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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.
Now commanding the Herefordshire. All navigators must prove their competency. Asks JH for such a certificate.
Asks: for name of instrument maker JH recommends for construction of actinometers; which hydrogrameters should be taken to Mackenzie's River; and whether JH has any experiments he would like done in America.
Preparing instruments and instructions for various expeditions. Discusses ES's wife's translation of [Alexander von] Humboldt's Cosmos and the [R.S.L.] Council.
Discusses the meteorological observations made on board the Pagoda, particularly the effect of latitude and longitude on barometric readings.
Received memorandum from JH concerning magnetic instruments and instructions for their use. Happy to comply with Lordship's request for general instructions for magnetic instruments. Received meteorological observations from around the world.
Invites AS to Collingwood for Christmas. The Somervilles and the Adamses will also be present.
Will edit a manual [Admiralty Manual] of Scientific Desiderata and Queries as requested by [George Eden,] Lord Auckland. Is AS preparing any material for this work? What is its content and when will it be ready?
Thanks JH for letter of 7 December, inviting him to Collingwood for Christmas. Apologizes for not coming. Received bad domestic news and was robbed. Will testify at Old Bailey.
Has been requested to prepare a manual of scientific instructions for the use of ship's officers, and is asking GA to prepare a section on astronomy.
Is willing to assist JH, but feels that the Admiralty must instruct GA to do so [see JH's 1847-12-23].
Advice as to best way to present JL's method of calculating the orbits of comets to R.A.S. If JL desires R.A.S. to undertake calculations, might be some difficulty.
Asks whether JL wishes to present method [see JH's 1847-12-4] at next R.A.S. meeting.
John Lubbock entitled to bring his proposal before R.A.S., and to the best advice they can give, but the idea of explaining new views on physical astronomy strikes RS as 'objectionable' in principle. No one will understand his presentation. How to proceed with this. RS's work on the standard yard.
John Lubbock wishes only to explain his system, so there is no reason why the R.A.S. should not listen to him. Certain conditions must be met. Troubles with the R.A.S.M.N.
Adds list of names for consideration as foreign associates [of the R.A.S.], including Americans. Changes in John Lubbock's requirements for his project.
Has sent out a number of circulars to JH as a member of the Royal Observatory's Board of Visitors.
Suggests John Lubbock's improvements in calculating planetary perturbations be discussed at a R.A.S. meeting. Plans to bring subject before the Council.
Thanks JH for suggestion on his method of Great Circle sailing. Further enquires over some cartographic matters.
Thanking him for his hospitality.
Will look into the affair of the overpayment of the telescope. Regarding geographical and hydrographical desiderata for the Admiralty Manual.