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.
A letter of introduction for a Mr. Thomson, who intends to go to South America and establish schools, and wishes to talk to GA about university education.
Death of James Grahame's relative. Explored volcanoes in Vivarais Mountains. Describes Mont Blanc at sunset. Regrets bypassing St. Bernard. Expects to reach London by 13 Oct.
Plans leisure sightseeing in Paris. Visited Louvre. [P.S. 7 Oct.:] Called on Alexis Bouvard yesterday. Met W. H. Wollaston, returning from Tyrol. Wrote to Caroline Herschel from Montpellier. Will view A. M. Ampère's electrical experiments today.
JG urges JH to marry. JG has begun to write history again.
The Lucasian Professorship will shortly become vacant. Hopes JH will become a candidate for this chair, once occupied by Newton.
Previous engagement prevents WW witnessing experiment of A. M. Ampère tomorrow. Waits for JH's report. Hopes to see JH at [Georges] Cuvier's tomorrow.
Learned of vacancy in Lucasian Professorship at Cambridge. Wrote to [T. W.] Hornbuckle explaining why JH declines. Asks JW's support for Charles Babbage.
Declines being considered for the Lucasian professorship at Cambridge, stating his convictions 'that I shall do more for science as an independent amateur than as a Professor of any particular branch or department of it.' Proposes Charles Babbage as candidate. [Also includes draft of letter to George Peacock requesting his support for Babbage.]
Tells JH that the Lucasian Professorship has become available. Believes most Cambridge people favor JH. Urges JH to write the electors, i.e., the heads of the Cambridge colleges.
Wanted [JH] to become Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, but electors favor one of Heads. This will also operate against Charles Babbage.
Declines to become a candidate for the Lucasian professorship. Explains his reasons. Has written in support of Charles Babbage. Thanks WW for seeing JH's 'Light' through the press. Describes JH's travels on the continent, including his 'geologising.'
Still concerned about possible changes to GP's memoir [see GP's 1826-1-28] due to the work of P. S. Laplace. Comments on illness [?] of F. X. von Zach.
Shares some gossip, and asks advice about a dedication for JG's book.