Congratulations on success in observing solar spectrum and corona. JH's views on sun's corona [with diagram]. Agrees that communications in India are abominable.
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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.
Congratulations on success in observing solar spectrum and corona. JH's views on sun's corona [with diagram]. Agrees that communications in India are abominable.
Forwarded both of John's papers on solar observations to William Huggins. Comments on solar prominences and spots, and on Eta Argus. Concern for Esther's fever. Report of 'great meteor' seen at Collingwood. Alexander Herschel came home from Glasgow with new device called 'bicycle' that amuses neighbors. Explains optics problem in telescopes. English system of measures.
Glad for Mary's recovery. Congratulations on John's promotion to captain. Suggests method to study solar prominences without spectroscope. [Letter continues 15 June:] Alexander Herschel reports that G. B. Airy tried this method unsuccessfully long ago, but JH is sure it will work.
Comments extensively on the calculation, and elimination, of error in geodesic measurements; JH concludes with a few family news items.
Begins with a discussion of the probability of error in a series of measurements and comments on astronomical observations including the observation of a comet.
Writes to inform son John of the sudden death [after only a very brief illness] of John's sister Margaret Louisa. [The letter is quiet and accepting, praising God for the happy and blameless life that 'Looey' had led and what joy she had brought to the family.]
The letter contains financial arrangements with son John while still in England, extensive comments on the fighting and restructuring of the colonial system in India, some matters relating to earth strata, and finally an extended discussion of the 'Cavendish experiment' [for measuring the gravitational attraction between lead balls].
Expresses concern about son John's loneliness in India, and so JH proceeds to tell him of the Great Exhibition of 1862, and about scientific work being done such as improvements in meteorology, solar photography, and the work being done on JH's catalogue of nebulae. No decision has been made about the Edinburgh professorship for which son Alexander has applied.
Saw J. B. N. Hennessey [who had just come from India] at a Greenwich visitation day, but did not have time to speak to him there. JH will invite him to Collingwood.
A short note to comment on photographs son John has sent; also inquires about prospects for the India survey John has discussed.
Comments on zero and observational errors when using a telescope, and adds some comments about family relationships and JH's nebula catalogue. [Part of this letter is indecipherable.]
Is pleased with the new wife of son William; JH is very supportive of son John's developing interest in language [an interest of JH's]; JH has not heard of any proposed Himalayan observatory; is sending a copy of his nebula catalogue.
Positively responds to son John's idea of geodesic measurements of much larger than usual triangles; suggests that John is not likely to be able to correct the whole world's English; JH reports about sickness in the family including his own seemingly permanent bronchitis.
Refers son John to JH's Meteorology for help with the mechanics of dynamic wave curves; encourages John to do good whenever he has the opportunity.
Announces son William's engagement to Emma Hardcastle; warns son John against the Anglo-Indian ladies; JH comments at length on a problem in surveying, and concludes with the news that daughter Francisca's health is improving.
About geodesic books and JH's encouragement to John to keep asking questions; indeed JH is almost insistent on son John's writing to JH with questions, book needs, and confidences. JH also talks about finding the arithmetical mean of a number of observations. [Also included is the 1st page of a letter to John from one of his sisters.]
Worried by not having heard from son John, especially as there is cholera in India; JH sends news of the family, especially of how bright the younger girls are; also comments on world events and about books sent to John.
Works out the derivation for a mathematical problem, and JH suggests that son John should use this derivation in his paper; it is christening day for William, son of John's sister Caroline. [Also included is a one page letter of family news from sister Julia.]
Mostly about how to deal with the implications of local attractions in geodetic surveying [see JH's 1870-11-17]; JH has had the mineral son John sent analyzed and sends the results. JH commiserates with daughter-in-law Mary's illness.
Asks son John whom he would like to have sign the certificate for fellowship in the R.S.L. [see JH's 1870-9-7]; JH talks about ways of dealing with local irregularities in geodetic surveying [see JH's 1869-11-25]; is wishing Amelia and family were out of China and into India.