From:
Josiah Forshall
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[10 March 1848]
Source of text:
RS:HS B27.65
Summary:
The [British Museum] board accepts, with regret, JH's resignation as a Trustee.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
Showing 81–100 of 331 items
The [British Museum] board accepts, with regret, JH's resignation as a Trustee.
'Enclosed' will answer JH's question. Will deliver dome [for Cape of Good Hope telescope] to Deptford Dock Yard.
Has performed experiments measuring the deviation of spectra through an obliquely placed diffraction grating. Believes they strongly support the wave theory of light.
JH must write official letter to Admiralty stating completion of [Cape of Good Hope] telescope and explaining reason for additional £170.
Received yesterday JH's receipts for payment of Cape telescope. Forwarded these to accountant general of Navy.
Francis Ronalds stated that observations at Kew Observatory may be discontinued by B.A.A.S. for budget reasons. WB volunteers to supervise observations at no additional cost. Hopes JH has recovered from influenza.
Urges JH to persuade B.A.A.S. to hire W. R. Birt to continue observations at Kew.
Following interview with Edward Sabine, WB compiled reasons for continuing Kew Observatory. Sends copy to JH.
JH's letter of 16 May 1848 was delayed by wrong title for JF, who is now minister of Free Church. Earlier letter from JH never reached JF. Happy to learn that JH received JF's mathematics paper. JF prefers to submit it to R.S.L., but when JF received no reply from JH, JF sent paper to Philip Kelland in Edinburgh, who now expects JF's paper.
JH's letter of 26 Apr. went to wrong person with same name as JF. Grateful for JH's interest in JF's mathematical paper. Hopes to submit it to R.S.L. Replies to error noticed by JH. Encloses note from Philip Kelland.
Going out of business. Offer to sell gold plate and jewelry to preferred customers at reduced prices.
Sends more copies of prospectus of RH's book (Poetry of Science) for JH to distribute.
Gathering mercantile statistics spoken of by John Stewart and preparing these for House of Commons.
Paid £5 into JH's account at Drummond's Bank today.
Members of R.S.L. committee to study Kew observatory. Copies of correspondence between ES and W. R. Birt. If Birt is retained, expenses of Kew observatory will exceed money granted by B.A.A.S. Before applying for government assistance, JH and G. B. Airy must agree on plan.
JH may meet with Kew committee in London on 16 June. William Mann will probably replace late T. G. Taylor in Madras. Suggests that W. R. Birt replace Mann at Cape of Good Hope. Position at Kew would not be suitable to Birt.
William Mann's application to replace late T. G. Taylor [at Madras observatory] has been approved by H.E.I.C. B.A.A.S. cannot offer good position at Kew to W. R. Birt. Goals of B.A.A.S. committee to report on Kew observatory. Please return [T. R.] Robinson's account of William Parson's telescope.
Encloses letter to ES from Mr. Hutton.
Meeting of B.A.A.S. committee with JH. JH's report was included with extracts from Francis Ronalds's report.
Deliberations on continuance of Kew Observatory, and ES's willingness to step aside for another member. Successes and failures of B.A.A.S. objectives at Kew and prospective goals for future. Increasing government involvement in science.