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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.
Preparations for leaving England make it impossible for JH to [give money] to [Joseph] Langton, but JH has paid entire bill for fencing in the Merke, part of which Langton should have paid, and now dismisses Langton's £300 debt to JH, incurred on 8 June 1831.
Asks GS to provide hospitality to J. C. Stewart, who is traveling through Italy. Sent package of books. Hopes GS will write to JH at Cape of Good Hope.
Today's newspapers confirm shocking report heard last night. Imagines loss and ruin to members. Confident that exalted character of PS's uncle will result in uncle being found blameless. Certain that James [C. Stewart], as new partner, could not bear any shame for magnitude of this long-standing problem. Hopes PS's mother will bear up well. Offers to assist Mrs. Stewart financially. Grateful that James had not yet left for Munich before this happened. Margaret is in shock.
JS is most welcome to visit Slough to see new baby [William James]. [Margaret Herschel note: Invites JS to christening.]
Letters of introduction for JS and suggestions whom to visit, especially F. W. Bessel, during JS's trip to Continent and Russia.
Comments on JH's paper on potash in Annales de chimie. Has observed reaction products in microscope. Concerned over delay in publication by David Brewster of his experimental results in optics and light, especially as WT not convinced of legitimacy of rumored results.
Asks about rumor regarding JH going to Cape. Describes some electrical experiments WT saw at Royal Institution and refers to some WT carried out years earlier.
Asks for seeds and roots of native plants of the Cape. Refers to JH's writings on beating of the heart and comments on some optical experiments of Charles Wheatstone and David Brewster.
Has performed some Newton's rings interference experiments. Asks whether such experiments have already been communicated to the R.S.L.
Trying to understand David Brewster's results on absorption of light in gaseous state, and the dark lines in solar spectrum, the cause of which he misunderstands.
Best wishes to JH on his voyage to the Cape, and comments on what wonders JH may observe there. [Letter largely illegible.]
Notice of Susan White's death.
Formal note and stamp acknowledging receipt of £50 annuity from estate of William Herschel, sent by executor JH, followed by note to JH on arrangements for sending such payments. Asks for news about Stewart family.
Admiralty not able to lend JH any further equipment to take on JH's expedition to the Cape.
Postpones visit of Lady [Margaret] Herschel to CW. Wishes to take CW's Symphonion to Slough. Has made favorable mention of CW's tuning fork experiments in paper on absorption [JH's 'On the Absorption of Light by Coloured Media...'].
Intends to visit WS after attending Cambridge B.A.A.S. meeting.
Reports observations with WS's equatorial during Bedford visit. Packs instruments for voyage. Pleased that Thomas Maclear will take post of Astronomer Royal at the Cape Observatory.
Unable to send Gamma Virginis observations because papers are packed. Declines offer of WS's transit circle for use at Cape.
Has sought, and is agreeing with, advice given about JH's involvement with several trusts [?] during JH's time in South Africa.
Excuses himself from a dining engagement; JH is too busy preparing for a voyage.