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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.
Agrees to meet JH and Edward Sabine on Saturday. Kew Observatory was given to R.S.L., but R.S.L. has not yet taken possession of it. [JH annotation: election of General Morrison to R.S.L.]
Appreciates JH's interest in and encouragement of CW's experiments. Describes new experiments to elucidate theory of undulatory motion of sound and light. Invented 'kaleidophone' to display paths of vibrating rods. Hopes JH can confirm these results.
Accepts JH's invitation to demonstrate [on 28 Aug.] CW's portable optical and acoustical experiments and the 'whirling machine.' Asks JH to supply 'an electrical machine and a good sized jar.' Encloses copy of CW's paper on Jew's harp. Will bring another paper and new 'Symphonion' for Mary Herschel.
Returns Mary Herschel's repaired concertina. Sends CW's recent paper on velocity of electricity [R.S.P.T. 124 (1834)]. Electrical experiments CW is planning. Appointed professor of experimental philosophy at King's College.
Invites JH to Kew Green to see Francis Bauer's plates etched by J. N. Niepce's photographic process. Perhaps L. J. M. Daguerre assumes more credit than is due. Heard Niepce visited London in 1826, but his paper was rejected by R.S.L. at W. H. Wollaston's urging.
Encloses B.A.A.S. statement of objectives for Richmond Observatory, for which B.A.A.S. Council asks JH to organize goals and support annual subsidy.
Agrees that vacancy in chemistry professorship left by J. F. Daniell's death at King's College should be filled by Robert Hunt, but W. A. Miller appears likely to get job.
Gives JH directions to Kew Observatory.
[George Eden] Lord Auckland seeks meteorological 'reports.' CW will contribute instructions on atmospheric electricity, photometry, and optical meteorology. W. R. Birt will report on meteorological instruments and wind observations.
Seriously ill. Will forward manuscripts to JH by next week.
R.S.L. Physical Committee considering giving Copley medal to W. E. Weber for work in electromagnetism. Does JH concur? Other candidates are F. E. Neumann or A.L. Cauchy in physical optics, and Michael Faraday on condensation of gases. Rumford medal was awarded to H. V. Regnault for work on steam engine.
Will visit JH next week. Describes machine CW will bring to illustrate undulatory theory of light.
Lists seven French and German works [1837-1847] on optical science. Comments on one. Quotes copyright law on reproducing passages from these.