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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.
Tells CB that everyone is anxious to have CB allow his name to stand for the Secretaryship of the R.S.L. JH lists many names of people who have all said they would vote for CB.
In describing the way in which J. G. Children was elected to the secretaryship, JH says 'the matter was irregularly brought by the President before a meeting of eight or nine persons whom he chose to call a council' to meet for a few minutes 'to transmit some business connected with the Treasurer's accounts.' JH feels Humphry Davy's actions will not be excused even by Davy's best friends.
Sends JH a copy of a recent issue of the Athenaeum in which falsehoods, copied from a Richard Sheepshanks pamphlet, have been printed. CB wants JH to respond to, and correct, these falsehoods quickly.
Refuses to become a partisan in this conflict [see CB's 1854-12-13]. JH would only become involved if he felt he could be a peacemaker.
[Letter entirely 'in cipher' (code) except for 'Dear Babbage.']
Chemical news: decomposition of 'sulphuret of carbon' by J. J. Berzelius and Alexander Marcet. Analysis of 'azotane' and discovery of 'iode' by Humphry Davy. Congratulations on results of CB's examination.
Feigned reproach for CB's return to 'the Analytics.' Inquires about CB's 'Devonshire Ghost at Chudleigh.' Results of JH's chemistry experiments. Derides scientists who promote theory of 'akasch' as the one and only form of matter. Met Alexander Marcet in Greenwich.
Gratitude for CB's friendship. Chemical supplies and instruments. Describes synthesis of 'Sulphurane' [S2Cl2] and other experiments. Theories of combustion and acids. [Letter continued on 1813-9-21:] JH avidly studying law, against father's wishes.
CB has founded 'a calculus totally new and immensely powerful.'
Attending E. D. Clarke's mineralogy lectures. JH's analysis of dioptase.
Welcome back to London. Explain CB's demonstration of 'theorem in transcendental arithmetic.' JH's observations of 'new acid' [hyposulfurous] and optical phenomena in 'chrystals of nitre.'
Cannot meet CB in London this week. Has verified composition of [hyposulfurous] acid. Encloses crystal of 'sulpho=sulphite of lime.'
Fifth [1817] edition of Thomas Thomson's System of Chemistry shows previous discovery of JH's 'new acid,' but its reported composition is wrong.
Made apparatus for showing rings between 'two Tourmalines.' JH's process for making hyposulfurous acid. Praises W. H. Wollaston's analysis of CB's 'Tonquinate.'
Sent JH's paper on mother-of-pearl and paper on hyposulfurous acid to David Brewster. Tell Brewster of JH's discovery of optical structure in crystals of bicarbonate of potash. Would Brewster accept paper from JH enlarging the definition of crystals?
CB is 'incurable castle-builder.' Denies that JH falls easily into love. Eradicating 'one hastily conceived & silly passion' has deadened JH's heart. Any future love must follow a long acquaintance and friendship.
[Theophila] Gwatkin will accept Georgiana Babbage's invitation. Will set date after Gwatkin returns from Baylin. Asks CB to be trustee in JH's marriage settlement.
Received another notice from General Reversionary & Trust Society regarding H. J. Hollier. JH asks again to be replaced as trustee for Mary Anne Hollier trust.
Believes that John Davy's letter to the Philosophical Magazine was suggested by James South. To defend himself, CB now needs JH's permission to publish some of their correspondence.
Commiserates with JH in his illness, and says CB is ill also and confined to his house. Seeing JH's letter in the Philosophical Magazine [see JH's 1864-12-20] seems to CB to obviate completely the need for any further response.