he did not attend any of the meetings following his election. Gives a list of his planetary discoveries.
Has found another planet [Fortuna]; gives readings. Finds that the famous eclipse of Thales took place in 585 B.C., not 610 B.C., as stated by Francis Baily and Mr. Altmann.
Angelo Secchi has found the second head of Biela's comet. Gives the elements of J. R. Hind's last planet (Fortuna).
Has discovered a seventh planet [Kalliope]. Gives readings.
Has discovered an eighth planet. Gives readings. Proposes to call it Thalia.