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.
About possible changes in the second edition of JH's Outlines Astr. due to the writings of another astronomer, Ignatio Porro.
Carrington will be communicating with JH regarding Ignatio Porro's instruments. Pleased to hear of the projected new edition of JH's Outlines Astr. Is engaged translating D. F. J. Arago's Astronomy. Points out omissions in this work. Comments on the planet Neptune.
About viewing the solar eclipse, and the many errors in G. B. Airy's Lectures.
Sorry to hear he has been laid up, but his recovery has been quicker than his own. Unable to help him as his own lands have to be sold, but encloses a check for £20, which please acknowledge with a promissory note.
Comments on JH's paper on Sensorial Vision (1858). Covered some of this ground in HH's own book, Mental Physiology (1852).
Regarding the reasons for the confusion in the nomenclature of the genus Wellingtonia and Sequoia. Comments on the aquatic Anacharis.
Has had a volume of essays of JH's and wonders if the first one [address to the subscribers of Windsor Public Library] has been published separately; if not, he would like to issue it in a cheap form.
Is grateful for the encouragement he has given L. W. Me[e]ch. This Institution is endeavoring to collect information on the climate of North America and he is entering the field of meteorology for the first time. Sends some papers and would be glad of his comments.
Sending a copy of the Account of the Principal Triangulation of the United Kingdom.
Sends a list of the principal mountains in the United Kingdom and their altitudes. Has just returned from a tour in Ireland and Scotland; otherwise he would have replied earlier.
Comments on his plans for re-seating the church, and other matters.
Is dismayed to find in the new edition of his own Outlines Astr. that he has attributed the discovery of Hyperion to W. R. Dawes without crediting WL; will have this corrected in a future edition.
Do not let the error in Outlines Astr. disturb him; he quite understands. The 4-foot telescope proceeds. The speculum has been polished and awaits trial. If JH is attending the B.A.A.S. meeting hopes he will visit Lassell.
Agrees to write memoir [of George Peacock], but this will take some time as he is taking son [John] to Southampton to leave for India.
Regrets he will be unable to visit JH. Had a great desire to see him after the success of JH's suggestions for his last expedition.
Is obliged for JH's observations on his statement of [Joseph?] Hume's doctrine. These errors are discreditable and will diminish the utility of the book.
Has been thinking over the names of solicitors and believes he can recommend Messrs. Lewin of Southampton St. The senior partner is a brother of JM and JH should keep his papers when he concludes his business with his present solicitors.
Invites ES and his wife [at St. Leonard's] to visit . JH is impressed with ES's ability to develop a working plan for terrestrial magnetism observations. Is prepared to write a review article [about magnetism?] if invited, but JH refuses to write such articles and offer them 'for acceptance or rejection.'
Thanks ES for receipt of information about magnetic curves and the work of [A. D.] Bache. JH is glad to hear ES is back to active work again, but JH says he is too ill to go to the B.A.A.S. meeting [in Aberdeen].
Has incorporated ES's suggestions into the draft report about [the University of] Kasan.