Grateful for WW's comments on investigations of [Simon] Stevin. JH's work on polarization of light. Discovery of multiple axes of polarization was preempted by David Brewster. Diagrams polarization of niter crystals and Iceland spar.
Showing 41–60 of 374 items
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 WW's comments on investigations of [Simon] Stevin. JH's work on polarization of light. Discovery of multiple axes of polarization was preempted by David Brewster. Diagrams polarization of niter crystals and Iceland spar.
Will sail tomorrow for Calais. Could not find Mr. Armstrong in Dover.
Arrival in France. Travel companions. JH and Charles Babbage will go to Institute tomorrow to visit J. B. Biot, S. D. Poisson, and other mathematicians.
Working in law office of [F. W.?] Sanders. Attended R.S.L. last night. T. W. Hornbuckle offered JH position as subtutor at St. John's College, but JH declined. Describes paper on minerals that JH submitted through E. D. Clarke to Geological Society. Charles Babbage just made creative mathematical discovery.
Copy of JH's midsummer examination questions—17 on Greek drama, 22 on Mechanics—at St. John's College. Currently reading P. S. Laplace's Système du monde, which confirms WH's theory of galaxy formation. T. W. Hornbuckle reports that money has been received from Bruce & Co.
Duties at St. John's College. James Grahame's father is arriving from Glasgow. [James] Wood is working to get Grahame into college. Ask cousin [Mary Baldwin] for address for Mr. Rogers. Recalls JH's summer vacation.
JH's hypothesis on nebular vortex and formation of solar system. Has other ideas about molecular forces and comet tails, but will wait to learn whether WH wants to hear them. JH burned over 100 pages of notes on these speculations. Will return to Slough in mid-December.
Describes JH's public Latin examination in algebra yesterday. James Grahame and sister were dangerously ill, but Grahame returned to Cambridge. [Addendum:] Newspaper clipping naming students (including JH) who received B.A. degrees at Cambridge on 16 Jan. 1813.
Two weeks of examinations begin tomorrow. Experiments writing with glass pen. Describes glassmaker's methods. Suggests application to micrometers.
Poses mathematical problems for 'polar equations of conic sections.'
Finds no experimental evidence connecting index of capillary action to index of refraction.
Reports account given at [Sebremnitz] of ore that JH analyzed.
Enjoyed 'good dancing account' of JH from Sophy [Sophia Baldwin?].
Please consider William Herschel's opinions on JH's career decision. MPH favors church, but will accept whatever makes JH happy. Will send money soon for [JH's tutor] T. W. Hornbuckle.
JH arrived safely yesterday and attended event at home of Sir Joseph Banks. Dr. [Matthew] Baillie asked about Lady Mary Herschel. JH and Charles Babbage, preparing to tour France, leave tomorrow for Dover. Wishes better health for MH and William Herschel.
Although nominated for the Analytical Society by Edward Bromhead, JB declines membership. Praises the society as 'highly calculated to the promotion of mathematical literature.'
JH understands CB to be a candidate for a professorial chair, and JH writes a warm letter of support.
Identifies a number of the various orders of ape and comments on them.
Comments on a number of family matters and discusses the activities of some mutual acquaintances.
Discusses inscriptions presented to Cambridge University by [Claudius] Bucharman. They are only facsimiles of those given to the Jews at Cochin, written in Hebrew, Arabic and Malabar.