On his German travels, JH left Margaret Herschel and the children at Slough because he feared their exposure to the cholera epidemic.
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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.
On his German travels, JH left Margaret Herschel and the children at Slough because he feared their exposure to the cholera epidemic.
Praises JH's work on double star orbits. Translated 'Fisica Celeste' [JH's Physical Astronomy?] for use of University of Padua. Receives fourth volume of R.S.P.T. of R.S.L. R.A.S. awards GS for astronomical work. Wants to purchase a Barlow telescope for Padua Observatory. Observes Biela's Comet at Rome Observatory. Makes study of perturbations in the orbit of Jupiter.
Will observe transit [of Mercury] hoping it will provide good meridian data. Encloses sketch of telescope in Bedford.
Discusses study of light, JH's theories on the subject, and his own photometer observations. Asks JH for further explanations of his theory.
Requests JH consider taking Chair of Natural Philosophy at University of Edinburgh due to John Leslie's illness.
Sights bright patch on moon; asks JH to confirm the observation.
Unable to spot Biela's Comet. Outstanding observing conditions allow WS to sight normally difficult objects. Makes suggestions concerning JH's rotating roof plans.
Thanks JT for loan of [John] Bullar's lectures. Stresses the value of good literature, especially by John Milton and Miguel de Cervantes.
Sends micrometer observations of stars suggested by JH.
Expresses shock at death of John Leslie. Declines with thanks offer to be considered for professorship of natural philosophy at University of Edinburgh.
Sends Gamma Virginis observations. Devotes time to nautical astronomy; experiments with formulae for calculating occultations. Takes interest in eclipse of Jovian satellites.
Sends observations of Gamma Virginis, which differ from those of WS and James South. Observed transit of Mercury. Has abandoned plans of going to Cape of Good Hope this year. Plans to visit Caroline Herschel in Hanover.
Has been making optical experiments. Hopes to see JH in the Spring. Hopes JH will be able to observe Encke's comet this year.
Will he be visiting Cambridge this Spring?
Observations on the various ways of measuring angular positions (of double stars). Opinion on JH publishing his catalogue of nebulae. Remarks on the low standard of astronomical observations in England compared with the Continent.
Observations on the gravimeter.
Requests that the engravings for the catalogue of nebulae be speeded up. Further observations on the gravimeter. Observations on W. R. Hamilton's experiments on biaxial crystals using A. J. Fresnel's wave surface theory.
Requesting a copy of G. A. A. Plana and Francesco Carlini's 'Lunar Theory.' Further remarks on the practicability of the gravimeter.
Wants information for the journal. Apologizes for the delay in writing the letter.
Thanking him for sending the Memoirs.