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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.
Expects an occultation of Jupiter this evening. Hopes JH enjoyed the fine cool breeze of last evening. Another English vessel reported. N.S. Wales acacias are showing signs of ambition.
Readings for the occultation of Jupiter.
Wind is likely to be higher in the evening. Would like JH's views on the effect that the motion of the center of the mural circle has on the readings of the microscopes. Wind was too high last night to observe Zeta Octantes.
Has just finished the observations of Mars and the circle is free from any particular use. Further comments on his query regarding the motion of the center of the mural circle. Would like JH's assistance on the examination. Has had some brass ingots stolen from the observatory.
Sends the projection of Monday's readings and one of those from the lever of contact for comparison; comments on this.
Has been unable to locate the planetary nebulae; did JH give their places correctly, or is the instrument unequal to the task? Sends a comparison of John Pond's declinations and the Cape Zenith distances. Comments on the latitude of the Cape. The Hungerford got off yesterday.
Reports on location of a planetary nebula. Expresses thanks for book by [Robert] Woodhouse.
Has arranged with Lady Herschel for Sir John to spend a night at the Observatory. Come early; then he can reverse the transit instrument. Is not satisfied with the performance of the transit clock. Intends to clean it. Is ready to adopt JH's suggestions for measuring the tides. Curious that JH and [T. G.?] Taylor should suggest similar plans for measuring the divisions of a mural circle.
Has received letters and books from England. Leave of absence of William Meadows and nomination of Piazzi Smyth. Is preparing a packet of observations for England; has JH anything to send?
Sends his two mountain barometers; comments on them. Method of interpolating the clock errors graphically answers well.
Has received some papers and newspapers. Four parcels are on their way to JH via H.M.S. Rattlesnake. Encloses a letter from William Wallace regarding the Edinburgh Observatory.
Captain John Stevens was at the Observatory yesterday and wishes to superintend the tidal observations himself. TM intends to make the observations personally, or with the assistance of T. W. Bowler. The lunar eclipse was uninteresting. Has had copies of G. B. Airy's papers; they are excellent.
Has received the box from H.M.S. Rattlesnake and lists the parcels for JH. T. W. Bowler commenced the tidal observations yesterday. Outlines the method used. Was beset by dogs on the way home. Expects to hear from the first ship of an Assistant.
Encloses a copy of the hourly observations. Comments on the tides of Table Bay.
Has interpolated the hourly tidal observations for Simon's Bay.
Will be obliged for the Tide Observations book of Table Bay. Intends to enter into an agreement with the Tide Master.
Sends the Tide observations made in Table Bay. These are now at a standstill due to the expense involved. Tomorrow he intends to engage the Tide Master. Do they wind up with a dinner?
Only made two copies of the Tide Observations, one for the Observatory and one to be forwarded to the Admiralty. Is engaged instrumentally with the transit instrument. Has engaged a new carpenter for the observatory.
Sorry to have forgotten the curves; now encloses them. A. Walter has been here and brought the scrap he now encloses. Walter's tidal observations have been useless so far.
Reports having read the record JH sent of [tidal] observations and comments on it.