JH's illness. Accounts are not ready for JH's signature.
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's illness. Accounts are not ready for JH's signature.
Meeting of Cambridge University Commissioners for 6 Apr. is postponed to 20 Apr.
Wants to discuss three topics when JH has time to call on CT. [JH annotation: 'Pistrucci; Superannuation; Deficits in the Exchequer credit accounts.']
Asks JH to grant permission for WH's son and friends to tour Mint. Hopes business with Benedetto Pistrucci will be settled soon. [JH annotation: JH also wants Pistrucci business settled, but latest developments lead JH to expect anything but a satisfactory conclusion.]
Thanks for work recently sent and generally for astronomical discoveries. Sends two 'little works' for JH's inspection.
Asks JH questions about a paper on the dispersion of light from beyond the visible violet end of spectrum.
Informs BP that the Treasury has approved his pension request. JH declines to mention BP's refusal to accept a salary from the Treasury, a statement made in haste.
Call on CT today.
Intends to use JH's names for the satellites of Uranus in a communication unless JH has any objections.
Believes similarity of period of solar spots and that of terrestrial magnetic variation is more than coincidental.
Is grateful for his prompt reply to his request for friend to visit the Mint.
Ceases receiving coal supply to his office, an allowance made to BP for 35 years. Mint owes him four months' salary. Makes a reference to plight of G. B. Airy, who might be turned out of his residence at the Royal Observatory.
Discusses magnetic observations from Toronto and Hobarton from the 1840s. Attempting to determine when range of variation was greatest.
Discusses the political atmosphere in London and some family matters.
Thanks JH for JH's review of AH's Cosmos. Recommends E. H. DuBois-Reymond to JH's attention.
Replies to several queries about papers of JH. JH describes the accidental production of some interesting copper salt crystals.
Clarifies BP's 24 Jan. request for pension. Prefers to remain active with current salary and title. If required to leave Mint, BP will continue to execute dies for free, if compensated for loss of BP's home and studio. History of BP's contract with Mint.
Sends a note to JH that William Lassell [may use as a letter of introduction to the Governor of Malta]. FB hopes that Lassell will determine the longitude of Malta.
Sends a copy of RG's History of Physical Astronomy as a token of his admiration for JH's work.
Sent Treasury's retirement form to Benedetto Pistrucci, who returned it blank. Encloses copy of Pistrucci's reply.