Discusses eighteenth-century observations from Greenwich. Describes curious observations of stars in Gamma Virginis and Polaris.
Discusses eighteenth-century observations from Greenwich. Describes curious observations of stars in Gamma Virginis and Polaris.
Sent some Edinburgh ale to the Herschels. Will not patent telescope. Discusses Giovanni Santini's article on telescopes in the Quarterly Journal.
Pleased that JH enjoyed the ale. Asks whether comets could be portions of the luminous atmosphere surrounding the sun.
Admires her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Wishes [P. S.] Laplace would have lived to see it. Notes a problem with the principle of virtual velocity.
Sends 40 pages of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] along with suggestions for improvement. Suggests clarifying the principles of the first chapter and a fuller explanation of various other principles.
Thanks JH for criticisms of her manuscript. Will outline principles more carefully. Hopes Lady Herschel is 'gaining strength.'
Sends first revised pages [of MS's Mechanism of the Heavens] back for further opinion. Highly respects JH's comments and believes he will be a truthful critic as a friend.
Sends new translation of [P. S. Laplace's] Mécanique céleste. Says her revision [of MS's Mechanism of the Heavens] has been effective. Still doubts the derivation of the fundamental equation. Discusses force, resistance, and reaction with regard to this equation.
Thanks JH for his communications. Anxious to get into the proof JH criticized. Sends [Joseph] LaGrange's variations of constant quantities.
Says manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] cannot be improved materially except perhaps on one or two small points. Will look at it again when it is together in a whole. Announces birth of JH's daughter [Caroline] that morning.
Offers congratulations on arrival of JH's first child. Thanks him for communicating his thoughts on her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] at such a time.
Sending back part of manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] for criticism. Hopes Mrs. Herschel and baby are well.
Will bring her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Apologizes for holding it so long. Critiques various passages concerning permanent rotation and equations of stability. Sends condolences on Dr. Somerville's loss.
Sends a method of estimating the variations in the elements of orbits during the perturbations in longitude and distance. Used it in manuscript when examining Saturn and Jupiter.
Asks JH to send the astronomical part of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] by Mr. Richards on Thursday.
Used a counter spell to keep the moon at a 'due distance.' Her previous computations were careless. Asks JH to return part of her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens] for corrections.
Thanks JH for attention to Mrs. Somerville's work [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Please send any part of the work that he has finished.
Mrs. Somerville cannot decide what to call her book [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Please advise so publishing can commence.
Glad WS is coming to England but cautions that London empties in June. Congratulates WS on measurement of a 'great Northern arc.' Complains about the division of the Royal Society into 'parties'. Adds [James] South's results showing a sixth star, nearer than WS's fifth, in trapezium of Orion.
Tells AQ of 'negligent inattention' regarding Belgium's instruments. Has extracted promise from [William?] Simms that the equatorial should be finished by Christmas and mural circle within the following year. Mentions seeing Colonel Blake and [G. P.] Dandelin. Regrets [P. F.] Verhulst's illness. Discusses lichen.