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.
Expressing his gratitude for the kindness received from JH while staying in England. Thanks for the Memoir he has received.
Describes plan to carry out pendulum experiments with G. B. Airy. Asks JH for help in borrowing instruments from the R.S.L.
Asking for introductions to certain men of science in Paris. Revision of his views on his figure of the earth, and casting doubt on Edward Sabine's pendulum observations.
Preparing to give a lecture at the R.S.L., and writes seeking some information. Comments on some work of G. A. Plana and P. S. Laplace. [Much of this letter is illegible.]
Remarks on FB's address on astronomy [fragment only].
About JG's health, the need for JH to marry, and plans for the summer.
Writes to urge GA to avail himself of the opportunity of working with Basil Hall in swinging the pendulum at Greenwich; concludes with a note for William Whewell about JH's view of the 'extremely irregular' figure of the earth.
Sending his paper on the 'Figure of the Earth.' Description of work at Greenwich Observatory. Remarks on projected expedition to Falmouth and Ashbourne.
As MF will be unable to attend the next meeting of the Glass Committee, he sends JH the analysis of the glass produced in one experiment, emphasizing its consistency and high quality.
Sent to CH a copy of James South's second paper on double stars and a synoptic catalog of them. Calls CH one of the first discoverers of the 'comet of 1795.' Sent to Astronomical Society a report on 300 new double stars.
Asks questions about the prospectus [see JE's 1826-3-2] prepared by the Berlin Royal Academy for a map of the heavens. Asks JE to send JH a copy of [K. L.] Harding's star atlas.
Sent medal to WS. Tells WS it was awarded to WS and [James] South. Speaks of [Francis] Baily's medal presentation speech. Lists books sent to WS.
Declines an invitation of JH's, being 'engaged sixteenfold' that day. Invites JH to a party another day.
Offers to participate in determining stellar parallaxes by finding the angle position of double stars. Apprises Henry Kater that he has never seen Saturn's rings separated. Includes micrometer measurements of Saturn and Jupiter.
Invites HK to dinner Saturday to meet James South and Alexis Bouvard.
Has a micrometer under construction and gives details. Pietro Prandi has published a second memoir on mercury covered with sulfuric acid.
[Responding to WT's 1826-3-24], JH concurs with P. S. Laplace's view about the advantage of astronomical observation from high elevations, e.g., from mountains. Comments on telescope prices, a paper by WT, Florence, and JH's plan to visit the Continent.
Encloses a letter from Dr. John Brinkley. Please send on his manuscript catalogue of nebulae. Regarding the reading and printing of CB's paper at the Analytical. Site for his pendulum experiments.
Sending a paper for the R.S.L. Humphry Davy does not approve entirely of his arguments. Would be pleased if JH would glance over it and then inform Davy that he has it.
Has read his paper on vaporization with much interest and can see no objections to its arguments. Comments on some of the details.