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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 the operational and organizational details of the magnetic and meteorological observatories, and on the supervisory committee's [the Physical Committee of the R.S.L.] responsibilities.
Believes that rather than asking the government for more money to continue making magnetic observations, the six years of observations should be studied to see if further observations can be justified.
Having been assured by ES that the government might receive a request for more money for magnetic observations, JH retreats from his earlier position [see JH's 1844-7-17], and is willing to accept the possibility of a magnetic conference, which JH does not want to lead in any way. JH believes his scientific life is almost over and he has much to do.
Wishes ES had expressed opinion on requesting government money to maintain 'establishment' at R.S.L. committee meeting.
JH's reasons for requesting three-year extension of magnetic and meteorological survey from British government and H.E.I.C. Preliminary results from global stations.
Wollaston Fund should be reserved for furtherance of private individual research, not for vast public projects. Prefers to ask assistance from secretary for Colonies.
Will write to Court of Directors to ask H.E.I.C. to publish observations from Indian observatories. Needs to know where observations are stored, whether Humphrey Lloyd has reduced them, ES's reasons for making this request, best method for preparing data, and probable expense. Must go to Slough tomorrow to do business with former tenant.
Agrees that H. C. Schumacher and foreign institutions should be added to list of recipients for catalogs. Please submit recommended names to B.A.A.S. Needs addresses of [W. S.] Stratford and Paramatta observatory. Complications in mailing B.A.A.S. catalog to foreign recipients.
Returns Robert Peel's letter. JH has not changed opinion. Will not accept office [of R.S.L. president], even for one year.
Asked [Charles Lyell] to communicate JH's response to ES.
Agrees with W. R. Birt on advantages of continuing Kew observatory if B.A.A.S. can afford it. Encloses Birt's letter to JH. Understands difficult financial position of B.A.A.S.
Physical Committee yesterday amended report by J. D. Forbes and recommended that R.S.L. establish a magnetical and meteorological observatory in vicinity of London.
Funding for magnetic and meteorological instruments for Ceylon, which would be valuable addition to H.E.I.C. observatories. Compares [barometric] curves from America and Europe. Magnetometers for [Nossrey?] were paid for out of R.S.L.'s Donation Fund.
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.
Hopes royal observatory at Cape of Good Hope will relieve Ordnance department. U.S. government agreed to pay for publication of observations there. A. D. Bache favors continuance of hourly meteorological observations in U.S. for one year. G. A. Erman will attend meeting at Cambridge. German translations by ES's wife.
Urged by G. B. Airy, ES withdraws earlier letter to JH and encloses letter with ES's opinions regarding continuance of [magnetic and meteorological] observations.
Asks JH to inspect first magnetic and meteorological observations from [Tasmania] and Toronto. Hopes North American observations will be increased.
Will send JH's report to JH in August. J. C. Ross will not be at Cork meeting, but JH may announce there that first year of Ross's observations at sea will appear in R.S.P.T.
Forwarded letters to William Whewell, as JH requested. Will show copies of them to G. B. Airy. Completing volume of J. C. Ross's second crossing. Willing to take charge of W. R. Birt's models.
Payment for instruments sent to Breslau observatory. Received proofs of JH's paper, which does justice to Humphrey Lloyd. Spoke to Lord Melbourne about establishing a magnetical and meteorological observatory in vicinity of London. Compares expenses for permanent and temporary observatories.