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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.
Wants to begin using decimal fractional weights of pounds and ounces at the Royal Mint, rather than pennyweights and grains. Would like to extend this method beyond the Mint. Asks for date of heliacal rising of Sirius at Athens in the time of Euripides.
The Bank of England will start to deal with weights of precious metals in decimals only [see GA's 1852-10-23]. JH responds to a letter in the Times about the shortage of silver coins.
Argues for the decimalization of all weights, measures, and money [see JH's 1852-10-26].
[Reply to GA's [1856-4-6 or earlier] on Mohamet's coffin theory.] Congratulations on GA's son winning a scholarship. JH's health is better, but he cannot walk yet.
Comments on GA's proposals about the storage of primary standards [see GA's 1853-2-7, i.e., RGO 6.341.30], and about secondary standards [see GA's 1853-2-7, i.e., RGO 6.341.31].
The meeting date is fine, but no hour or place has been specified [see JH's 1853-2-16].
Informs GA of the discovery of an earlier standard pound weight found at the Royal Mint.
Explains why JH could not attend meeting [see GA's 1853-8-16]; hopes GA and family had a pleasant holiday.
Suggests a reference to the need to reduce the variety of strange measures being used in the country [see GA's 1854-2-14]; wants to know who the examiners were at Cambridge University in Dec. 1853.
Congratulates GA on the discovery of an 'old British encampment' [probably to do with British Roman battles]. Agrees to meeting time and place [see GA's 1854-3-14].
Is reluctant to attend meeting [see GA's 1854-3-14], as JH had intended to spend a few days at Collingwood.
Profusely thanks GA for his letter [see GA's 1854-3-23]. The family will keep JH at home. Talks about her interest in a nearby mound as a possible ancient site.
Bringing GA up to date about JH's family news and commenting on news of GA's family.
Sends some suggestions for additions to draft report of the Standards Commission [see GA's 1854-3-23]; thanks GA for the report on the eclipse of Thales.
Is to have a visit from Bank of England representatives to discuss making an adjustment in the weight of a gold sovereign; seeks GA's comments on the proposed changes.
The proposed change would make little difference to the Royal Mint, but as GA points out, new coins would have an effect on banking transactions [see GA's 1854-9-19].
Having been asked for copies of standards, it seems to JH that the Royal Mint is not the office to decide on such requests.
Makes proposals about decimal coinage, based on one thousand units in the sovereign.
Talks about the means to introduce JH's radical reform ideas for coinage [see GA's 1853-2-12]; would like the Bank of England to go further in decimalizing weights of coins [see JH's 1853-2-11].
Responds about a meeting date [see GA's 1853-2-15]; further thoughts on the introduction of a new coinage system [see JH's 1853-2-14].