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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.
Is working on horticultural considerations of Cape plants and would welcome information on the temperature just below the surface of the soil in relation to the temperature of the air.
Has just had a letter from C. F. Gauss regarding the hours for observations; comments on this.
Finds that he misunderstood Edward Sabine's statement and may have misled JH. Comments on the observations desired from the Antarctic Expedition.
Encloses letters concerning [William] Reid's Laws of Storms. Discusses problems obtaining money for Meteorology Society from government. Reports mural circle working well. Receives another meteorite specimen.
J. M. Craig requests TM to send meteorite to British Museum. TM asks JH to transfer the specimen sent earlier to the Museum.
Requesting letters of introduction for Lieut. F. M. Eardley Wilmot, who is to undertake magnetic observations at the Cape.
More mathematical curves made by machine [see HP's 1839-5-6].
Reports on sending and receiving barometric and magnetic observations. GP's 20 year old daughter is still not married [see GP's 1838-1-6], but GP believes her chances are improving.
Returns reports on Cape Observatory and reform of star nomenclature. FB was not included in committee to report reduction of stars in N. L. Lacaille's Coelum australe stelliferum, but sends FB's own report on it, which JH may send in.
Will visit C. R. Fox at Ordnance to speed up official letter to Treasury requesting additional officer on magnetic expeditions. Will inform JH when letter reaches [S. H.] Christie [at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich].
J. T. Boileau and L. E. O. Ludlow were appointed by H.E.I.C. to direct Indian observatories. R.S.L. is concerned that it has no choice in selecting directors. Instruments for H.E.I.C. observatories. Should JL request additional staff for all 16 observatories, or only for nine permanent ones?
Asks about letter that Lord Northampton requested Lord Palmerston to give to Mr. Stewart, who leaves for Egypt soon.
Is forwarding a note about an instrument of [Louis] Daguerre's.
Saturday the 17th will be convenient because it gives him time to finish his pendulum experiments.
[A. T.] Kupffer, [Humphrey] Lloyd, and ES will meet [C. F.] Gauss at later date. Desires cooperation with Russia. Birmingham good for B.A.A.S., but the meeting lacks distinguished scientists.
Asks JH whether he presented to the Council of the R.S.L. the resolution of the Meteorological Committee regarding references made by the 'Colonial Office, Trinity[?] Board, etc.'
Supports JH's idea of having one simultaneous observation each day. Suggests that there might be two a day. Has suggested to Humphrey Lloyd that hourly observations take place once a fortnight. Says Lloyd wishes to speak about supplies.
Explains that the purpose of his trip with Humphrey Lloyd is to 'establish the cooperation of the continental magnetic observatories.' Desires that the trip be authorized by the R.S.L.
Encloses a letter from Humphrey Lloyd. Sees no problem in adding an officer to the staff of each observatory, if necessary. Remarks on a cheap but fragile magnetometer.
Is grieved by the R.S.L. report, which supports a 'voyage of Discovery to the Antarctic' rather than 'research in Physical Sciences in the Southern Hemisphere.' Speaks of the discoveries made by expeditions to the Antarctic, including great changes in magnetic variations.