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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.
Still holds opinion that RJ expressed last night, but would speak to Lord A. [Aberdeen?] soon if RJ does not hear from Lord A.
Retirement of H. D. Harness. Recommends W. H. Barton, comptroller since 1830, to become either new deputy-master or combination of comptroller and deputy-master. Repeats request to hire special clerk to assist Master. [JH annotation: No reply from Treasury.]
Postpones trip to Collingwood to dine with [Elizabeth] Baily on Thursday. Send coach to Cranbrook on Friday instead. Queen is going to Ireland. Annual revenue is good. Thick gloom and darkness over London today.
Has he heard the names of the coins decided on by the Commons when the Pound is decimalized? W. R. Hamilton has informed him that he has heard from JH. Is going to the seaside tomorrow.
Encloses draft of [JH's 1853-8] to commissioners of Treasury. Asks CT's permission to inform W. H. Barton of plan to merge offices of comptroller and deputy-master. Emphasizes need for special clerk to assist Master. New policy for signing Mint checks.
Thanks for AD's report on coinage [see JH's 1853-4-11], and for AD's puns.
Intends to send on Francis Baily's letters soon. Would like to see the coinage report.
Discusses salary for W. H. Barton in new combined office of deputy master and comptroller. Chancellor of Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone] may decide differently. Agrees that Master needs private secretary, but select one from among clerks already employed at Mint. Procedure for countersigning Mint checks.
R. L. Sheil led W. H. Barton to expect promotion to deputy-master, and Barton is not yet aware of Treasury plan to combine this office with duties of comptroller. Proposes giving Barton both salaries for performing both duties. Salaries for junior clerks.
[Marked 'Confidential.'] Considering heavy workload from Jan. 1852 to June 1853, JH suggests bonuses for junior clerks and Mint officers. Surprised to learn that Charles Elouis felt passed over for deputy-master position at Sydney branch mint.
Forwarded to Chancellor of Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone] JH's letter regarding retirement of H. D. Harness. Does not approve of departure, in JH's plan, from practice of fixed pay for public officers. Surprised by grieved tone of Henry Finch, who turned down earlier generous offer to remain in reorganized Mint.
Cannot come home on weekend. Will try next weekend if [W. H.] Barton's affair can be settled.
About the smoky atmosphere in London, and a letter from son Alexander about his chemical work.
Received order for immediate report on state of coinage in preparation for debate in House of Lords next week. No progress on W. H. Barton's case. Permissiveness in Treasury administration. News of Elizabeth Baily, John and Catherine Bell, and Mrs. Gordon. P.S.: Three-volume novel Adam Graeme at Mossgray [by Margaret Oliphant] is 'beautiful.' JH has read first two volumes.
Birthday greetings. Longs to be with MH. Comments on poet P. B. Shelley.
Procedures for separating gold from silver and iridium by subsidence. Encloses volume of experiments by Charles Hatchett.
JH may call on James Wilson this afternoon.
Is arranging a meeting to seal up and deposit one set of standards [see GA's 1853-6-21].
Error in CT's letter to Chancellor of Exchequer concerning record keeping in Mint. Repeats request to hire special clerk to assist Master.
Returns JH's book. Describes alloy of gold and silver. Copper-iridium alloy would work, but it would influence assays adversely. Procedure for separating gold and iridium.