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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.
Has been commissioned by Guillaume Weber to present a paper about an instrument for measuring the earth's magnetism, to JH. Would like to present it personally; when can he call?
Sending diagrams of Halley's Comet traced from a work, The Orbs of Heaven.
Comments on zodiacal light. Would like JH's opinion on his theory. Has been experimenting further with the propagation of plants with collodion. Money for the Henry Lawson Observatory has been subscribed and hopes soon to appoint trustees.
Astronomer Royal and his wife are visiting the Lubbocks on Saturday; will JH join them for Saturday and Sunday? Will collect him if he likes. Louisa Herschel was the belle of the Bromley Ball.
The Cape Government is to employ a geologist to survey the mineral resources. Copper mines are all the rage at the moment and the value of shares is increasing rapidly. No further news of David Livingstone. Mounting of the transit circle is progressing.
Compliments to the Herschels. Was interested in JH's article in the last number of Good Words. A long time since he has seen Alexander Herschel.
Thanks for his articles on the prediction of time; comments on it. Has been translating an article of John Tyndall.
Asks JH to sign an affidavit that WT is the inventor of the calotype or talbotype as some are trying to break WT's patent hold.
Sends JH a copy of the affidavit [see WT's 1854-5-15] and asks for JH's emendations, if any, and his signature. Sends JH a photograph engraved on steel.
Explains the way an affidavit works in the Court of Chancery. Because JH feels uncomfortable about certain aspects of the affidavit, WT will not trouble him about it again.
WT's opponents have named JH in one of their affidavits against WT. WT is therefore asking JH to respond to what is stated in that affidavit.
Reports to JH that the patent infringement case had been decided in WT's favor, and tells of one incident in court.
Write to inform JH of the successful conclusion of the patent case brought by W. H. Fox Talbot.
Sends JH a copy of a recent issue of the Athenaeum in which falsehoods, copied from a Richard Sheepshanks pamphlet, have been printed. CB wants JH to respond to, and correct, these falsehoods quickly.
Apologizes for not sending JH copies of GP's recent writings. Is now beginning a memoir on action-at-a-distance [?], and wonders if the R.A.S. or R.S.L. would be interested.
Send inventory of [furnishings at] 32 Harley Street. New occupant is waiting to move in.
Asks JH for the manuscript of Lieut. Burton's travels, which was forwarded by way of JH.
Informs JH that GA (and his assistants) have been making pendulum observations in a coal pit.
Specifications for construction of iron gates and railings to be used in construction of new mint in Sydney. Send cost estimates to JH, who will appoint a construction superintendent.
Saw in the Times that JH is working on universal alphabet. Sends Wolfgang Kempelen's book (1791) on mechanism of speech. Speculates on machine that could produce phonetic sounds for universal language.