Opposes parliamentary bill to adopt French metric system. Explains weaknesses of system.
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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.
Opposes parliamentary bill to adopt French metric system. Explains weaknesses of system.
Addresses problems in metric bill introduced to Parliament by William Ewart. Argues for the retention of the British system of weights and measures. Shows that the inch can be defined as one five hundred millionth of the length of the earth's polar axis.
In Dec. 1867, JH offered small theodolite to Pierce Butler for survey of Sinai peninsula, and agreed to serve as co-trustee of Sinai Survey Fund with Henry James. Heard nothing until news of Butler's death and announcement that F. W. Holland and George Williams would take leadership and that RM was involved. Renews JH's offer, but health prevents JH from attending meetings.
Relation of British imperial units of weight to their 'geometrical synonyms.'
Relation of imperial measures of capacity to their 'geometrical synonyms.'
Comments on a number of mathematical matters, on a book on positivism, and increased sunspot activity.
Hopes HF and his wife can join the Herschels for lunch with [P. F.] Robertson at Collingwood. Gives information on transportation.
Attempts to clear up a misstatement made before the Society by J. C. Dyer concerning JH's views in regard to optics, especially in relation to the luminiferous ether.
About arrangements for JH's return home, together with information about paying bills and the state of JH's finances.