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.
Has presented the draft of the report to [T. R.] Robinson, [Charles] Wheatstone, and [J. F.] Daniell. Points out mistakes in the report. Remarks that the dipping needle has greatly improved over the years, thus increasing instrumental accuracy. Encloses Humphrey Lloyd's contribution to the report.
States he has received the list of instruments and their prices sent by JH.
Encloses a letter from Humphrey Lloyd. Anticipates Lloyd's arrival. Worries he will not be ready with the necessary forms before James Ross sets sail. Includes many calculations.
Reports that the ships to be used for James Ross's voyage will not be available for a week and that Humphrey Lloyd is busy preparing instructions. Proposes that the ships receive their own sets of instruments.
Accepts JH's dinner invitation, regretting that James Ross is unable to attend. Encloses a letter from Humphrey Lloyd.
Asks JH whether he presented to the Council of the R.S.L. the resolution of the Meteorological Committee regarding references made by the 'Colonial Office, Trinity[?] Board, etc.'
Supports JH's idea of having one simultaneous observation each day. Suggests that there might be two a day. Has suggested to Humphrey Lloyd that hourly observations take place once a fortnight. Says Lloyd wishes to speak about supplies.
Explains that the purpose of his trip with Humphrey Lloyd is to 'establish the cooperation of the continental magnetic observatories.' Desires that the trip be authorized by the R.S.L.
Encloses a letter from Humphrey Lloyd. Sees no problem in adding an officer to the staff of each observatory, if necessary. Remarks on a cheap but fragile magnetometer.
Is grieved by the R.S.L. report, which supports a 'voyage of Discovery to the Antarctic' rather than 'research in Physical Sciences in the Southern Hemisphere.' Speaks of the discoveries made by expeditions to the Antarctic, including great changes in magnetic variations.
Admiralty is dissatisfied at still being responsible for the Van Diemen's Land Observatory. Suggests responsibility be shifted to the Ordinance. Treasury will no longer finance the building of observatories when other buildings are available. Describes new procedures whereby officers observing in the colonies must present colonial governors with proper letters upon request.
Anticipates Humphrey Lloyd's arrival at London this night. Announces that the pendulum experiments are finished. Interested in inspecting the magnetic instruments in preparation for the Antarctic journey. Plans JH's visit.
Disappointed not to have received a response from JH to his invitation for a visit. Goes ahead with plans.
[A. T.] Kupffer, [Humphrey] Lloyd, and ES will meet [C. F.] Gauss at later date. Desires cooperation with Russia. Birmingham good for B.A.A.S., but the meeting lacks distinguished scientists.
Announces Charles Riddell's departure for Canada and his own trip schedule in Germany. Has read JH's report. Informs JH that ES has been made a member of the Committee. Glad that [Vernon] Harcourt's speech covered magnetic observatories. Eager to promote the public image of the fixed observatories. The translation committee was reappointed and includes JH, but ES will spare JH any work.
Recommends that a fellow scientist be properly cited in the R.S.L. report for his method of measuring the depth of the ocean. Encloses observations.
Reports meetings of ES and Humphrey Lloyd with scientists in Berlin and Göttingen. Alexander von Humboldt requests information from JH about southern hemisphere. Humboldt and Gauss are pleased by British respect for their work. ES will visit JH in Slough next week. Wants to see magnetic observations made by Navy lieutenant who accompanied Sir John Franklin to Van Diemen's Land.
Speaks of arrangements for magnetic observatories in India, in the Himalayas, and at Bombay. Discusses the locations and buildings of the sites. Wishes to add Singapore as an observatory station.
Americans plan to investigate laws of North American storms. U.S. government should apply to British if cooperation is desired. Thanks JH for letter recommending ES for royal medal. Hopes someone will work on scientific data collected by different governments.
Encloses a letter from Alexander von Humboldt to Lord Minto endorsing the idea of an international magnetic survey. Stresses the value of the letter.