Thanks for the packet of letters. Thomas Henderson has been appointed to the Edinburgh Observatory. Richardson has just completed Brisbane's Catalogue of Southern Stars. Has observed a fortnight's tides for William Whewell.
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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.
Thanks for the packet of letters. Thomas Henderson has been appointed to the Edinburgh Observatory. Richardson has just completed Brisbane's Catalogue of Southern Stars. Has observed a fortnight's tides for William Whewell.
Thanks for letter. Boy born on 12 May. Intends to go to Keswick for a few weeks. [This is written as part of the letter from G. B. Airy to JH, dated 1834-6-20.]
Describes the departure of an expedition north of the Cape, as well as the pleasures of the country and the beautiful skies for observing. The delivery of mail is, however, so erratic as to be vexatious.
Settling in. Regrets departure of Duncan Stewart. Ignore James South's increasing attacks; they cannot harm JH. Hunted Cape 'wolf' last night. All observing instruments are up and active. Laments poor local workmanship. Praises John Fairbairn's editorials.
Describes enclosed sketches of Cape Flats and mountains, viewed from Feldhausen. Names ships that carry JH's letters, sketches, and bird skins to friends in England.
Introduces Captain James Alexander, who has explored Africa. Will hail JH's return from the Cape with pride.
Has received dispatches from Bedford at last; hopes that JH has been equally fortunate. Encloses a letter from Mrs. Smyth, which gives amusing details of the anniversary of the R.A.S. Comments at length on the character of Sir James South.
Regarding some queries of N. L. Lacaille's Catalogue of Southern Stars. He was severe on Edmund Halley. Can JH inform him if the acorns sent fell off the tree or were beaten off.
Discusses JH's recent observations of Gamma Virginis.
Thanks for the acorns; will put them into the ground instantly. Received dispatches from the Admiralty yesterday; also a bag from Bedford. Cannot find the Greenwich Observations for 1830 in the Observatory Library.
R.A.S. has been allocated rooms at Somerset House. The James South affair has been submitted to referees. Has discovered a large collection of John Flamsteed's papers at the Greenwich Observatory.
Has JH's memoir on elliptical orbits of Saturn. Asks for JH's indulgence with lack of astronomy in annals. AQ has no big instruments. Has planted thermometers for experiments. Finally received transit instrument from [H. P.] Gambey.
Predicting poor weather, JH advises TM not to go to the Grove tomorrow.
Resumed the N. L. Lacaille operation on Saturday. Discusses the position of Lacaille's Observatory. Has obtained an old plan of the area.
In his travels, GP met James Stewart (Margaret Herschel's brother); gives GP's assessment of James Stewart. Comments on JH's intended voyage to the Cape, and wishes him well.
Concerning Capt. Basil Hall. GA is going to live at Florence as Director of the Florence Observatory.
Asks about JH's children. Remarks that JH's discovery of globular clusters in the Scorpion is not what she remembered William Herschel being mystified about; remembers that WH exclaimed that there seemed to be a 'Loch im Himmel' ('hole in heaven') there.
Approached Col. R. Thom[p]son on the subject of some rockets, and he advises an official letter to the Officer of Ordnance. Is inclined to use gunpowder instead if JH is agreeable. Hopes Lady Herschel and the new infant are progressing.
Regarding his machine. Suggested modifications for it. Recent meeting of the B.A.A.S. Political events.
Is greatly exercised over the passing of the Vagrants Act, which JP believes is intended to, and will, discriminate against the blacks.