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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.
Assures CH that he has preserved everything that she ever wrote to JH or that he found in William Herschel's library.
Reports the birth of JH's 9th child, Mathilda Rose Herschel.
Wishes CH a happy 96th birthday. Reports that when Margaret Herschel's brother John Stewart was in Egypt, he saw a comet. JH remarks that 'there seems to be no end of the comets.'
JH expresses pleasure in receiving and reading extracts from CH's biography. Expects to begin printing his Cape Results by Christmas. In finalizing his Cape Results, JH has found that several Southern double stars moved in the five-year span of his observations.
Reports that Biela's Comet split into two comets; JH has observed it several times. 30-40 pages of JH's Cape Results have been printed.
JH is working hard on his Cape Results.
JH expects that CH has received the copy of his Cape Results that he sent recently.
Finished the reductions of all of the nebulae and double stars recorded at Cape Town; JH soon hopes to prepare for the publication of his Cape Results.
Reports that there is no bust of William Herschel at the R.S.L., as JH once believed.
The Herschels bought a Christmas tree this year; JH reports that his children loved it and that 'they will be sure to keep up the custom which is a very merry one.'
Has not unpacked William Herschel's letters that JH secured from the R.S.L.
Summarizes James Clark Ross's expedition to reach the Southern Magnetic Pole; JH reports that Ross has discovered that the pole lies several degrees more south than Carl Gauss had calculated.
Remarks that he is 50 years old, and that he and CH have 'seen something of that odd and most changeable compound called Human Nature.'
Describes the total solar eclipse seen by Francis Baily at Pavia and George Airy at Turin. They were thrilled to witness three purple flames from the blocked sun emerge around the edge of the moon. Thirty more Cape Town sweeps remain to be reduced.
Reports the birth of JH's ninth child, Julia.
Concerning the great comet of 1843, JH remarks that both Thomas Henderson and Johann Encke noted that the comet bounced off the sun's atmosphere.
Completed 'one of the most curious products' of JH's Cape Results: the map and catalog of the 'Nubecula major' region.
Enjoyed reading CH's account of some significant events from her life. Reports that James Clark Ross has returned safely from his South Pole expedition in which Ross discovered the true position of the South Magnetic Pole.
Happy that his Cape Results are nearly finished. After reviewing his work, JH concluded that the amount of error per observation is no more than 30 or 35 seconds.
[Written as a family letter.] JH has corrected the first proof sheet of his Cape Results. Reports that Biela's Comet has been found to be a double comet.