Of health, family news, and the reception of JG's latest book [letter completed 1836-2-17].
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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.
Of health, family news, and the reception of JG's latest book [letter completed 1836-2-17].
Has just received JH's two letters of 5 and 25 Dec. Will prepare duplicates of his letters and pendulum observations and send them to Francis Beaufort. Has still heard nothing about the Observatory.
Forwarding meteorological and magnetic observations for Sept. and Dec. 1835. Has had no letter from the Governor, but is given to understand he may spend £100 towards the erection of a tide gauge. Have had two violent floods.
Dr. Andrew Smith arrived yesterday in the Bay and landed in the evening; has not seen Smith himself yet.
Many thanks for the portrait; it shall soon have a resting place. Will not rest until the comet observations are en route to England. T. G. Taylor does not observe himself. There was a beautiful occultation of three stars last night.
Would welcome changes in the nomenclature of the constellations. Hesitates to compute the observations of John Burrow.
When in Cape Town he heard there was a parcel, probably of books, for JH, so has arranged for it to be delivered. Has had newspapers, etc., from England but not a word about the comet's northern tour. Encloses a copy of Thomas Henderson's Cape Declinations.
Congratulations on the birth of JH's son Alexander. Has a man preparing the old Ramsden Equatorial as the calculations from the repeating circle are so troublesome. Observations of the comet this morning were excellent.
Comments on the accusations made about himself before the Aborigines Committee.
Reports the death of family members. Reveals news of new Pulkowa observatory. Has completed his work on micrometer measurements, resulting in 10,500 observations. Includes lists of aspects of his works.
Wonders if JH has received AQ's letters and works sent to the Cape. Sends more. Has been doing meteorological observations. Will send some if JH wishes. Mural circle and transit instrument finally in place. Problems with equatorial; therefore missed Halley's Comet.
Presents JH with R.A.S. medal for Catalogue of Nebulae.
Past difficulties and faults with running of Royal Observatory. Hopes Halley's Comet has been observed. Further information on the telescope presented to Cambridge Observatory by Hugh Percy (3rd Duke of Northumberland). James Challis has succeeded GA at Cambridge. Proposed new railway near Royal Observatory and its effect on observations.
Unable to send the Parramatta observations as the vessel is leaving too soon. Has just returned from a meeting to consider [William?] Ritchie's new optical glasses. George Dollond speaks well of them.
Regarding the collections of anatomical specimens assembled by Mr. Verreaux and the possibility of its disposal if sent to London.