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.
Has been commissioned by Guillaume Weber to present a paper about an instrument for measuring the earth's magnetism, to JH. Would like to present it personally; when can he call?
Considers the education of the lower orders an honorable object, but has never given a public lecture and feels unable to assist.
Sends her a newly minted florin.
Writes to acknowledge receipt of a testimonial on behalf of [George] Wilson.
Sending diagrams of Halley's Comet traced from a work, The Orbs of Heaven.
Comments on color as a sensation, and on GS's thoughts on 'lavender rays.'
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.
Astronomer Royal and his wife are visiting the Lubbocks on Saturday; will JH join them for Saturday and Sunday? Will collect him if he likes. Louisa Herschel was the belle of the Bromley Ball.
Is taking RJ's admonitions to heart, and along with taking quinine and staying at home, JH feels that his nervous system is being restored.
The Cape Government is to employ a geologist to survey the mineral resources. Copper mines are all the rage at the moment and the value of shares is increasing rapidly. No further news of David Livingstone. Mounting of the transit circle is progressing.
Compliments to the Herschels. Was interested in JH's article in the last number of Good Words. A long time since he has seen Alexander Herschel.
Thanks for his articles on the prediction of time; comments on it. Has been translating an article of John Tyndall.
Asks JH to sign an affidavit that WT is the inventor of the calotype or talbotype as some are trying to break WT's patent hold.
Sends JH a copy of the affidavit [see WT's 1854-5-15] and asks for JH's emendations, if any, and his signature. Sends JH a photograph engraved on steel.
Comments on the affidavit supplied by WT; will sign most of it but objects to one section.
Explains the way an affidavit works in the Court of Chancery. Because JH feels uncomfortable about certain aspects of the affidavit, WT will not trouble him about it again.
Clarifies JH's position, by saying that he clearly supports WT as the inventor of the calotype or talbotype, but has reservations about the collodion process.
WT's opponents have named JH in one of their affidavits against WT. WT is therefore asking JH to respond to what is stated in that affidavit.
Reports to JH that the patent infringement case had been decided in WT's favor, and tells of one incident in court.
Write to inform JH of the successful conclusion of the patent case brought by W. H. Fox Talbot.