Discusses difficulties with establishing public magnetical and meteorological observatory. Mentions other business.
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.
Discusses difficulties with establishing public magnetical and meteorological observatory. Mentions other business.
Council passed 'with great unanimity' resolutions regarding permanent magnetic observatory to be established in London.
If JH wishes, will continue barometric [?] observations at Royal Society Apartments, which observations JH had requested while at Cape.
In light of minutes of R.S.L. Council meeting, outlines vision of permanent national physical observatory and, more importantly, an experimental institute or college. Hopes Edward Sabine will be interested.
Has talked to William Lamb (Lord Melbourne) about permanent magnetic and meteorological observatory. Was received 'as well as we could have anticipated,' but without definite answer. Thinks head for observatory should be appointed and give lectures.
Describes difficulties in attempting to produce good meteorological register and establish national meteorological observatory.
Invitation to Hawkhurst. Has plenty of R.S.L. work to keep him from his observational work. Question of a new observatory. Has had letter from Wilhelm Struve regarding the fifteen-inch object glass.
Possible to purchase 12 postage covers for 11d in the Strand. Points out an apparent error in one of JH's books on sound. How does an open pipe vibrate? Regarding the private character of J. L. Lagrange.
Thanks AD for a correction in one of JH's writings; tries to explain the partial echo that occurs when blowing across the end of an open pipe.
No objection to JH publishing soundings of J. C. Ross. FB will send JH detailed records of these. Any letters to Ross must arrive by 18 June for dispatch to Hobart Town. FB has copies of Thomas Maclear's correspondence about magnetic observations.
Encloses seven notes from J. C. Ross to Edward Sabine and FB.
Announces 30 June meeting of Committee of Physics including Meteorology.
Committee will meet next Monday to appoint 'a Master and Mistress.'
Prince Albert will meet R.S.L. Council next Thursday at Buckingham Palace.
Asks for JH's support at next week's vestry meeting. JH is entitled to six votes.
Announces meeting of R.S.L. Council on Saturday 27 June. [JH annotation: Received on '27th June!']
Formal statement that JH received parcel of manuscripts. Announces R.S.L. Council meeting for 9 July.
Received JH's letter of 4 Nov. [1829] in February. Sends report by university regents [to New York state legislature] and MW's [meteorological] observations. Will send more U.S. observations later.
Has no objection to the recipient's republication of the 'Examples of the Differ. & Integl Calculus by Mr. Peacock,' to which JH contributed.
Praises various photographs by WT and notes changes in some. Recounts optical experiments, recent and planned, by JH on rock-salt.