Showing 61–80 of 186 items
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.
Describes music making evenings with daughters Caroline and Isabella; has made arrangements for the sale of a carriage.
Identifies WM as a committee member for the R.S.L.; raises the question of standard weights in relation to weighing gold bullion.
Offers a variety of solutions to stopping 'offensive light' during solar observations.
Notifies commissioners of Treasury that Mastership of Mint is not included among official government offices listed in Superannuative Act.
Gives RM a letter from Charles Bell [see Bell's 1851-10-28] on a geological map and collection prepared by Andrew Bain. Suggests the British Museum might wish to purchase Bain's collection of fossils.
Suggestions and diagrams for projecting sound great distances by means of small arms and parabolic reflectors.
The theoretical considerations that JH would take into account if he were going to study the subject of 'increasing and conveying to great distances and in given directions the reports of guns or other explosive instruments, as signals.'
A note probably accompanying JH's 1852-3-23. Comments concerning someone's collection.
After Treasury commissioners returned [Benedetto Pistrucci's]'s first memorial, to be transmitted through proper channels, JH hoped that [Pistrucci] would alter its content. But because [Pistrucci] insisted, JH forwarded it to Treasury again.
Explains algebraic equation.
As part of a discussion about decimal coinage, JH states that an early issue of florins is contemplated.
Informs BP that the Treasury has approved his pension request. JH declines to mention BP's refusal to accept a salary from the Treasury, a statement made in haste.
Discusses the political atmosphere in London and some family matters.
Replies to several queries about papers of JH. JH describes the accidental production of some interesting copper salt crystals.
Sent Treasury's retirement form to Benedetto Pistrucci, who returned it blank. Encloses copy of Pistrucci's reply.
Enclosed items just arrived from Francis Beaufort. [Richard?] Jones is in good health.
Private. Benedetto Pistrucci appealed to Lord Derby [E. G. G. S. Stanley]. If consulted, JH will recommend that former distinctions within Engraving department be abolished. If Pistrucci insists on using his former title, he may no longer do so as an officer of the Mint. Will approve pension if Pistrucci chooses to retire.
Thanks RG for a copy of the History of Physical Astronomy; comments on the behavior of cometary tails.
Private. If JH did try to pay Benedetto Pistrucci as 'Chief Medallist,' Audit office would refuse to approve it, because that position no longer exists at Mint. No one opened walls of Pistrucci's studio for repairs; workmen simply requested permission to examine them to see if repairs were needed. Pistrucci was never denied access to dies for Waterloo Medal; he asked once for them when keys were not available and never came back.
Andrew Bain's geological work received well. JH has little time for personal correspondence.