JH will be presented with the Gold Medal of the Astronomical Society of London.
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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.
JH will be presented with the Gold Medal of the Astronomical Society of London.
Thanks JH for award and dinner invitation given to him by Astronomical Society.
Wishing to maintain good opinion of public, JH cautiously recommends that a certain passage be omitted from a monthly notice in the Nautical Almanac.
Asks JH to join Sir James South in recommending that WS succeed John Pond as superintendent of the Nautical Almanac. [Marked 'Confidential'.]
Is disturbed by a suggestion of how JH should behave with respect to the Duke of Sussex.
Writes a second letter to clarify the first [see JH's 1831-3-3] about a matter involving the Greenwich Observatory and the Astronomical Society.
Refuses to write letter recommending WS as superintendent of Nautical Almanac. Lists reasons, among them that he will try to attend the meeting of [Board of Visitors] personally.
Discusses confusion with regard to possible separation of Nautical Almanac from Astronomer Royal and ensuing confusion regarding who will succeed John Pond as superintendent of Nautical Almanac. Asks JH to send letter recommending WS to the Duke.
Believes that if position of Astronomer Royal should become vacant, G. B. Airy would be interested; JH would gladly support such a candidacy.
Appreciates JH's candid reply. Explains his reasons for requesting a recommendation, but understands that JH might not give it.
Offers to smooth the way for WS in communicating with the various astronomers on the Continent whom JH knows.
Comments on a number of astronomical matters including double stars, awarding of medals, and on the elements of [Halley's] comet.
JH, in preparing to leave Cape, thanks WS for having sent Nautical Almanacs to him there. Discusses motions of a comet appearing to move whimsically, the periodical star alpha Hydrae, other stars, and the re-discovery of Saturn's sixth satellite.
Expresses the ill Francis Baily's appreciation for JH's letter. Writes of suffering of Baily and distress of Miss Baily [his sister].
Updates JH on declining health of Francis Baily, reporting Baily realizes he has few days to live but remains calm.
Apologizes for not having informed JH of Francis Baily's further declining health. Praises Miss Baily's character and devotion to her brother.
Reports on the dying Francis Baily's increasing weakness, calm acceptance of death, gratitude for friends, and freedom from pain.
Attests that the dying Francis Baily remains alive and free from pain.
The dying Francis Baily, although unable to sit up, has calmly survived another day.
The dying Francis Baily remains alive, 'sustained by the amazing quantity of food he takes.'