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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.
Grateful for JL's support of JH's son [?] for R.A.S. membership, but JH advised [son] not to apply until [son] had made some significant contribution to astronomy worthy of membership. [JH annotation: How different from today, when election is so easy.]
A Chinese translation of JH's book on astronomy was presented to the R.A.S. at the last meeting. Comments on this edition. Admiral W. H. Smyth is now in London. Received an agreeable letter from Alexander Herschel.
Would like JH's approval to submit the enclosed certificate on behalf of JH's son. No. 29 of the Record of Recreative Science contains a good article on Light by E. J. Lowe, who mentions JH's name.
Outlining events in the projected balloon ascent by Messrs. James Glaisher and Henry Coxwell.
James Glaisher has made two more balloon ascents and reached six miles high. W. R. Birt has been observing at Hartwell during the present lunation and discovered several new spots, a sea, and craters. Sends details. Is sending a petition to H. J. Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) for a pension for Birt and would be glad if JH would look it over and sign it.
Is pleased H. J. Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) has replied so promptly to JH's memorial regarding Thomas Maclear. Would like JH's sanction for JL's support of George Rümker as the new Observer at Hamburg.
W. R. Birt is engaged sending out notices to the members of the Moon Committee. Wishes JH could attend. Has commenced a large map of the moon, which members can compare with actual observations. Admiral W. H. Smyth is well in mind, but suffers much from illness.
Sends a copy of the address of the President of the B.A.A.S. at Birmingham, also an Aylesbury newspaper containing the funeral sermon on Admiral W. H. Smyth. Misses Smyth very much. Hopes JH is well.
Has seen the announcement of the marriage of one of JH's daughters [Maria Sophia] to Henry Hardcastle. Wishes them well, and would like to see them if they are likely to be in that area at all.
Discusses plans for a hot-air balloon.
Receives report from Crystal Palace concerning balloon test.
Stormy night followed by calm morning. Balloon is now filling for 9 a.m. liftoff.
Notes on trapping air at different elevations [during balloon ascent]. G. B. Airy and JH will be absent. W. H. Sykes will arrive this evening. Will make another ascent Monday.