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.
Returned home and found JH's welcome letter awaiting him. Relates his experiences while traveling in Belgium and Holland. Gives his views on the beauties of Antwerp and Ghent. Saw a Frenchman ascend in a balloon. Starts for Scotland in two days' time for two months.
Attended the General Assembly of the Church in Edinburgh in May last. Comments on its proceedings. Travelled around Scotland. Is now on his way to India. Has had good weather for the most part. Comments on Gibraltar, Malta, and North Africa.
Encloses the tickets for the Philharmonic concerts and gives details of the program. Is going to cast another 20" speculum in a few days.
Did not realize that JH would leave town so quickly. Cast a 10" speculum successfully after William Parsons' (3rd Earl of Rosse) plan. Is having difficulty with his grinding and polishing and would welcome JH's advice.
At a recent meeting of the Council of the College of Chemistry it was resolved that JH should be invited to become a Vice-President. Hopes he will agree to this request.
Chair of Astronomy in the University of Edinburgh is vacant. Has had the son of Capt. W. H. Sm[y]th recommended as a suitable candidate. Would like JH's views on the suitability of Sm[y]th for the position.
Chair of Botany at Edinburgh is now vacant and Joseph Hooker intends applying for it. Would be grateful if JH would supply a testimonial for Hooker. There is only one other candidate for the position.
Has submitted a paper on the projection of a star on the moon's disc to the R.A.S. Wishes to draw JH's attention to it. Comments on some of his observations.
Last letter to JH was private [see GA's 1845-4-1].
Sends a copy of an ephemeris of Biela's comet for November and December.
Has just completed the orbit for the binary star Mu2 Bootis. Sends details. Could not send his notice of Biela's comet to W. R. Dawes as he did not know his address.
Is grateful for details of his method of calculating the orbits of double stars. Comments on some of his observations.
Has been considering what principle should be followed in the computation of the orbits of double stars. Gives his views.
Will apply JH's principle at the first opportunity. Has made some successful observations of the star Epsilon Arietes. Intends observing Castor on every fine evening.
Communicating the elements of Castor and Corona by JH's method. Comments on these readings.
Sending him the elements of the new planet Astrea. Orbit is based on the Berlin observations. Differs from those given by J. F. Encke.
Gives detailed, official, replies to the questions in the magnetic committee circular [see JH's 1844-12-5].
A friend of his would like JH's advice on a suitable telescope.
Has received the enclosed from James Graham and would be pleased if W. R. Dawes would choose an instrument.
His letter possibly did not reach him as his friend is still inquiring about a telescope for Lima.