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.
Comments on zodiacal light. Would like JH's opinion on his theory. Has been experimenting further with the propagation of plants with collodion. Money for the Henry Lawson Observatory has been subscribed and hopes soon to appoint trustees.
Questions about WB's 1851 report on gas apparatuses in Mint, and feasibility of repairing versus removing them.
Gold and silver coinage will be suspended during 'Enquiry week.' Use this time to produce copper coins.
'In Re Napier's Model,' WB is not to exceed the approved limit of £25.
Object of CK's modified English alphabet is different from object intended by conference recently held at C. K. J. Bunsen's. Those of A. J. Ellis and Isaac Pitman have appeared in print and are favorably accepted; doubts that CK's characters would supplant them. See Bunsen regarding CK's universal alphabet.
Unable to strike honorary medal from dies of Royal Military Academy. Under reformed Mint system, those dies are private property of engraver L. C. Wyon.
Deliver gold, silver, and copper scrap and unusable equipment to W. H. Barton to be sold. [JH annotation: Similar notices sent to W. T. Brande and to H. W. Field.]
Further discussion of salary for F. R. Brande after promotion.
Governor of Malta [Sir William Reid] requests £500 in copper coins. Mint does not have enough.
[Marked 'Extract.'] Asks Treasury to define position of J. [J. S.?] Wyon at Mint.
Encourages Treasury to maintain distinction between temporary and permanent workers at Mint.
Sends cheque for £14, annual rent for land occupied by former Victualling office of Mint. Please send draft for 'conveyance.' JH will submit it to solicitor of Mint.
In response to letter from Sir Emerson Tennant to Mr. Lawley, JH intends to apply for public pyx trial as soon as coining of gold is concluded.
Will submit statement if [Audit Office] insists, but does not believe this will afford any check on correctness of silver bullion inventory.
Formal testimonial to competence of J. L. Drury, temporary clerk in Mint office and melting department since 31 Jan. 1853.
Crediting F. R. Brande with five years of previous service does not conform to Treasury commissioners' intent at time Brande was offered new position in Mint. Hold to original schedule of salaries and promotions for Brande and Henry Finch.
Now understands JH's reason for promoting F. R. Brande. Will now deal with cases of Henry Finch and James Wyon.
Forwards suggestion from CT's cousin, Ernest Perceval.
Discourages suggestion to issue both milled and unmilled florins. This would confuse the public and promote counterfeiting.
Comments on EL's paper on zodiacal light; JH disagrees with EL's arguments and suggests rethinking them.