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.
A friend has inquired when Pisces became the sign of the Vernal Equinox; can JH help him? Regarding the comet they observed on their passage home.
Is grateful for the very interesting photograph; will keep the preparation secret if he discovers it. Has been trying many experiments with benzoates with curious results, but bad weather has stopped progress so has now turned to thermography to test the truth of Mr. Prater's conclusions. Comments on these.
Invitation from the Local Council to visit Cork for the B.A.A.S. meeting.
Regrets he will be unable to visit Cork for the B.A.A.S. meeting, but is conscious of the honor of the invitation.
President of the Società Italienne des Sciences has received the invitation for members to attend the B.A.A.S. meeting at Cork. Regrets the length of the journey prevents members attending, but have nominated Michael Faraday to attend.
Sending details of a singular appearance in the heavens on 16 June.
Encloses bill, which JH signed, received from J. C. Stewart. JH and family visited Dover with G. B. Airy's family, where JH witnessed noiseless explosion of 18,000 pounds of powder distributed over 18 acres.
JH's theory of orbits of Castor and Gamma Virginis. Observations of Gamma Virginis by W. R. Dawes and by WS.
Agenda items for next meeting of 'Committee for Superintending the Construction of Standards.' Compares English, French, Danish, and Prussian standards.
Commissioners of Treasury invite JH to join committee to oversee construction of 'New Parliamentary Standards of Weight and Measure.'
Comments on book on etymology forwarded by Sherwood & Co. [see 1843-5-26].
Thanks for JH's 1843-6-16.
A notice of meeting of the Standards Committee.
Discusses deficiencies in astronomical equipment at Cape's observatory, and troubles in observing comets, double stars, and other phenomena. Hopes equipment can be updated.
Completed 'one of the most curious products' of JH's Cape Results: the map and catalog of the 'Nubecula major' region.
Proposed travel arrangements for JH.
Reaches conclusion about Gamma Virginis. States in regard to shape of orbit, 'We are all wrong.' Believes the orbit is less than 150 years. Claims that many errors exist in British measurements made between 1829 and 1834.
Requests copy of JH's observations made in 1811. Asks latest opinion of JH on Gamma Virginis before the publication of his Cycle of Celestial Objects for the Use of Naval, Military, and Private Astronomers.
Sends JH's 1817 observations; cannot locate any he made in 1811. Tells WS Gamma Virginis measurements will take more time.
Decides not to print G. Reichenbach's papers on JH's advice. Will consider Reichenbach's papers in the future.