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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.
Reports the death of family members. Reveals news of new Pulkowa observatory. Has completed his work on micrometer measurements, resulting in 10,500 observations. Includes lists of aspects of his works.
Has spent much time in Petersburg dealing with Pulkowa affairs. Mentions his works that he has recently sent to JH. Thanks for comments on his 'Mensurae Micrometricae.' Looks forward to publication of JH's work at the Cape. Discusses suitability of the Russian winter for astronomical work. Requests JH's opinion of the instruments made by [J. G.?] Repsold and designated for Pulkowa. Comments on the heliometer. Invites JH to opening of Pulkowa Observatory.
Rejoices at welcome JH received on returning to England from the Cape. Excellent resources at his disposal at Pulkowa. Mentions coin, commemorating opening of the observatory, sent to JH by means of [H. C.] Schumacher. Refers to [Otto] Struve's work on double stars. Lauds capacity of large refractor at Pulkowa Observatory.
Regrets that his work at Pulkowa eliminates the possibility of being absent for longer periods of time and hopes to see JH in Russia. Mentions his and his son Otto Struve's most recent work. Wishes JH well in his new home at Collingwood.
Thanks JH for his letter [1841-10-10]. Discusses difficulty of measuring distance between a star of primary largeness and a small telescopic neighbor star. Rejects theory that temperature influences observation results. Appreciates JH assessment of the correspondence between WS's work and that of [F. W.] Bessel. Complains confidentially that Bessel neglects to acknowledge WS's work on parallax, begun a year before Bessel's own. Assures JH of WS's continual efforts in observing new phenomena. Comments on JH's 'On the Revision and Rearrangement of the Constellations.'
Sends this letter through his son Otto Struve. Informs JH of his upcoming visit to England and desires to renew the acquaintance at Collingwood.
Notifies JH of his and [P. A. ] Hansen's arrival in Greenwich from Gotha. Plans on visiting JH the following day via Staplehurst.
Introduces [Wilhelm] Döllen, who wishes to meet JH. WS recommends Munich glass for the Cape telescope.
Description of Pulkowa observatory sent fourteen days before. Included a listing of the library. Otto Struve works on micrometer measurements of double stars. Complains about [J. H. von] Mädler's unprofessional attitude at Dorpat. Announces 'Neptune' as new planet's name.
Sends paper on naming of Neptune. Denounces elimination of [J. C. ] Adams's part versus U. J. J. Le Verrier's role regarding Neptune. Will forward Otto Struve's paper on the expedition between Altona and Greenwich and his own Positiones mediae stellarum fixarum.
Has arrived from Paris and will continue to Hamburg. Regrets not being able to revisit Collingwood. Requests JH's work concerning the southern skies.
Acknowledges receipt of JH's Cape Results.
Discusses a variety of observations related to double stars, and asks FS to make some specific observations to compare with JH's work. Reveals JH's dream of going to the Southern Hemisphere for a number of years, but asks FS to keep it quiet, as 'many ties' stand in the way.
Is now committed to the Cape journey, and will be occupied most of the time till then with the reduction of JH's nebulae observations. Comments on several other astronomical matters. [Letter is finished on board a steam packet on the way to Hamburg to visit JH's aunt, Caroline, dated 1832-6-9.]
Compares in detail observations of several double stars made by several astronomers, and comments on differences; JH also describes a sighting of Biela's comet.
The observational data from FS regarding Gamma Virginis are so significant that JH begs FS to continue to observe and send JH the results. Comments on a number of other astronomical observational matters.
Describes enthusiastically the journey to the Cape, the beauties of the country, and the joys of astronomical observing there.
Pleased with the observations and astronomical literature JH received from FS; JH is packing up for the return to England; comments on causes of variations in stellar magnitude and several other astronomical topics.
Acknowledges receipt of WS's second volume of observations and the new telescope's results. Mentions Caroline Herschel's catalogue of nebulae.
Informs WS that the Astronomical Society has voted WS a gold medal for WS's observations of double stars. Says he is now observing nebulae. Confirms receipt of WS's fourth volume of observations sent by [E. C. F.?] Knorre. Asks WS to verify [Henry] Kater's observations on black zones in Saturn's outer ring.