Comments on financial arrangements for John [Stewart] together with other business matters, and asks for an estimate for printing the results of JH's Cape observations.
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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.
Comments on financial arrangements for John [Stewart] together with other business matters, and asks for an estimate for printing the results of JH's Cape observations.
Charles Lyell wrote letter to JH recently. Now encloses with it letters of introduction to persons in Rio and abstract of paper by Charles Babbage. [Henry] Brougham's attacks on Thomas Young.
Preparing fifth edition of Principles of Geology, using JH's facts about boiling seeds. Mathematical error in CL's climate theory. CL's first speech as president of Geological Society. Criticizes R.S.L. JH's volcanic theory was too complex; will incorporate it into later editions. Benefits to science of Charles Babbage's social parties. Latest publications in geology. P.S. Glad to learn that JH thinks origin of new species may occur through intermediate causes; Germans criticized this. CL chooses not to engage in controversies. Speculates on successive extinction of species. Notes on African hot springs.
Regarding the affair of Dr. Andrew Smith, who has done good work with an expedition. Thinks it desirable that Smith should be given leave of absence to return to England and write up the expedition.
Believes the wires are 0.2" thicker than the old ones. Dust has settled on the parallel wires of the telescope. Advises how adjustment may be made to JH's micrometer for parallelism.
Has returned the drawings to [Andrew?] Smith not having received carte blanche to look at them. Bent one of the thick wires of the micrometer when taking out the plate, so has inserted another. The micrometer will be ready tomorrow. Clean Bermuda webs and two silver wires of 6" diameter.
Comments on observation of comets, the position of Southern Hemisphere stars, and the observation of an annular eclipse.
Note of thanks to JH for interceding on AS's behalf.
Thanks TM for restoring JH's micrometer.
Has recently been too ill to write. Sent portraits of William Herschel to Wilhelm Struve, Heinrich Schumacher, Karl Gauss, Friedrich Bessel, and others.
Thanks JH for meteorological observations and tells how he will apply them to predictions for Calcutta. Describes need to correct barometer observations. Compiles and compares barometer reading from points of India and Central Asia. Thanks JH for double star observations, which he sends to Madras Observatory.
Discussion of his latest experiments on polarization.
Is enclosing some accounts of the eclipse of the sun. The St. Helena instruments have arrived. Some observations are going to be made in Upper Canada. G. B. Airy proposes some extensive magnetic observations at Greenwich. Is going to Greenwich to see and plan extension to the observatory.
Basil Hall has just brought in the accompanying work of J. B. Biot. Sends another batch of Met. Obs. Is pleased with the success of JH's lunar discoveries.
Returns title deeds JH sent to HW for transfer of land [see HW's 1836-4-7]. Forwards cancelled 'Bond in favor of Neethling' for £150.
WW's results regarding tidal observation and theory. Requests further data from the Cape. Has nearly completed his history of the inductive sciences.