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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.
Being unable to attend committee meeting to consider recommendations for Royal Medal, elaborates reasons for thinking Edward Sabine's memoirs on terrestrial magnetism worthy of award.
Approves date of B.A.A.S. meeting. Will consult with [Charles?] Wheatstone about date of Kew committee meeting.
Wonders how [Christian?] Schönbein, who is in London, could best exhibit explosives. Hopes RM will attend upcoming meeting; [William] Stratford, who is ill, cannot. [Francis] Baily, [Thomas] Henderson, and [R.] Harris have died working on 'fatal' catalogue Stratford is doing.
Finally encloses note to [Christian?] Schönbein. Says S will come to Southampton. Wonders whether can recommend purchase of S's secret or military adoption of it without overstepping limits. Comments on [H. C.] Oersted's discovery.
Probably cannot attend Kew meeting after 10th; has suggested 6th or 7th. Wishes to invite Michael Faraday as 'Physical Chair,' but knows of Faraday's poor health.
Returns two papers, which had been missent, thus preventing JH from communicating them at a meeting.
To help RM, who must speak about [F. W.] Bessel, writes of Bessel's astronomical accomplishments.
Accepts dinner invitation.
Seeking information to help JH prepare an obituary notice, for the R.A.S., of F. W. Bessel.
On fitness of Michael Faraday, as a chemist and physicist, to chair B.A.A.S. section. Remarks on [H. C.] Oersted's identifying electricity and magnetism, and connection between Oersted's and Faraday's work. Further comments on Faraday's work, and on instances of rash observation ultimately proving correct.
Has obtained puzzling results when reducing JH's observations of the sixth satellite of Saturn.
Has made some minor adjustments in JH's satellite of Saturn results [see JH's 1846-11-2], but the major discrepancy still exists.
GA's suggestions [see GA's 1846-11-19] have helped JH solve his problem; now JH has a problem with observations of the second satellite of Saturn.
Thanks RS for his brochure [on the affairs of the Liverpool Observatory?].
Is too busy to accept the office of Foreign Secretary of the R.A.S. Says he cannot even keep up with his correspondence at home. Has been forced to give up foreign correspondence altogether.
Clarifies his position with regard to becoming R.A.S. Foreign Secretary. Sets conditions under which he would allow his name to stand. Has been 'harassed' for the last two months by 'stomach derangements.' 'It is old Paracelsus's "Archaeus" in a fit of the Sulks.' On the disposal of some of Francis Baily's remaining manuscripts.
Has received the prints of the portrait of Francis Baily. Finds them impressive.
Does not possess enough knowledge of F. W. Bessel's writing to compose more than a brief obituary on him. Would like RS to help [A. B.] Orlebar of the Bombay Observatory by providing a corresponding observation of the occultation of alpha Virginis on 19 January.
Agrees reluctantly to serve as Foreign Secretary of R.A.S., but will be unable to attend most meetings. JH's [Cape Results] is nearing publication; needs to know where he can get the plate [of JH's portrait]. Urges that if J. C. Adams 'is medallized, it should be most cautiously worded so as not to bear the least allusion to that ugly word "priority."'
Does not want the R.A.S. to make any assertions with respect to priority regarding the discovery of Neptune: '...though Neptune ought to have been born an Englishman and a Cambridge man every inch of him,' you will never make 'an English Discovery of it do what you will.' States that [J. C.] Adams is owed much. If The R.A.S. throws down the gauntlet, this will do much 'mischief' and demoralize Adams.