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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.
There has been a delay in printing so will not require his articles until later. Will be in London in the near future and would like to see him.
Is anxious to receive his article on hyposulfurous acid as the volume is almost ready for the printer.
Has heard from Charles Babbage that JH has sent him the article on hyposulfurous acid, but he has not in fact received it. Has seen Babbage a lot recently. Candidates for the Mathematical chair. Regarding colored rings in Carbonate of Potash. Has reserved his paper on Series for number 3.
Regarding refraction in various crystals and comparison with Newton's tables. Suggests a joint paper on the subject. His parcel has never arrived. Is working on a paper on rotating phenomena.
Thanks for letter. Would he send his paper to [William?] Blackwood. Thinks it only fair that JH's first paper on light should be written on his own, providing he acknowledges his discoveries. Comments on recent experiments. Who has written the article on polarization in the recent Edinburgh Review?
Has received his papers on hyposulfurous acid and Mother of Pearl. Comments regarding latter. Agreement necessary on nomenclature for light. His own and J. B. Biot's experiments on light. Would JH read his paper of 1818 and comment on it.
Thanks for letters. Regarding printing of his papers. Would like to propose him Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Biot's law. Much obliged for his opinion respecting E. L. Malus. Thanks for crystal of carbonate of lime. Comments on this.
Has received his paper, which will be laid before the R.S.L. as soon as he has an opportunity. Is obliged to him for compressing the matter to so small a compass.
Called to wish him a good journey and to offer his compliments to Sir William and Lady Herschel.
John Hailstone is about to be married and thus the Woodwardian professorship will become vacant. Would JH be interested? If so, would he let his friends know and then they can rally support.
Chemical experiments with EC's blowpipe. Discovered cause of blowpipe explosions. Thank Mrs. Lowry for carbon substance sent to EC. Sent metal of Baryta to W. H. Wollaston. Suspects metallic nature of carbon and diamond.
Regrets his blunder. Send him Wilson Lowry's address and he will write. His own recent experiments with platinum.
When his lectures have finished he will attend to JH's request regarding the inscription of Dr. G. H. Noehden. Hopes he will attend one of Sir Joseph Banks' Sunday evening gatherings and show the specimens he has given JH; also show them to W. H. Wollaston.
Responds to JH's criticism of churchmen. Criticizes law and defends church as careers. Explains why WH never discussed religious opinions with JH.
Apologies for any bitterness caused by differences of opinions. Willing to listen to JH's reason for preferring law over church as career, but must postpone arguments until later. [Typewritten copy includes annotation by unknown hand that JH's letters were not preserved in this 'only serious conflict of wills between the father & son.']
Assures JH that exchange of letters with William Herschel did not produce alienation. Encourages both to meet for discussion. JH's cousin [Mary Baldwin] anxiously awaits reply from JH.
Schedules time in London next week to cast two mirrors for 20-foot telescope. Details of mixture to be used for mirrors. Questions about casting process. Tells JH to consult 'Messr. Devey' for answers. Plans to visit Greenwich soon. Hand tremor makes writing difficult. Received letter from [Ragreneau?] inviting Herschel family to breakfast tomorrow.
Sends paper on fluxions written for Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. Uses new formulas, dispensing with binomial theorem. Brings logarithmic and exponential formulae within power of common algebraic processes.
Accepts invitation to visit Slough and meet Charles Babbage. [Thomas] Leybourn may accompany WW. Seeking area of conic sections.
Suggests changes for JH's paper on Swedish felspar submitted to Geological Society. Confusion between this and other silicates. Compares JH's analysis to that of Wilhelm Hisinger and others.