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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.
Mrs. Somerville cannot decide what to call her book [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Please advise so publishing can commence.
Hopes to meet JH and [James] South in summer. Announces emperor's decision to support measurement of the 3.5° latitude meridian throughout the entire Russian empire. WS is responsible for directing work in the north. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining correct linear standards uniform with both France and England. Requests a copy of the English standard so as to compare it with the Russian measurements of degrees.
Requests advice in determining optimal time for visit to England. Thanks for invitation to Slough. Mentions completion of his sixth volume of observations, the introduction of which could prove interesting to JH. Fascinated by JH's observation of a sixth star in the trapezoid of Orion.
Will arrive in England in mid-August. Mentions convention of German scientists on 18 September and invites JH.
Briefs JH on his productive Paris visit and offers details concerning his upcoming England visit.
Deeply regrets having missed JH before departure. Thanks for priceless gift of William Herschel's works and for the glimpses of nebulae. Requests his catalogue on noteworthy nebulae when completed.
Reminds WS to select certain nebulae for 'communal observation.' Received good news from Finland. Gave [James] South the list of 36 double stars to be observed. Stars compare except result in smaller distances than JH's and South's observations.
Takes a moment to write. Sends various brochures and observations on magnetic intensity in Germany. Asks JH to give a copy of it to [Charles] Babbage and [Henry] Kater. Congratulates JH on being named correspondent to the Institute of France. Lost his father-in-law. Has asked [James] South to press construction of AQ's instruments, but no luck. Requests JH visit Edward Troughton and the instruments.
Announces second volume of translation of JH's Light is out in Paris. Is sending a copy. Work progresses slowly. Problems because of revolution. AQ's collaborator [P. F.] Verhulst is very ill. Will leave for Italy soon. Discusses his previous trip to Germany. Saw [William] Whewell. Has received Astronomical Society's memoirs.
Reports circumstances surrounding death of a Mr. Beckwith, for whom JH serves as an executor.
Responds to JH's request for RS's opinion on [H. C.] Schumacher's contributions to astronomy. Praises Schumacher extensively.
Wishes to learn if Isabella Stewart's health has declined.
Sorry to hear that JH was not elected President of the R.S.L. Sending a supplement to WH's 'Theory of Systems of Rays' essay. Recommends [Edwin Richard Windham Wyndham-Quin,] Lord Adare for consideration as a member of the R.A.S.
Thrilled to be named godmother of JH's first child.
Sending a box to JH, containing chiefly books.
Has difficulty observing sun spots. Thomas Maclear sends WS information for next year's occultation of Alpha Tauri. Completes rotating roof for personal observatory.
Giving observations on stars. Discussion of clock rates and sky sweeps.
Informing JH that he and GA have just been appointed to a committee to consider the extension of the Astronomical Society's catalogue. Observations on this catalogue.
Wants JH's views on a 20-foot reflector. Inviting him to Cambridge. With this letter he encloses Volume 2 of the Cambridge Observatory's Observations and Lectures in Optics.
Sends volume of observations. Remarks on A. J. Fresnel's experiments. Lists errors in JH's treatise on light. Requests information on circular double refraction.