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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 making arrangements for the christening [see JH's 1830-4-15]; concerned that it should be done soon.
Sending a list of the stars to be observed to test the strength of his telescope.
Tells AQ of 'negligent inattention' regarding Belgium's instruments. Has extracted promise from [William?] Simms that the equatorial should be finished by Christmas and mural circle within the following year. Mentions seeing Colonel Blake and [G. P.] Dandelin. Regrets [P. F.] Verhulst's illness. Discusses lichen.
Reports on good health and behavior of JH's new daughter, Caroline Emilia Herschel. Comments on Greek music and on recent results of the R.S.L. Glass Committee.
Has read his book on the decline of science and thinks that the book may do some good. Comments on various parts, and outlines things that could happen as the result. Has replied to Encke's letter about Ephemeris.
Is reluctant to sign any certificates for memberships in the R.S.L. just now [does not explain reason].
Thanks TH for some crystals, including borax, as well as a paper by J. J. Lister. JH has been cutting the borax crystals preparatory to grinding and polishing them; JH has used these crystals to observe a phenomenon previously seen with a mass of niter.
About the prices of telescope mirrors, and specifically the one of T. J. Hussey; recommends use of certain stars to test the optical quality of the mirror.
Thanks WS for excerpt from Niccolo Cacciatore's letter; comments on the awarding of medals for merit, and points out some necessary conditions which must be considered if the observations of the satellites of Jupiter are to be used in determining the constant of aberration.
Arrangements for R.S.L. annual banquet. Lord High Admiral may attend.
Received Thomas Young's portrait. Will send summary to Hudson Gurney soon. Suggests correction in proposed title.
F. G. W. Struve will arrive in July. Before HK and wife leave for Continent next week, please leave directions how Struve may obtain Struve's scale.
Is defending a change in notation for the angles of position system that JH introduced in a paper. [Postscript dated 1830-7-7 marked 'Private' and deals with business relating to the Athenaeum and a comment on Charles Babbage's book.]
Will bring her manuscript [Mechanism of the Heavens]. Apologizes for holding it so long. Critiques various passages concerning permanent rotation and equations of stability. Sends condolences on Dr. Somerville's loss.
Submits JH's manuscript on Thomas Young's mathematical works for HG's biography of Young. Notes their excessive obscurity. Reasons for insisting that JH's name be added no longer exist. Asks HG's votes for two candidates for Athenaeum.
Provides HG [who was writing a biography of Thomas Young] with a detailed evaluation of Young's contributions to physical science, e.g., Young's development of the principle of interference in optics.
Some comments about the [Vignette] together with its return.
Declines to write the Bridgewater Treatise on astronomy; also declines to comment on a paper due to lack of time and difficulty with the author.
Been working on a new mirror for the 20-ft. telescope; very pleased with its performance. Asks CH to distribute his fourth catalog of double stars among the Prussian and German astronomers.
Is hesitating about a decision to come in to London, because his mother seems very ill.