Discusses plans for a visit to JH and Lady Herschel.
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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.
Discusses plans for a visit to JH and Lady Herschel.
B.A.A.S. appointed Committee to explore astronomical and meteorological possibilities in India. Considers [G. G.] Stokes's recommendation among the best. Suggests meteorological experiments.
Comments on Charles Babbage's entry into Cambridge; strange stories from old letters.
Returns his letter. Recommends a biographical dictionary by Charles Hale. Paradoxes connected with theology are endless.
Further recommendations regarding useful equipment and observations to be made in India [see JH's 1866-8-11]. Agrees that meteorological experiments there are desirable. Offers JH's son John's experience of India to ES.
Thanks him for papers he sent. Has finished her last work. Disappointed that science is often devoted to war and weaponry.
Giving news of the health of his brother, who will shortly be moving to St. Leonard's for health reasons.
Has been travelling around lecturing on geology since he left the London Polytechnic in 1861. Wishes that someone like JH would consider geological features from a dynamical point of view.
Has been asked to serve on a new Commission on Weights and Measures; indications are that the metric system is being recommended to the Indian government.
Is glad JH is going to assist with the Standards. Outlines his scheme for the Standards.
Will be pleased to come on Friday and receive Sir John's counsel.
Wants JH's opinion on the question of maintaining observatories at Bombay and Madras.
Outlining phenomena in the refraction of light. Has been experimenting with wide angle lenses for cameras and gives some of their defects. Would like JH's opinion on how to get rid of the 'secondary focus.'
Thanks JC for sending a batch of JC's photographs; praises them. Does not know the author of 'Man & His Dwelling' or of 'Ecce Homo.' Dislikes the latter.
JH responds with an assessment of the Indian observatories [see GA's 1866-9-24].
Comments on the work of the Commission on Weights and Measures as outlined by GA [see GA's 1866-9-13].
Tells a story of the translation of Arabic by Englishman who turned out to be Richard Baily, the brother of Francis. Where is it set forth that a leech is a barometer? What is the truth about the relations between Charles Babbage and James South? Has he a catalogue of Ulugh Beg?
Is sending another memorial for JH to sign.
Has received works on meteors. Has been working for years with [H. A.] Newton on getting help from observatories in southern hemisphere on meteors. Resumes work on Physique sociale.
Regarding the signing of a new document for CB's sister. Has been reading JH's paper on the sun. Wishes he would print a list of all his papers.