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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.
Thanks WW for his book [Of a Liberal Education, 1845]. Agrees with WW on the educational value of the calculus and on the importance of Isaac Newton's Principia. Is teaching mechanics to his son William.
Is sending to Auguste Comte JH's Athenaeum comments on Comte. Asks JM not to mention that JH sent them to JM. Does not wish to offend Comte.
Mostly about family activity while MH is away; comments on the review by Adam Sedgwick of [Robert Chambers's] Vestiges of a Natural History of Creation in the Edinburgh Review in which the author receives 'a reasonable currycombing.'
At the B.A.A.S. meeting, JH spoke and was thanked by the most eloquent speaker he has ever heard, an American minister by the name of Everett. Everett is 'worthy of a much better country.' JH has also been busy in the magnetic committee.
Has arrived safely in Cambridge, and explains arrangements for MH to come some days later.
The meetings of the B.A.A.S. council have gone well so far; JH sends more details on travel arrangements for MH [see JH's 1845-6-17].
The weather is great in Cambridge for B.A.A.S. meeting; JH was at a small dinner party given by William Whewell, where the talk was mostly of architecture. JH refers to a battle in the Section A meetings between David Brewster and G. B. Airy.
The B.A.A.S. meetings are continuing, and JH has had an opportunity to talk to Charles Pritchard, who feels that their son William is doing very well at Pritchard's school; more about MH's travel arrangements [see JH's 1845-6-18].
Writes at the end of a very busy day of meetings, which was capped by a meeting in the Senate House, where Roderick Murchison spoke very eloquently, and Samuel Wilberforce thanked him even more eloquently, supporting the findings of geology in so doing. In the last part of the letter marked 'Private', JH expresses concern about the conduct of 'W. W.' [William Whewell?].
There has been a great disagreement between W. W.[William Whewell?] and S.[Adam Sedgwick?]. JH, together with others, has been instrumental in bringing the two back together again, at least for the time being.
Comments about engaging a gardener, concerns about Peter Stewart, and waiting for council and committee meetings [of the R.S.L.?]. The Physical Committee meeting was deferred because of a transit of Mercury.
Comments on MF's experimental results when an electromagnetic field affects polarized light.
Has just seen mention of MF's latest experiments showing the connection of light and magnetism. Comments on these. Proves some of his own theories to be correct.
Sends details of an experiment he would like MF to carry out. Cannot do it himself as he has no suitable glass.
Is cooling his heels in London waiting for George Peacock and others to commit themselves to meeting.
Brings MH up to date on happenings at home; JH hopes to get away to join MH at St. Leonards.
Asks to have carriage sent to fetch JH, as he is trying to get home in a hurry. JH has to go to a mesmeric exhibition.
Will be happy to receive him but doubts the wisdom of bringing Mr. Forster as JH is not interested in joining any more societies. If Forster's experiments succeed he will be a benefactor to agriculture.
Regarding Mr. Forster's experiments, there have been many on record. They are cheap to carry out and so it should be easy to arrive at a decision soon.