From:
John Frederick William Herschel
To:
John William Lubbock
Date:
6 April 1845
Source of text:
MM/14/131, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
No summary available.
Last letter to JH was private [see GA's 1845-4-1].
Gives detailed, official, replies to the questions in the magnetic committee circular [see JH's 1844-12-5].
Illegible.
Has been appointed keeper of Mining records at the Museum of Economic Geology. Hopes to meet him personally and thank him for his assistance.
The continuation of magnetic and meteorological observatories is under question, and CW's instrument for observing atmospheric electricity should be part of the discussion.
Makes some amendments in JH's request for information [see JH's 1845-4-6].
The President was requested to write to the East India Company about the observatories. Continuance of the magnetic observations at Greenwich was referred to the Committee of Physics. Cannot find where Nicolas Clement-Desormes's observations are published. Has been studying the wet bulb problem. Capt. Herbert has denounced the article on hygrometry in Brewster's Encyclopaedia.
Has been with Philip Melvill of the East India Co. discussing the printing of the observations. Would it be a good use of JH's photographic papers to take a reverse of William Parsons' (3rd Earl of Rosse) drawings of nebulae? Cannot obtain Nicolas Clement-Desormes's or John Sharpe's papers. Doubts if the mode of measuring latent heat hitherto used can be recommended for accuracy.
Wants to know if GA's opinions [see GA's 1845-4-1] are available for public information, or only for JH.
Asks JH's opinion on a paper on magnetism by Karl Reichenbach, which has some 'very extraordinary' statements.
Is very critical of a series of three foreign memoirs that JH believes certainly should not be published. Concludes with a strange postscript on catalepsy.
Responds to recently printed letter by James South. Denies South's assertion and confirms that William Herschel did discover two interior satellites of Saturn with 40-feet reflector telescope in 1789.
Privately acknowledges lack of clarity in William Herschel's report of discovering Saturn's inner rings, but JH was hurt by James South's public refutation of that discovery and by [T. R.] Robinson's abrupt refusal to communicate. Reviews WH's papers to demonstrate falsity of South's claim. Asks TM's opinion.
Will direct JH's 14 Apr. letter to Prince Metternich.
As trustee of marriage settlement of CB's sister [Mary Anne Hollier], JH is asked to sign enclosed order. Reports distribution of money to sister and to H. J. Hollier.
Received JH's directive to send dividend to Mary Ann Hollier. Other money is invested in property at Cardiff, owned by Mr. Hollier. CB in bad health. Questions authorship of Vestiges [of Creation].
Sends specimen of esculine, or polychrome, extracted from horse chestnut. It exhibits optical properties that JH recently investigated. Offers to send specimen of colophene. Asks JH's recommendations for foreign secretary of R.S.L., following death of J. F. Daniell. This officer must supervise magnetic and meteorological observatories. [JH annotation: 'By all means appoint Sab(ine).']
Will invite G. A. Erman to act as B.A.A.S. commissioner in reduction of 1829 Gaussian constant. Will try to remedy misconceptions of G. B. Airy. T. M. Brisbane will not get involved. Testing new magnetic instrument by Humphrey Lloyd for Arctic expedition. Invite C. F. Gauss to Cambridge.
Reply from G. A. Erman to JH's circular is best one yet received. Erman recommends calculating magnetic constants of 1829. ES suggests grant from B.A.A.S. to fund this. Alexander Humboldt will reply soon. Charles Wheatstone should describe new apparatus in letter to JH that can be sent to observatories.