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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.
Compares JT's observations of stars very favorably with most others available to JH; explains how JH had helped Thomas Maclear improve the mounting on a telescope at the Cape observatory, together with comments on other equipment.
Comments on financial arrangements for John [Stewart] together with other business matters, and asks for an estimate for printing the results of JH's Cape observations.
Some geological samples have been lost on the way to England; JH comments on his ideas of the effect of the earth's hot core on the construction of the earth's crust.
Comments about AD's work in mathematical functions, and then refers to JH's reductions and other astronomical matters, including the need for reform of stellar nomenclature.
Regarding the affair of Dr. Andrew Smith, who has done good work with an expedition. Thinks it desirable that Smith should be given leave of absence to return to England and write up the expedition.
Reports on JH's actinometer observations. Explains why he subscribed to 'Col. [Harry] Smith's piece of plate.'
Mostly about periodic meteors [see RP's 1836-5-24], which JH observed in November 1835. JH offers some theoretical explanation for such a phenomenon.
Much obliged for F. W. Bessel's zone. Thinks his own extra meridian observations of the comet will be respectable. Feels sure Fearon Fallows could not have approved of the supports of the dome. Has been promised the pleasure of inspecting the expenses of the Observatory. Captain J. E. Alexander and Dr. John Murray will call this morning for a parting cup of tea.
Sends a list of additional stars to be measured for JH to use as standards.
About an anomaly in one of JH's lists of observations.
About the principles whereby the nomenclature of the constellations might be reformed.
Has installed his astrometer to help judge star magnitudes; also makes a comparison of barometric observations with those of TM.
Has compared TM's observational measurements with those of the Brisbane catalogue, and finds TM's observations to be better; is working on a star photometer.
JH's observations of the comet [Halley's], together with comments on constellation nomenclature and stellar magnitudes.
Sending some equipment back and forth, and some astrometer readings.
Sends observations of several more standard stars, and of the comet.
Sends formulae for dealing with the apparent differences, in viewing the comet and compared star, due to the effects of parallax and refraction.
Calms TM about not having his comet observations published yet; those published so far are not of much value.
A note along with a request from Niccolo Cacciatore for some observations that JH says he cannot make.
Comments on inaccuracies in earlier Southern Hemisphere star catalogues, along with an extended description of comet observations.