Memorandum on the site of N. L. Lacaille's Observatory.
Showing 1–20 of 32 items
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.
Memorandum on the site of N. L. Lacaille's Observatory.
Acknowledging receipt of tin box containing the papers of the late Sir William Herschel.
Cannot move until Saturday due to medical reasons.
Expected another letter from JH. Awaits this letter before leaving Portsmouth.
Would be grateful for the loan of £10 to meet urgent needs.
Hears that JH wishes to be known to Dr. John Murray, so encloses a letter of introduction. Will find him a pleasant and amiable man.
Have embarked on the Tam O'Shanter but had to put back because of the violent gales. All have been seasick except TM. Outlines domestic necessities for a long voyage. Will JH bring a collimator from [Thomas] Jones of Charing Cross. Hopes JH will interest D'Urban in celestial matters. Many cockroaches on board.
Have had a dreadful time since Wednesday. Gives list of instructions for a voyage; plenty of candles. Finds the poop cabins very pleasant.
Hopes this letter will reach him before his departure for the Cape. Wishes someone in the proper climate would make a study of the best kind of Aloe for medicinal purposes. Encloses letter and plates on this subject and would be pleased if JH would show them to Thomas Maclear. Has not been able to obtain any further information from dichromic persons.
Letter introducing JH.
Preparations for leaving England make it impossible for JH to [give money] to [Joseph] Langton, but JH has paid entire bill for fencing in the Merke, part of which Langton should have paid, and now dismisses Langton's £300 debt to JH, incurred on 8 June 1831.
Admiralty not able to lend JH any further equipment to take on JH's expedition to the Cape.
Discusses problem with transporting the ale JH wanted. Wishes him a safe journey to the Cape of Good Hope.
Confirms receipt of WS's last letter from Hamburg. Advises of his departure to Cape. Requests 'measure of 3000 double stars.' Directs WS's attention to 'remarkable stars' and urges WS to procure JH's Astronomy. Asks WS to solicit [F. W.] Bessel's correspondence for JH. Adds [W. H.] Smyth's address.
Promises to write JH more often at the Cape. Is waiting for JH's work on nebulae. Promises to send his work on 3000 double stars. Plans to begin work on parallax of fixed stars.
Details about JH's upcoming voyage from Portsmouth [to Cape of Good Hope] and about an expedition going north from the Cape into Central Africa.
Wishes JF well in [Edinburgh] and leaves addresses where JH may be reached [at the Cape].
Further discussion of the telescope being donated by Hugh Percy (3rd Duke of Northumberland).
Summary of the letter of same date sent to JH at Slough (HS.1.60).
Has not been requested to settle the affair about Henry Taylor and the Stephen Groombridge business. Would JH send him what he has ready for printing, with directions? Observations on the 4th satellite of Jupiter.