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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.
Is sending him a proofsheet of the first of his charts of the zodiac. Does he think the work worthwhile, and is it suitable for printing in the Memoirs?
Has just had a letter from W. S. Stratford announcing his decision to resign from the secretaryship of the Astronomical Society. Comments on this. He himself is also thinking of resigning the Presidency at the Anniversary meeting. Regarding the microscopes.
Regarding the possibility of losing the services of W. S. Stratford, and also the president (JH). Lord High Admiral will be balloted for at the next meeting.
Talks at length about the operation of the Board of Longitude and of procedures GA should know if he wishes to present proposals to the Board; JH seems to be trying to calm down GA.
Asks GA about the purpose of the request for the use of Christiaan Huygens's telescope in the possession of the R.S.L.; JH comments on the accuracy of James South's astronomical observations.
Offers information, and strategy, which GA may find useful if he is seriously considering a position at Dublin Observatory; much of the information JH provides comes from Francis Beaufort.
Comments on GA's response to an offer from Dublin [see JH's 1827-4-7]; also about the discussion in the Council of the R.S.L. of a report of experiments from William Whewell and GA; JH makes some disparaging remarks about the work of John Pond.
Explains to GA the disposition, by the Committee on Papers of the R.S.L., of GA's experimental results [see JH's 1827-5-3].
Comments on GA's work on the solar tables, GA's pending paper on eyepieces, and on the quality of observations made at Greenwich and Paris; GA is intending to repeat the experiment of swinging a pendulum in a mine, and JH believes the Board of Longitude can provide the equipment.
Has completed one of his telescopes. Sends a paper which he hopes JH will accept.
Has had a collection of Astronomical Observations from K. L. C. Rümker. Should these be printed and has Rümker the sanction of TB for this kind of observation from the Observatory?
The state of the observatory after the death of Giuseppe Piazzi. Has been put on a permanent basis now. Instruments and books have been received. Send some mainsprings for the chronometers.
Plumian professorship is vacant owing to the death of Robert Woodhouse. How does JH feel about applying for it? The University would welcome him.
Hopes that JH will apply for the vacant position at the University.
Notified Georgiana Babbage that two or three electors for professorship at Oxford favor Charles Babbage. JH not free to name them. Death of father may alter Babbage's desire for position. Meanwhile Mrs. Babbage asks that we keep 'any one favourable to C. on neutral ground.'
[Charles Babbage] should understand that no effort will be made for 'alien' unless that candidate offers himself. Since William Buckland suggested Babbage for the position, let Buckland take the initiative.
Corrects yesterday's mistake about 'Russian Platina.' It is chemically pure, but mechanically the worst.
'Our volume is nearly ready.' Problem dating vernal equinoxes before Christ's birth.
Regrets not thanking JH for his kindness during SW's visit to Slough.
Encloses parcel for JH's mother. Mr. Beckwith suffered paralytic attack. SW did not report this to Lady Mary Herschel, but JH may if he deems it wise.