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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.
William Mann's application to replace late T. G. Taylor [at Madras observatory] has been approved by H.E.I.C. B.A.A.S. cannot offer good position at Kew to W. R. Birt. Goals of B.A.A.S. committee to report on Kew observatory. Please return [T. R.] Robinson's account of William Parson's telescope.
Encloses letter to ES from Mr. Hutton.
Meeting of B.A.A.S. committee with JH. JH's report was included with extracts from Francis Ronalds's report.
Deliberations on continuance of Kew Observatory, and ES's willingness to step aside for another member. Successes and failures of B.A.A.S. objectives at Kew and prospective goals for future. Increasing government involvement in science.
Asks JH to consult [C. F.] Gauss concerning magnetical instructions. [Charles] Wilkes made mistake in distinguishing Balleny's[?] Land from 'American discoveries.' This has caused dispute.
Sends letter of [Johann] Lamont, whose suggestions have been adopted by the Physical Committee. Discusses size of instruments, particularly needles.
Discusses plans for printing of 4 maps of terrestrial isotherms prepared by [H. W.] Dove along with Dove's commentary.
Sent JH's letter concerning actinometers to all observatories. [Johann] Lamont must be informed of recent work. ES comparing fluctuations of direction and force at Toronto and Van Diemen's Land. Mentions [G. B.] Airy and air currents.
Received a stray dispatch, dated at sea, from [James] Ross. Assumes Ross is on his way home.
Will undertake magnetic report except parts for which research is not yet completed. Needs [Johann] Lamont's recommendation regarding experiments. Sends [James] Ross's observations for perusal.
Discusses state of science in France. Magnetic instruments were ordered for Algiers, but ES is uncertain whether they left Paris. Will send portion of magnetic report and letter from [A. D.] Bache among other things.
Sends actinometer returns for remarks and suggestions. Mentions public dinner for scientific community.
Sends actinometric returns and drawing of comet from Hobarton Magnetic Observatory. [John] Lefroy's expedition in U.S. and Canada is going well. Received the observations from Algiers.
Encloses letter from Dr. [John] Locke. Wants to loan him a magnetometer to set up a station at Cincinnati. Received [John] Caldecott's volume of JH's observations. Thinks publishing costs will be high.
Encloses bills for the Committee. [Johann] Lamont will be in England that year to correct continental surveys. Glad JH will be president [of B.A.A.S. meeting] at Cambridge.
Magnetic phenomena move in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres. This contradicts a report made by JH. Asks permission to omit JH's statements concerning this issue.
Received notes on omission of passage [1844-9-26] in good time. Asks JH to return proof of report. Regaining strength before going back to study Toronto volume.
Edinburgh [Review] named someone else as the person who found the true correction of the rate of pendulums on account of the atmospheric medium. ES actually discovered the correction first. Discusses [James] Ross's intensity ovals.
Sending proof copies of the report on the Toronto meteorological observations. Asks JH to make suggestions for corrections and improvements.
Obliged for JH's comments regarding pendulum apparatus. Discusses the article that wrongly attributes ES's discovery to [F. W.] Bessel and [Francis] Baily.