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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.
Asks about JH's children. Remarks that JH's discovery of globular clusters in the Scorpion is not what she remembered William Herschel being mystified about; remembers that WH exclaimed that there seemed to be a 'Loch im Himmel' ('hole in heaven') there.
Developed a method that greatly simplifies Joseph Lagrange's integration of the 3n differential equations of motion of the second order by reducing all calculations to the application of 'one principal function.' Applies the method to planetary motion.
Thanks JH for Gamma Virginis observations, which are finally in accord with his. Sends observation of the double stars JH suggested watching. Works with Richard Sheepshanks. Francis Baily delivers details on Edinburgh meeting of philosophers. Sends news from Niccolo Cacciatore, who has returned to the Observatory in Naples.
Offers honors to JH from Asiatic Society in return for information and observations sent there. Oversees care of Asiatic Society telescope. Anxious to hear of JH's work at the Cape of Good Hope.
Sends observations of the double stars, which JH had suggested.
Observations on the weather of the past winter. 42 Virginis. Printing of [Stephen] Groombridge's catalogue. Has written article for the Penny Cyclopaedia. Refracted light in prisms. Machine for polarization of the sky. Petition to Parliament to abolish religious tests for degrees at Cambridge.
Summary of GA's 1834-4-24, with additional information that he has written a book entitled Gravitation. Confusion over 42 Virginis. Affair between James South, and Edward Troughton and William Simms has been referred to arbitration. Experiments on Newton's rings by transmission. Letter to Thomas Maclear about his mural circle. Saw the eclipse of 16 July. Tarnish of JH's mirrors. R. A. Cauchoix's delay with telescope. [The final two pages of this letter are from Richarda Airy to Margaret Brodie Herschel.]
Abstracts of barometrical pressure in various parts of the earth. Has used James South's equatorial with Richard Sheepshanks's clockwork attached. Constitution of Paris Observatory being changed. D. F. J. Arago's experiments on glass and metal. Humphrey Lloyd's experiments on reflected light. Edinburgh's Observatory site likely to be changed. John Pond (Astronomer Royal) has been asked to resign. Thomas Maclear's Cape circle. Reasons for the delay in delivery of R. A. Cauchoix's telescope to Cambridge. House of Lords and Commons burnt down.
Concerning Capt. Basil Hall. GA is going to live at Florence as Director of the Florence Observatory.
Regarding his machine. Suggested modifications for it. Recent meeting of the B.A.A.S. Political events.
Is sending a volume dealing with primeval history, which he hopes JH will accept. Is in some way related to JH.
Is sorry they were unable to see the Herschels but would be happy to dine at Feldhausen.
Meteorological Observations and Journal appears to be defunct. Fears that he will be unable to recover any of the papers.
Would like JH's comments on a plan for a water supply for Cape Town.
Has just received the Stellenbosch diary, which he is sending on to JH. Hopes this will be of some use, but is unable to make up the deficiency.
Wishes JH well at the Cape; describes some of his current observations.
Hopes he is safely landed. The government have agreed to give financial assistance to set up an observatory at Edinburgh. Financial difficulties at the R.S.L. Dispute between James South and Edward Troughton. Admiralty has referred the question of the printing of [Stephen] Groombridge's catalogue to FB and G. B. Airy. Has received the Royal Medals on behalf of JH. JH has also been awarded the Lalande medal.
R.A.S. has been allocated rooms at Somerset House. The James South affair has been submitted to referees. Has discovered a large collection of John Flamsteed's papers at the Greenwich Observatory.
Thanks for the packet of letters. Thomas Henderson has been appointed to the Edinburgh Observatory. Richardson has just completed Brisbane's Catalogue of Southern Stars. Has observed a fortnight's tides for William Whewell.
Would like him to attend a small dinner party on Monday next.