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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.
Visits F. W. Bessel in Berlin to discuss pendulum experiments. [C. A.] Steinheil invented a photometer to measure relative light of different stars.
Even though JH has not written, AQ has received news from JH's compatriots. Asks about JH's health. Has not really used equatorial. Continues work on terrestrial magnetism and includes observations. Asks if JH has received last part of translation of JH's work on optics.
Comments on importance of 'geographical observatories' like JL's as complementary to astronomical observatories, and outlines their chief objects of enquiry. Suggests that JL have observational results examined and published, and recommends taking many hourly observations.
Mentions letter from William Whewell sending JF JH's interesting but puzzling meteorological results. Will communicate them to a Dr. [John?] Davy at Malta. Has been busy preparing lectures. Made a short tour in England last summer. G. B. Airy has been awarded the Lalande Medal.
Unable to assist JH's friend Major [Abraham] Cloete as JF was away from home. Comments on results of JH's table and JF's own papers and scientific occupations. B.A.A.S. would welcome JH's ideas for meteorological work. S. D. Poisson has published a new work on heat, in which he attacks J. B. Fourier.
Gives incomplete report on observations of nebulae and double stars and theories on the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds based thereupon. Thanks WH for his explanation of WH's new dynamical method, but JH admits that he understands only its 'general scope.'
Discusses reduction of barometric observations. Praises the Cape's climate.
On JH's portrait, which RS is trying to send to JH at the Cape. Asks JH to forgive the 'liberty' he has taken with JH's 'physiognomy,' but RS wants to show off JH as an 'ornament' of Cambridge. Updates JH on Francis Baily's progress and the status of the St. Helena Observatory.
Provides list of desiderata for activities for observatories of the '2nd and 3rd classes.' Reports his progress from the Cape, and his inability as yet to see Halley's or Encke's comet.
Made a 'mess' of the tidal observation and meteorological observations that he took earlier in the week.
Too ill to attend the South African Institution meeting; asks JH to turn in the packet containing TM's and JH's meteorological observations.
Actinometer observations during the eclipse.
Found two planetary nebulae not listed in any catalog; hopes to show them to JH tonight.
Apologizes for his erroneous reduction. Thanks TM for his list of 'Zenith points.'
William Whewell asked JH to compare their June tidal observations with those of the British Admiralty; JH will urge John Deas Thompson to be extra precise in his findings.
Attempting to correct the faulty tidal and meteorological observations that JH made earlier in the week.
Busy interpolating the Simon's Bay tidal series; JH then intends to study Table Bay and to compare the results. Asked William Whewell to back an application to the British Admiralty for a tide clock to be erected at Simon's Bay as a permanent tide station.
Describes his comparison of the tidal series at Simon's Bay and Table Bay. Sending his barometer to TM.
Discusses printing costs. Heard that Halley's Comet was seen with the naked eye in Cape Town; JH is excited about his own prospects of seeing the comet.
Warns that 'a share in a new planet is advertised and that those who will bid must be on the alert.'