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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.
Informs DG that JH is resigning as secretary of R.S.L. [at the anniversary date?] and expresses great regret that some regard the position of secretary not as an elected position, but in the patronage of the President.
Urges JS not to insist on a minor point of dispute about the title of a prospective member. JH feels it is inappropriate and will simply reflect against Charles Babbage, who proposed this person for membership.
Directs JP to additional sources of biographical information about William Herschel [see JP's 1823-12-13], and comments on some other details of JP's letter.
Is making arrangements with GP to republish GP's star catalogue in Cambridge.
Mostly involves arrangements about exchanges of papers and printing some of GP's in the Astronomical Society Memoirs.
Apologizes for delay in writing. Describes JH's travels across Europe back to England. Is sending GP copies of JH's papers in physics, mathematics, and astronomy, especially double stars. Describes a new instrument, a floating collimator, described by Henry Kater at the R.S.L. [Rough notes for a later letter on the back of part of this one.]
Thanks HO for JH's election to the Royal Academy of Copenhagen. Comments on some chemical and magnetical experiments.
Sends a note with a letter from W. H. Wollaston to JH, dealing with glass making experiments.
CB is 'incurable castle-builder.' Denies that JH falls easily into love. Eradicating 'one hastily conceived & silly passion' has deadened JH's heart. Any future love must follow a long acquaintance and friendship.
[Theophila] Gwatkin will accept Georgiana Babbage's invitation. Will set date after Gwatkin returns from Baylin. Asks CB to be trustee in JH's marriage settlement.
Arranges time for GB to meet [Theophila] Gwatkin. JH leaves London tomorrow for Slough; returns Saturday for 'visitation.'
JH's health good. Expects fatiguing day tomorrow. Will meet MB for dinner. Give JH's love to Margaret. William brought good news of JH's mother.
Received MB's letters of 19 and 28 May [1824]. Responds to news from Slough. Expedition to Sicily was successful, but C. G. B. Daubeny contracted malaria. Summer climate in Rome and Pontine Marshes. Danger of malaria forced JH and servant James [Child] to travel separately. [Letter continued 7 Sept.:] James arrived from Naples. JH's trip to Tivoli. Itinerary home through Germany. Send letters to Munich.
JH's mother will pay Mr. Beckwith to cover debt of MB's brother Thomas, who now owes Lady Herschel £1035. Comments on Thomas Baldwin's proposal for business partnership with JH and request for loan from JH.
Health of JH's mother. Recommends History of George Godfrey. Asks if Waterloo, recently lost, was ship that 'C. White sailed in.' Gift for Wesleys. Letter from JH's aunt. Declining many invitations in order to continue star observations. Remembrances to the Grahames.
JH and Margaret will arrive at Verdun tonight. Concerned for health of JH's mother and competence of doctors. Gratitude for care given by MB and Mrs. Stewart.
Letter to [Edinburgh Philosophical] Journal calling attention to 1809 article by [Paul] Erman of Berlin, which some say anticipated JH's 1824 Bakerian lecture on 'Motions produced in fluid conductors when transmitting the Electric current.' JH compares both papers, admits Erman's priority on some theoretical points but claims originality for JH's experiments.
Chemical constitution of meteorites. JH suspects lead-iron alloy. Believes this has not been proposed before. Send specimen for JH's analysis.
Is concerned about the rapid rate of expenditure of the money on Charles Babbage's calculating machine. Recommends a reasonable rate of expenditure until Babbage returns home, which should be in about four months.
JH plans to explore volcanic districts of Auvergne and Vivarais, then along Rhine to Bonne and Andermatte. Has cancelled plan to cross to Staffa [Scotland] and explore there.