Reports that JH has been looking at Halley's Comet 'every night.'
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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.
Reports that JH has been looking at Halley's Comet 'every night.'
Comments on the accusations made about himself before the Aborigines Committee.
Unable to send the Parramatta observations as the vessel is leaving too soon. Has just returned from a meeting to consider [William?] Ritchie's new optical glasses. George Dollond speaks well of them.
Speculates on extinction of species by natural (not miraculous) causes intermediate to Creator. JH's theory of shifting crust over Earth's surface and its subsequent transfer of pressure. Seeks geological primum mobile for volcanoes based on continual deposition and melting of strata. 'All records of former worlds must ultimately perish.'
Thanks CL for the gift of a new edition of CL's Principles of Geology. JH comments on a number of issues, in a very long letter, including the replacement of extinct species by other species, CL's solution of the problem of the variation of climate, and the evolution of language. JH speculates at length on the isothermal activity under the earth's crust that may result in volcanoes or the formation of new land masses, and describes a considerable number of geological examples that JH sees as supporting CL's ideas.
Having read John Burrow's book, JH proposes procedure for analyzing masses of data from [African] Expedition. Will volunteer to interpolate chronometer errors if TM will undertake computations.
About the principles whereby the nomenclature of the constellations might be reformed.
Would welcome changes in the nomenclature of the constellations. Hesitates to compute the observations of John Burrow.
When in Cape Town he heard there was a parcel, probably of books, for JH, so has arranged for it to be delivered. Has had newspapers, etc., from England but not a word about the comet's northern tour. Encloses a copy of Thomas Henderson's Cape Declinations.
Regarding the double star Gamma Virginis.
Comments concerning Francis Baily's book on John Flamsteed.
Thanks TM for the right ascension reductions. Saw the comet [Halley's] last night, but it was dimmer than before.
Problems observing Halley's Comet. Sends first batch of TM's reduction of Thomas Brisbane's stars. Does JH approve J. C. Adamson's and J. R. Innes's offer to help calculate and tabulate Expedition data? Francis Baily's proposal to rename constellations. Renegotiating price for repairs on equatorial. Describes dream resulting from reading Baily's life of John Flamsteed.
Has compared TM's observational measurements with those of the Brisbane catalogue, and finds TM's observations to be better; is working on a star photometer.
JH's observations of the comet [Halley's], together with comments on constellation nomenclature and stellar magnitudes.
Calculates the location of [Halley's] comet.
Observation of Halley's Comet. Sends servant to pick up information on star 'Constants.'
Just arrived home from the meeting (which was convened to arrange landing of articles from the Expedition) and found JH's note. Is unable to return to England yet for various reasons. Sure Capt. Frederick Warren will be pleased to take any message to England for JH.
Is too busy to use Carl Gauss's magnetometer. Viewing Halley's Comet has interrupted JH's sweeps. Reports that Gamma Virginis is a single star in both the 20-ft. reflector and 7-ft. equatorial.
Star within 20 seconds of the nucleus of the comet [Halley's].