This letter is being delivered by a Capt. William Edie of the 98th, recently returned from Andrew Smith's expedition up the Caledon River, in the Orange Free State.
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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.
This letter is being delivered by a Capt. William Edie of the 98th, recently returned from Andrew Smith's expedition up the Caledon River, in the Orange Free State.
Sends papers of astronomical observations by a Capt. J. A. Lloyd of Mauritius. G. T. Napier's projected plan for an observatory at Canton.
Introducing a Mr. Fraser, who is interested in the setting up of an observatory at Inverness.
Sending some observations of double stars. Has had some of the sheets of the Brisbane Catalogue. His recent observations. Domestic affairs in the Cape of Good Hope.
C. P. Smyth has arrived. Remarks on the Brisbane Catalogue. Thanks for his meteorological observations. His own meteorological observations. Affairs in the Cape.
Has reduced almost the whole catalogue of Southern stars. Comments on these. Is proceeding with his sweeps. Has seen Halley's Comet. Phenomenon of shooting stars. Has had a slight earthquake. Is thinking of returning via Rio de Janeiro.
Has received the letters and parcels safely. Is starting reducing his sweeps. Observations in Dublin Observatory. Comments on the various functions of observatories. News of scientific events at the Cape and various expeditions in progress.
Concern for health of Madame Gerlach.
Kaffirs dispossessed by colonists. Condemns 'Colonial insolence.' Editor John Fairbairn, detested by colonists, exposed this in South African Commercial Advertiser.
FB's letter of 4 July 1834 reached JH in March 1835. Discusses the observability of the sixth and seventh Saturnian satellites. Meteorological observations at sea, at Cape, and from Calcutta lead JH to suspect 'annual transfer of atmospheric pressure' between hemispheres and permanent depression at equator. Describes JH's work at the Cape. Praises Thomas Maclear.
Gives AC notes for Francis Beaufort and for Giovanni Plana. Praises both. Mentions various books.
After returning to Britain, please deliver the annexed letter to her brother-in-law, Roderick I. Murchison.
Describes various geological aspects of the Cape area and mentions JH's astronomical work. Regrets that RM's brother is leaving the Cape.
Asks WE to take charge of a packet of JH's astronomical papers to be given to Francis Baily in England. Wishes WE restored health.
Reports on JH's meteorological observations at the Cape of Good Hope, including observations of barometric fluctuations and of the intensity of the sun's rays.
Reports erecting his telescopes at the Cape and on his observations, especially of double stars, during his first year there.
Sets out JH's views concerning the education that should be offered at the South African College. Stresses, among other points, that preference should be given to positive knowledge rather than to systems. Recommends which languages should be studied. Favors a broad education. Advises on many details.
Discusses tidal observations made at the Cape and a paper by WW on tides. Praises viewing conditions at the Cape. Describes political struggles at the Cape.
Describes a work on ethics with an empirical orientation, which JH plans to write. Discusses the meteorology and geology of the Cape region.
Describes in detail efforts, only partially successful, made by Thomas Maclear and JH to record tidal data at Simon's Bay and Table Bay. Gives some interpretation of the data.