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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.
Can JH spare a few minutes on Friday to be present when the errors of the transit instrument are being determined. Outlines the investigations necessary. The comet is a splendid fellow. Is busy measuring the diameter of the ring micrometer.
Sent the barometric readings with Mr. Curnan's paper. Comments on the tidal observations. Send the tide book. William Lamb (2nd Viscount Melbourne) is reinstated.
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.
Has replied to Richard Sheepshanks in the Memoirs of the Astronomical Society. Is surprised how near he got to the general figure described by the Circle Centre. Comments on calculations he intends to carry out. Cannot say decidedly that Zeta Octantes is double; it is doubtful seen through the 8-ft. transit.
Sends C. P. Smyth with the observing lists of JH's zero stars. Comments on these lists. Would like to see the Cedar Mountains, but cannot spare the time at present. Wished to visit Riebeck's Castle to verify one of N. L. Lacaille's remarks. Did not notice any air bubbles in JH's barometer. The Observatory barometer is similar to the one of Sir John Franklin. Goes to the Block House tomorrow to commence the triangulation.
Mural and transit are at JH's command. Will have pleasure in joining him on Saturday. Has a good supply of balls and will procure some goose shot.
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.
Sends the original of the barometer observations as he cannot spare the time to copy them. Had hoped to have the Brisbane stars ready on Monday. Comet was invisible last night.
Only brought two portraits away on Sunday. Will lend JH his own portrait. No slates are available, but a shipload is expected daily.
Intended to call on Sunday but wind and other interruptions interfered. Saw the Comet, probably for the last time on Thursday. Sends the working sheet of the R.A.'s of the Brisbane catalogue. Comments on various aspects of this catalogue. Has written to Commercial Advertiser requesting information from anyone who experienced the recent earthquake shock.
Is proceeding at a respectable speed with the Brisbane list. Has received [Andrew?] Smith's box safely. Saw Dr. Smith last night; he is more reconciled. Many thanks for the trees; the ground is suitable to receive them.
Mrs. Maclear is much better and has given birth to a son, their first.
Has returned the drawings to [Andrew?] Smith not having received carte blanche to look at them. Bent one of the thick wires of the micrometer when taking out the plate, so has inserted another. The micrometer will be ready tomorrow. Clean Bermuda webs and two silver wires of 6" diameter.
Encloses the list in JH's own handwriting. Has placed two silver wires in the eye piece of the micrometer. Will JH secure him some cobweb for placing in the micrometer.
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.
Thinks Monday 2 Jan. a suitable day for taking down the Circle. Has engaged J. K. Gibbs the carpenter for the coming quarter. No official notice has been taken of his Colonial Measure of Reference.
From a newspaper received today sees that John Pond is dead and buried. Affair of James South and Edward Troughton and William Simms is as before. Sends the observations of the 21st; rain was not good for astronomical observations. Comments on these readings.