Shares JH's doubts whether the Board of Longitude will fund the Teneriffe expedition, the importance of which he again stresses. Cannot personally cover the costs. Thanks JH for his support and praise.
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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.
Shares JH's doubts whether the Board of Longitude will fund the Teneriffe expedition, the importance of which he again stresses. Cannot personally cover the costs. Thanks JH for his support and praise.
Clarifies issues discussed in an earlier letter. Discusses whether the project of making meteorological observations will be feasible if the Board of Longitude does not offer financial support. Attempts to arrange a meeting with JH.
Encourages JH to bring ES's proposal for Teneriffe experiments before the R.S.L. Council.
Clarifies that the six artillery men are at ES's disposal but under JH's command. Agrees to oversee arrival of the rockets. If expenses are to be paid by the Department of Ordinance, a request must be made by the Secretary of the Board of Longitude. Agrees to keep a record of expenses, not including his time spent, which he considers 'public service.'
Reports on his meeting with Charles Bonne and their subsequent failure to see any signals the first night from either Mont Javoul or La Canche. Worries that the distances are too great for measurements so close to the sea. Speaks of similar measurements between Paris and Strasburg.
Reports his 'entire failure' with Charles Bonne to see signals from both La Canche and Mont Javoul on the same night. Tells of moving the telescopes to Tuniers on 1825-7-15. Speaks of similar experiments elsewhere, which also failed. Concludes that distance is not the only factor in distinguishing signals. Plans to visit JH on 1825-7-25.
Reports Charles Bonne's voyage to Mont Javoul and discovery that the rockets there had been sent off too early, accounting for the previous failures. Reports subsequent successes. Conveys his plans to arrive at Teneriffe.
An account of the rocket experiments and P. S. Laplace's letter will be left at the R.S.L. Finds in Laplace's letter encouragement for the corroboration regarding the measurement of latitudinal degrees. Dismisses Laplace's opinions that the climate of Spitzbergen is too unfavorable for experimentation and expounds on the many reasons to favor this town.
Thanks JH and Charles Babbage for their paper on the magnetic experiments. Asks to have 20 extra copies of the paper on the rocket experiments made when it is printed. Speaks of travel expenses. Mentions [T. F.] Colby's opinions regarding the Spitzbergen measurements.
Encloses a copy of a letter from the astronomer [George] Fisher, who strongly supports the practicability of work in Spitzbergen. Says the letter will be presented to the Council for its consideration in hopes that a special committee will be appointed. Urges JH to show the members the copy.
Claims 'it never entered [his] head' that an appointed committee would be influenced solely by the need to defend its decisions. Restates his opinion that the subject should be properly considered.
Urges JH to present to the B.A.A.S. a proposal regarding research in terrestrial magnetism.
Received JH's letter. Has been in Scotland working on magnetic observations. Eager to meet with JH at any time. Humphrey Lloyd has set up the three magnetic instruments, a 'great advance on Wilhelm Weber's investigations.'
Plans a meeting in London with JH, James Ross, Humphrey Lloyd, and himself. Says an earlier cost estimate was too low and worries that the government will not fund the 'special' magnetic project.
Writes to change the London meeting to Thursday to accommodate James Ross.
Humphrey Lloyd will attend the meeting [announced in ES 1838-10-24].
Speaks of translations being made of papers from Resultate [aus den Beobachtungen der Magnetische Vereins], some of which papers indirectly pertain to ES's simultaneous observations. Lists expenses.
Reports Francis Beaufort's response to providing needed equipment and funds [for the proposed magnetic survey]. James Ross has not yet arrived. Discusses publishing an article in the Resultate [aus den Beobachtungen der Magnetische Vereins].
Describes his meeting with Francis Beaufort and James Ross. Strongly urges that the Southern magnetic research begin in the spring. Speaks of efforts to have the expedition approved by the R.S.L., which is favored by the Board.
Writes of finding barometric data from some 1836 meteorological observations. Is sending two diagrams. Offers to help JH write a report for the R.S.L.