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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.
Pleased to hear that all is progressing well with JH. Regrets the discordance in the Parramatta Right Ascensions. Observed an occultation of Gamma Virginis in April. Has seen the method of determining the nadir point of a circle. Cape reductions suffered a setback last season as he had to lecture on mathematics.
Sending a few lines via Captain Basil Hall. Has sent his observations of the refractions of stars at lower altitudes than 5 degrees, to the R.A.S. Started work on determining the position of the stars from Baily's zodiacal catalogue. Government has authorized the printing of the observations.
Sending a paper by J. J. Lister on the microscope and some crystals of Borate of Soda. Carlo Gemmellaro has been examining temperature of air in the subterranean passage near Nicolosi. Hopes JH will visit Tottenham; would give him great pleasure to see him.
Would like to see him when in town and introduce him to J. J. Lister and his uncle Luke Howard. Thanks for JH's Prelim. Discourse. Baron Etten is dead.
Sending some crystals on behalf of J. Howard. Comments on them.
Was pleased to receive the elements of Gamma Virginis. Congratulations on his knighthood. J. J. Lister called on him recently and would like to see JH.
The time he proposes to visit them is very suitable and J. J. Lister will be there. The substance found in JH's telescope is very interesting. Hopes his mother is still well.
Has received the chronometer and will return it to Lister, together with his remarks on apertures. Charles May has found another individual suffering from color blindness. A friend has successfully made a reflecting microscope.
Rejoices to hear of his safe arrival at the Cape, and his interest in Cape educational matters. Hears he has already paid attention to the native race. Sends letter by Dr. J. D. Lang of New South Wales.
Sends letter by Jonathan Stander, who is to work in the educational field at the Cape. Is pleased JH serves on the management committee of the Infants schools. Wishes success to the expedition to explore the interior of S. Africa. Thanks for his paper on nebulae. Enjoyed the B.A.A.S. meeting at Edinburgh. Sends one of his own pamphlets on African colonization. Thomas Bell wishes to be remembered to him.
Is pleased JH takes an interest in the natives. Comments on the necessity of promoting the welfare of the native races. Hopes to found an International Society for providing assistance and advice to foreigners.
Inquires about unusual weather at Cape of Good Hope in late 1836. Was there an epidemic of influenza at Cape early in 1837?
Sending HH's Medical Notes and Reflections (1839).
Has sent to Francis Baily a copy of his Sailing Directions and a roll of charts. Hopes JH will point out any errors he may note.
Delayed acknowledging JH's letter until the return of [James?] Hudson from Derbyshire as he knew he would be interested in the atmosphere and temperature of the ocean. Comments on this and quotes a review of Captain Foster's voyages in the Athenaeum.
Hudson has printed JH's observations on the temperature of the oceans in the Athenaeum. Sends a chart of the east coast of China. Edward Troughton died last Friday.
Will not be able to come to town for some time so sends answers to JH's comments on his Circular Register. Hopes JH can call to see him; then he can explain more fully.
Is grateful for JH's goodness regarding the pyramids. Gives measurements of the pyramids and would be grateful for any comments JH can make regarding the significance of these measurements.
Sends items by F. W. Bessel and G. A. Plana. Will be dispatching boxes to various European towns next week and will be pleased to include any items from JH. His observations made recently show interesting results. Comments on these results and the influence of the bore.
Acknowledging the receipt of two boxes of manuscripts to be held at the R.S.L. until the return of JH from the Cape.