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.
The committee dealing with applying to the government for aid should meet soon, and so JH wants some questions answered from one of the authors of Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis.
As HF is likely to be immediately ordered back to India, he is in no position to prepare himself to appear before the government seeking funds to publish Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis. Encloses a brief statement to the above effect to be read to the B.A.A.S. committee.
Received WS's note about G. B. Airy's action regarding new warrant for Board of Visitors. Feels that Airy's cooperation is necessary in light of anomalous position of one board member. Recommends referring matter to Admiralty.
Do not let catalogues make WS uneasy. Government money is available to pay printer. Will try to bring out N. L. Lacaille's work before 25 Sept. if JH can obtain [Thomas] Henderson's papers and WS's notes for the preface. Will not interfere with [T.R.] Robinson's committee.
Expresses some concerns about GA's having indicated support for a particular candidate for the Board of Visitors. [Very faint.]
Hopes Sir R. H. Inglis explained JH's delay in answering. Missionaries have obligation to preserve unwritten languages. Suggests 'Phonotypic' system of [Isaac] Pitman, with some alterations.
JH's opinions about disruptive effect of tremors on observatory if proposed railway tunnel is built under Greenwich Park. Proposes method for adjusting train schedule to reduce interference with observations.
Received JH's check for £300 for Harris family. Measurements of Gamma Virginis made by W. R. Dawes under GB's direction. Will send future observations to JH.
Invites JH to join SB and Mr. Bold at 'our stable' tomorrow evening. Hopes [J. B. A.] Dumas will arrive from Paris then.
Luke Howard wants to borrow from W. R. Birt JH's German work describing Karl Kreil's 'Barometrograph.'
Wants to visit JH at Collingwood this weekend.
Sends results of RM's experiment on wave motion and earthquakes that RM will report at B.A.A.S. meeting in Southampton. Proposes new committee to implement RM's project.
[Marked 'Private.'] Encloses copy of TM's letter to the Times responding to news report of TM's altercation with JH and [T. R.] Robinson at B.A.A.S. meeting.
The B.A.A.S. grants £70 for the publication of the catalog of J. J. L. Lalande and N. L. Lacaille.
Received JH's order for £21.
Encloses copy of 29 July 1846 letter from G. B. Airy, who refuses to act on any further recommendations from Board of Visitors so long as James South is member of Board. Insinuations by South in R. H. Inglis's motion before House of Commons are deemed malevolent by Airy, who no longer considers South competent to guide scientific inquiry.
Reminds JH of new format in Nautical Almanac to represent symbols of late F. W. Bessel. Thomas Henderson was working with unknown quantity [in preparing N. L. Lacaille's star catalog].
Unable to publish catalogs in time for meeting.
Received £450 today from B.A.A.S. treasurer for printing N. L. Lacaille's catalog of stars and J. J. L. Lalande's Histoire céleste.
Challenges JH's letter in the Times today justifying JH's remarks at B.A.A.S. that Charles Wheatstone invented electric telegraph. Believes Wheatstone 'pilfered' invention from Mr. Baines.