Relating the events of the last three years. Charles Babbage has published his Bridgewater treatise. Charles Lyell is just off to Norway. Mr. D'Arblay dies of a fever. Hopes JH is not working too hard. Very pleasant garden at Haileybury.
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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.
Relating the events of the last three years. Charles Babbage has published his Bridgewater treatise. Charles Lyell is just off to Norway. Mr. D'Arblay dies of a fever. Hopes JH is not working too hard. Very pleasant garden at Haileybury.
Weather was so unpromising that he sent off the men who were to repair the ravages to the base line levelings. Will JH therefore come on Wednesday instead of Monday provided the weather remains fine. Sorry he missed JH's request for barometric comparisons.
Had an unfortunate accident with the rods yesterday; one was smashed by the force of the wind. Intends to stake the whole line before the actual measurement takes place. Will calculate JH's Brisbane stars.
Sends the observations of the 21st copied by his daughter Mary. The leak in the center room has been repaired. Comments on JH's plan for measuring the base line. The Brisbane stars are nearly finished.
Discusses various matters relating to telescopic and to tidal observations. Relays request from William Whewell that TM continue tidal observations.
Wants some rewording in the statement that is to go with the monetary support for John Fairbairn [see JR's 1837-6-6].
Weather is most provoking. Thinks it best to delay the action until Friday.
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.
JH's letter has appeared in print in Charles Babbage's Bridgewater Treatise. Comments on the books of Babbage and William Whewell. C. R. Darwin has read his paper on Coral Reefs. RM is to be General Secretary of the next B.A.A.S. meeting. [William?] Ayrton was elected F.R.S.
About a variety of observations that JH has made.
Donates £25 to fund for John Fairbairn, whose editorial enthusiasm led to Fairbairn's court conviction. Advises JR to frame this support on grounds that cannot be interpreted as challenging court's decision.
Declines to get involved in political or judicial disagreements. JH donated to fund for John Fairbairn solely on grounds of benefits rendered to Cape Colony by Fairbairn's newspaper.
Ideas expressed by JH in his previous letter to CL (see JH's 1836-2-20) about secular variations of isothermal surfaces of the interior of the earth were similar to ideas expressed by Charles Babbage in a paper to the Geological Society. This was drawn to JH's attention by CL and by R. I. Murchison. JH argues that he did not know of Charles Babbage's paper, and goes on to point out how JH's ideas differ. Concludes with mention of having re-discovered the sixth satellite of Saturn, not seen since its discovery by JH's father, William.
Comments on the shooting death in 1835 of Hintsa, leader of the Xhosa people. JH believes that no wrongdoing occurred.
Thanks for kind thoughts JH sent, after a difficult time about the Kaffir wars.
Comments on HS's dealings with native tribal groups and returns a volume of related material.
Encloses list of subscriptions raised to offset debt incurred by John Fairbairn [Editor of Commercial Advertiser] in law actions brought by [John?] Chase. Desires JH's support.
Has JH's letter and check. Wants to avoid improper use of JH's name. Sent list of first names and contributions to John Fairbairn. List will be returned to JR and then sent to JH.
Wants JH's opinion of what to do with the subscription list. Will wait to proceed until he has an answer.
Discusses legal problems of the Commercial Advertiser. Has rewritten the list of subscribers. Sends documents to JH for approval. JH's response is included. JH states that slight alterations of the form are still necessary.