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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.
Instruct all daughters to date letters to JH. Loss of dear friend [Miss Maria Tunno?] leaves JH with no desire but to come home and be with family. Send carriage to railway station on chance that JH can get away from work tonight.
Visit to Collingwood lifted JH's spirits. Finances for Mrs. Rennie. Received copy of [William?] Platt's latest work from Miss Lipscombe. Sends condolences to Miss E. Tunno. Hopes loss will set young gentlemen thinking about 'brainless ardours.' Returns books to Collingwood.
News of friends and of daughter Caroline; is sending out letters, papers, money, and JH's 'likeness.'
Comments on the weather, daughter Margaret Louisa's sunny disposition, what magazine to send son Willy, and JH's shortage of shirts.
Asks for personal linen to be sent; comments on a letter from daughter Margaret Louisa in Paris, and on the French and Americans generally.
A shipment of special china for MH has arrived from Paris; some news about daughter Caroline, and several stories JH heard at a literary society meeting.
Comments on the Crimean War and the reports of Russian successes against Turkey; JH gives his opinion that England is more American than it is European.
Comments on son John and daughter Caroline; wants some material to deal with a possible infringement of W. H. Fox Talbot's patent.
Comments on, and forwards, a letter from son Willy; also talks about the departure of a servant [?], the health of Uncle James [James Calder Stewart], and daughter Caroline's situation.
About the death of a cousin and attendant funeral arrangements, the status of family finances, and some preparations for Christmas.
A close friend has died and JH is concerned in the arrangements for supporting the remaining family member; JH has submitted various papers for son John [to enter the Navy?]; JH dreams of himself at home.
Mostly about sick people—their daughter Caroline, Fanny Bailey, and James Adam Gordon; son John passed his entrance examination [to the Navy?], and JH is still worried about the financial arrangements [see JH's 1853-11-29].
Visited JH at Mint today. Notes JH's health and recovery. JH reminisced of childhood episodes with William Herschel.
About the school progress of sons John and Alexander; JH is in a very depressed state, looks at his current life [at the Mint?] with 'loathing,' and cannot imagine surviving it for more than a few months.
About the health of JH's servant [?], Knowles.
Directions for sending mail to son Willy [in India?]; about daughter Margaret Louisa's health, the family bills, some stories about people JH met at a dinner, and finally, JH's despair about his work.
Very depressed and concerned about the family finances, both short and long term.
Has recovered from his depression [see JH's 1854-2-1]; sees a possibility of a new position as a Civil Service appointment examiner.
JH feels harassed by life and finds solace in MH's letters; thinks electricity could operate the Jacquard loom and the pianoforte. Argues against a recent book [William Whewell's Of the Plurality of Worlds], which claims the earth is the only inhabited body in the universe.
The effect of the Crimean War on the Mint, and on the family, for example, daughter Caroline will want to follow her husband as close to the war area as possible [see JH's 1854-2-15].