Comments on Charles Babbage's entry into Cambridge; strange stories from old letters.
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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.
Comments on Charles Babbage's entry into Cambridge; strange stories from old letters.
Complains about Arabic star names; comments on squabble between Charles Babbage and James South.
Mostly talks about having been offered some money to pay for the reduction of William Herschel's [JH's father] double star observations in preparation for publication.
Thanks for having sent a copy of the works of Antoine Lavoisier [3 vols., 1862-65, ed. by JD].
Please thank Dr. Gardner for his 'Calendar for the Correction of Dates.'
Corrects earlier statement that JH has not received vol. 4 of the study of India written by [Robert and Hermann] Schlagentweit
News of the family servants, correspondence both JH and MH need to deal with, and prospects for son John.
Pleased to hear of the birth of a daughter to their daughter Maria [Hardcastle]; JH has been breathing carbolic acid fumes for the treatment of bronchitis.
Dr. [T. L.] Phipson has proposed a solution to a cipher JH published in Photographic News, but JH did not receive the issue in which it appeared. Please send that issue to JH.
Agrees to WJ's request to make use of an earlier letter of JH's [see WJ's 1866-3-7].
Many thanks for the Preface to the second edition of WJ's pamphlet, and for the extract on tides. Comments on this and the use of tidal power. Was disappointed at not being able to visit Manchester but suffered a severe fall.
Expresses concern that the present rate of use of natural resources and the increase in population may create serious problems in the future.
Will subscribe to HS's work as requested [see HS's 1860-3-5], but dissents 'from very large portions' of HS's views. Especially objects to HS's adoption of the 'Shibboleth of the Hegel & Schelling School of German Philosophy—"the Absolute."' [This letter misdated; correct date: 1860-3-17.]
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.
Reports JH's 1842 observation of a star near Epsilon Coronae, which may be tne new variable star [T Coronae].
Reveals the solution to a cipher given in JH's 1865-12-28 letter to PN.
Presents in some detail and with an illustration his observations of the meteor shower 13-14 Nov. 1866.
Quotes from an 1840 publication by JH to show JH's priority over a recent request for a patent for 'Magic pictures.' Recounts some recent photographic experiments by JH on the action of light on platinum.
Responds to MH's report on the health of [?]; JH and family went out nightingale hunting last night. [Also enclosed is a short letter from daughter Amelia to MH.]
Macmillan is publishing JH's Iliad translation. Wishes to dedicate it to WW. [Matthew] Arnold wrote an encouraging letter on the sample translation sent him. Daughter Isabella appreciates your hospitality.