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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.
Acknowledges Lady Herschel's two notes and will communicate with her in the morning. Encloses the note of Mrs. Smyth [wife of W. H. Smyth?]. Hears that Dr. [John] Lee has been contesting Aylesbury, without success. Estimates for stable have been cut out.
Last night was a splendid night for observing. Will be pleased to place the barometer at Captain Richard Wolfe's disposal. Eclipse was interesting. Will call if he goes to Simon's Bay.
Has received some papers and newspapers. Four parcels are on their way to JH via H.M.S. Rattlesnake. Encloses a letter from William Wallace regarding the Edinburgh Observatory.
Sends his two mountain barometers; comments on them. Method of interpolating the clock errors graphically answers well.
Captain John Stevens was at the Observatory yesterday and wishes to superintend the tidal observations himself. TM intends to make the observations personally, or with the assistance of T. W. Bowler. The lunar eclipse was uninteresting. Has had copies of G. B. Airy's papers; they are excellent.
Has received the box from H.M.S. Rattlesnake and lists the parcels for JH. T. W. Bowler commenced the tidal observations yesterday. Outlines the method used. Was beset by dogs on the way home. Expects to hear from the first ship of an Assistant.
Encloses a copy of the hourly observations. Comments on the tides of Table Bay.
Sent the barometric readings with Mr. Curnan's paper. Comments on the tidal observations. Send the tide book. William Lamb (2nd Viscount Melbourne) is reinstated.
Urges JH to observe Ceres. Describes TM's observations of it.
Will be obliged for the Tide Observations book of Table Bay. Intends to enter into an agreement with the Tide Master.
Sends the Tide observations made in Table Bay. These are now at a standstill due to the expense involved. Tomorrow he intends to engage the Tide Master. Do they wind up with a dinner?
Only made two copies of the Tide Observations, one for the Observatory and one to be forwarded to the Admiralty. Is engaged instrumentally with the transit instrument. Has engaged a new carpenter for the observatory.
Sorry to have forgotten the curves; now encloses them. A. Walter has been here and brought the scrap he now encloses. Walter's tidal observations have been useless so far.
Will long remember the triumphant meeting last night. Has heard nothing from England. Hopes C. P. Smyth may have come in the Romney, which arrived in Simon's Bay last evening. The traversing floor for the reflector will be finished tomorrow. Has been told that JH foretells that Halley's Comet will not be visible.
Has been observing since 3 a.m. and his fingers are powerless with the cold. Observed a star group, which may be Halley's Comet. Comments on the working of his telescope. Has JH placed his 20-ft. telescope in position for the Blueberg Mountains?
Sorry to hear he had such wretched weather for their jaunt. The violent winds overturned his 14-ft. reflector and split the tube. Has obtained a capital tent for the Cape. No news from England. Commences the solar observations tomorrow, if fine.
Received a newspaper from England, which gave news of a comet. A ship entered Table Bay in the night; she may be from England.
Is grateful for J. F. Encke's letter. JH's suggestion of the 14-ft. reflector was anticipated for Halley's Comet. Wishes that JH's aunt could visit the Cape.
Sending a copy of the memorandum he made of the first mirage he has ever seen. Describes various points. Much obliged for J. F. Encke's Ephemeris; his writing reminds TM of Isaac Newton.
On the evening on which JH was at the Observatory, he believes he observed Encke's Comet; gives details. Searched this morning for Halley's Comet, without success. Rejoices to hear that G. B. Airy has been secured for the public service. No news from England.