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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.
Shall have the barometers and thermometers (readings?) tomorrow. Was disappointed with his observations. Admiralty has allowed the extra expense. Comments on the report on the death of 'poor young Musgrave.' Does JH know a particular problem in the damming of water?
Thanks for the perusal of Capt. J. A. Lloyd's papers. Comments on Lloyd's work at Mauritius. Does not think a mural circle necessary for the observatory at Mauritius. Regarding the Parade base line at the Cape. Not easy to put the guns into the ground.
If the weather clears up would like to compare his observations of the eclipse with those of JH. Thinks of riding over on Sunday so that JH can question him on Klypfonteyn and N. L. Lacaille's station.
News of Wickham [Commander of the Beagle] and J. L. Stokes, who are still at Simon's Bay. Called on George Grey and Franklin Lushington yesterday. Childe Harold from Bombay will sail about Saturday. Did JH see Wilhelm Beer's and J. H. Mädler's paper in the Comptes rendus on the 6th and 7th satellites of Saturn?
Awful night of thunder, wind, and rain; floods around the Observatory. Gives rainfall since 22 June. Has written to [J. D.?] Thompson to observe tides at Simon's Bay. Has no one at Table Bay. Measured Alpha Centauri on the meridian. Found JH's planetary nebulae with the mural circle.
Sends two drawings of C. P. Smyth and a portrait of Isaac Newton sent by Dr. [John?] Lee; also a plan of the triangulation.
Availed himself of the calm weather to finish the parade measurement. Gives an account of the work.
Thanks for the perusal of [W. H.?] Smyth's letter; also had one, which he will send later when he has considered certain points. The zenith sector is on board the Wellesley, expected daily. Benjamin D'Urban has granted all TM's wishes regarding the survey. Re-surveyed the ground this morning.
Call on Col. G. G. Lewis; the latter expressed a desire to see the rods laid off. Can JH come and breakfast with them to see the operation? JH needs a rest from astronomy to restore his health.
Examined the base line on Tuesday; gives a resume of the operations. On Monday night observed the Polar stars; comments on the disappearance of certain stars in the Brisbane catalogue. Thinks a chain is preferable to deal rods in measuring base lines.
Hard at work mapping the polar stars. Rejoices at Dr. Andrew Smith's success. The results of tonight will be delivered by J. K. Gibbs in the morning.
Polar region was thick this evening so that very minute stars were invisible. Set C. P. Smyth to the transit and himself at the circle to observe JH's list of stars. Received the spherometer safely. Intends to stake out the base line again on Tuesday. [Andrew?] Sm[y]th's expedition will be a serious undertaking in the Eastern direction.
The flood has done much mischief to his baseline; there are still some holes to be filled in. Has written to Col. G. G. Lewis. Hopes to see JH at breakfast on Thursday.
Proceedings with the Circle went on as well as expected; fixed the additional microscopes with plaster of paris. Sends the P.M.that contains F. W. Bessel's paper on the repeating circle. Opposition of Mars will require the use of the circle in the last of the present month.
Asks TM for some trigonometric information regarding a particular set of points.
Check proofs, including first announcement of JH's 'Planetary Nebulae.' Instrument inconsistencies produce immense labor for TM and C. P. Smyth. Tempted to omit one-third of readings. Praises Smyth; happy to be rid of William Meadows. Speculates on causes of TM's and JH's headaches. Will propose that Fearon Fallows's observations be published.
Problems determining exact times of lunar eclipses. Cites B.A.A.S.Rep. article by T. R. Robinson on change of color. Base line covered by water after recent storm.
Compares TM's observations of 'spots' and colors [on lunar surface] to observations by others. At next eclipse, TM will use drawing of moon's face with spots labeled on it. Did JH note occultation? Chronometer is slow.
Gives latitude of 'this observatory' used in reduction of 'Comet stars.' Will accept systematic correction in all data to compensate for differences between TM's and Thomas Henderson's data. Instruments are erratic since telescope was moved. Using transit instrument only for sun, planets, and [reduction of Thomas] Brisbane's stars.