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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.
Arranges time for GB to meet [Theophila] Gwatkin. JH leaves London tomorrow for Slough; returns Saturday for 'visitation.'
JH, Charles Babbage, Richard Jones, and George Peacock arrived in France after difficult voyage.
Leaving Paris tomorrow for Geneva and Milan. Describes tour through France. Names scientific men whom JH, Charles Babbage, Richard Jones, and George Peacock met. Visited French Board of Longitude. Alexander von Humboldt was of great service.
Describes scenery at Mont Blanc. Trip by mules into mountains. Barometer measurements by Charles Babbage. [Letter continues 16 Aug.:] Plans today include visit to Mar de Glace glacier. [Letter continues 20 Aug.:] Found excellent guide, Coutet, with knowledge of geology. Describes expedition to Mar de Glace glacier and JH's sketches. More barometer observations. [Letter continued 22 Aug. in Geneva:] No mail arrived from Slough. Leave tomorrow for Chambéry and Turin. Planning to leave Italy by 2 Sept.
Describes Como [Lombardy]. Visit with Pietro Configliachi [professor of physics at University of Pavia]. Crossing of alpine passes and Lake Maggiore. Ascent of Monte Rosa. JH was first Englishman to reach summit. [Letter continued 17 Sept. in Berne:] News from Slough of death of JH's uncle [Alexander Herschel]. Expects to return home in three weeks.
Windy passage across Channel. Will arrive home in two days.
Terrible voyage across Channel. George Peacock and Richard Jones accompanied JH and Charles Babbage for part of journey.
No letters from Slough. Terrible weather. Unable to explore Alps. Purchased carriage for remainder of tour. Describes journey from Paris through Jura Mountains to Geneva. Met J. A. Deleu family, M. A. Pictet, Alexandre Marcet, [Gilbert Elliot] Lord Minto, and Italian expatriates from Neapolitan revolution. Proposes itinerary through Alps, weather permitting.
Journey of JH and Charles Babbage from Geneva via Mont Cenis to Turin, where effects of revolution are still evident. Describes Milan. Oppressive heat and torrential rain. Plan to return via Monte Rosa or 'Mont' St. Gotthard. Language problems.
Expects to be home in one week. May be delayed at Calais by astronomers' trigonometrical operations. JH's and Charles Babbage's excursion from Berne to foot of Alps. Visited [P. E.] Fellenberg at Hofwyl.
Complains of delay in receiving mail, which was addressed to Colnbrook but misdirected to Abingdon and to Marlow.
Extremely formal letter of greeting to JH while traveling in Switzerland. Ends with a long postscript describing a major Swiss monument in Lucerne.
Missed JH (traveling with Charles Babbage) when they passed through Dijon. Provides some barometric observations along with a comparison of measuring instruments. Appears to be commenting on some of Charles Babbage's interests in statistics, and believes that G. W. Leibniz did some work in this also, but died before publishing it. [Parts of this letter illegible.]
Asks CB to to look very carefully into financial affairs relating to JH's impending marriage [to Miss Gwatkin]. Begs CB not to tell JH she has written.
Death of Mrs. Beckwith's baby. Warns JH against one-legged swindler 'Mr. Davis,' who may ask JH for money. Still in search of a cook.
William Herschel met with Mr. Gwatkin to discuss JH's proposal of marriage to Miss Gwatkin. MPH sees no impediment. WH wants JH to return soon.
Dr. Pope examined William Herschel and reported that WH's only complaint was old age. Finances relating to JH's marriage settlement. Must decide whether to sell JH's horse. Compliments to Miss Gwatkin.
William Herschel is glad that JH declined offer for WH to become commissioner of longitude. Hopes JH enjoys visit with James South and family.
Sends John Flamsteed's Atlas and Catalogue. Discusses JH's intention to review all of William Herschel's double stars. Wants details of JH's appointment to committee.
When will JH arrive?