Plans to arrive tomorrow for visit.
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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.
Plans to arrive tomorrow for visit.
Takes a lively interest in his application for a professorship at Durham. Remembers him gratefully as his coach for mathematics while at Cambridge.
Recommends WS pay attention to planetary nebulae, solid clusters, and double stars in his observations. JH lists some of each.
Wants WS to make a choice between the several skeleton forms JH has devised for recording astronomical observations. Also comments on orbit of Gamma Virginis and 30 Scorpii, as well as Encke's Comet.
Expresses thanks for extract on cholera. Sends a copy of a paper on double stars. Hopes soon to be able to send supplement on double star orbits.
Surprised that HG misinterpreted JH's comments to suggest disrespect for Thomas Young. Will not defend them. If HG does not want to include these in Young's biography, then return manuscript to JH and destroy all copies of it.
Brings FF up-to-date on astronomical news in England, and suggests that JH may come to the Cape.
Sorrow of Mrs. Stewart [at death of Isabella]. JH has not seen much of Captain [John] Franklin, who arrived ill. JH's contest with Duke of Sussex for presidency of R.S.L. JS's invitation to visit India has rekindled JH's desire to study southern skies. Wanted once to move to Paramatta. Is considering Cape of Good Hope, and possibly visiting India to view Himalaya mountains. Will send copies of JH's Prelim. Discourse. Answers JS's questions about Babbage's Engine.
Sends to CH his new book, Prelim. Discourse. Writes that he 'took little part in the proceedings about the Royal Society. Under any circumstances I would not have held the office of President more than a year and should have felt it a grievous evil to have held it at all.'
Gives permission for publication of JH's paper ['On the Astronomical Causes Which May Influence Geological Phenomena'] in Geological Society's Transactions. Mentions report of a giant fossil found in United States.
An extensive discussion of the best way of presenting the results produced from the observations made at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, together with comments about the duties and responsibilities of the Astronomer Royal.
Provides FB, Chairman of the Greenwich Visitation Committee, with detailed recommendations for the preparation of catalogues coming out of the Greenwich observations.
Thanks WW for sending Richard Jones's new book and comments on it. Comments on WW's 'Science of the English Universities' and WW's review of Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology. Has heard that WW is reviewing JH's Prelim. Discourse.
Praises and comments on RJ's book on economics [Essay on the Distribution of Wealth]. Laments overly strong language used by William Fitton and Charles Babbage in criticizing R.S.L. Comments on JH having lost the election for R.S.L. presidency.
Received HG's memoir of Thomas Young. JH's manuscript must be destroyed and all printer type taken down. Any deeper critique of Young's writings would be improper and would only become stronger, further hurting Mrs. Young's feelings.
Would prefer not to write a popular account of William Herschel and his work which DL has requested; JH has always intended to produce a major volume on the life and work of his father.
More on the observations and publication of results of the Greenwich Observatory [see JH's 1831-2-10].
Is writing to inquire about the copyright status of some earlier writings for the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana; JH is considering collecting some of these early writings, together with others, for a separate publication.
JH writes to excuse himself from a meeting the following day at which Charles Babbage's calculating engine will be discussed.
Requests the return of his manuscript paper on double stars so that he may prepare his presentation to the next meeting of the Astronomical Society.