Brings FF up-to-date on astronomical news in England, and suggests that JH may come to the Cape.
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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.
Brings FF up-to-date on astronomical news in England, and suggests that JH may come to the Cape.
Would like JH's views on the proposed meeting at York of the Friends of Science (later the B.A.A.S.).
Wanted to read JH's book before writing. Thinks it a useful production and should prove popular. William Fitton has been preparing a statement on the late struggle for the chair, but William Whewell has advised him to withdraw it. Hopes he will receive RJ's book in a fortnight. Comments on this and his recollections.
Is writing to request JH not to let William Fitton know that RJ informed JH about Fitton's statement.
JH's request for one hundred copies of the abstract was discussed at the Geological Society yesterday and it was decided to print the whole paper in the Transactions.
Sorrow of Mrs. Stewart [at death of Isabella]. JH has not seen much of Captain [John] Franklin, who arrived ill. JH's contest with Duke of Sussex for presidency of R.S.L. JS's invitation to visit India has rekindled JH's desire to study southern skies. Wanted once to move to Paramatta. Is considering Cape of Good Hope, and possibly visiting India to view Himalaya mountains. Will send copies of JH's Prelim. Discourse. Answers JS's questions about Babbage's Engine.
Plans to arrive tomorrow for visit.
Recommends WS pay attention to planetary nebulae, solid clusters, and double stars in his observations. JH lists some of each.
Wants WS to make a choice between the several skeleton forms JH has devised for recording astronomical observations. Also comments on orbit of Gamma Virginis and 30 Scorpii, as well as Encke's Comet.
Describes experiment of [Walter] Trevelyan with heated metals and lead, which produced a variety of sounds. New experiment will be described in [David] Brewster's journal.
Sends to CH his new book, Prelim. Discourse. Writes that he 'took little part in the proceedings about the Royal Society. Under any circumstances I would not have held the office of President more than a year and should have felt it a grievous evil to have held it at all.'
Thanks Herschel family for their 'kind interest' in her behalf.
Opinion on M. C. T. Damoiseau's theory and tables; worth a medal.
Remarks on Greenwich observations.
Has had many melancholy afflictions since they last met. Would like JH's support for his intended application for Professorship of Mathematics at the forthcoming University of Durham.
Takes a lively interest in his application for a professorship at Durham. Remembers him gratefully as his coach for mathematics while at Cambridge.
Has had great satisfaction in reading JH's book on Natural Philosophy, but would like to correct his statement regarding the date of the introduction of lemon juice as a treatment for scurvy.
An extensive discussion of the best way of presenting the results produced from the observations made at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, together with comments about the duties and responsibilities of the Astronomer Royal.
Surprised that HG misinterpreted JH's comments to suggest disrespect for Thomas Young. Will not defend them. If HG does not want to include these in Young's biography, then return manuscript to JH and destroy all copies of it.
Gives permission for publication of JH's paper ['On the Astronomical Causes Which May Influence Geological Phenomena'] in Geological Society's Transactions. Mentions report of a giant fossil found in United States.