Hopes to meet JH on 29 March.
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.
Hopes to meet JH on 29 March.
Will be pleased to visit them before they move from Tunbridge Wells. Comments on the Arabic names of stars.
About arrangements to visit JH at Collingwood.
Appreciates receiving the curious fossil, even though JH knows little of such matters.
Has just confirmed the Hawkhurst apportionment; comments on this. Encloses a copy of the notice.
Has only just received JH's parcel dispatched some six months ago, due to lack of transport during the winter months. JH's poem on the Old Telescope has been in great demand. Pass the enclosed to Miss Hamilton. Would like an autograph of JH for her album.
Received JH's constellation reform paper. Reports on triangulation at Zwartland and observations of possible variable stars. Obelisk at Feldhausen erected; relates controversies over the site.
Is gratified that JM is taking an interest in double stars. Comments on some of the observations and time of their orbits.
Is applying for vacant professorial chair in astronomy. Wants testimonial from JH in his support. Attached note of JH is negative in this regard.
Plans to calculate Gamma Virginis orbit. Received WS paper on astronomical observations. Suggests WS look for a house in Kent after learning plans to move near London.
Gives the parallaxes of a few southern stars obtained from his own mural circle. Has sent his memoir on Alpha Centauri to the R.A.S.
Would like to know the composition of the fluid in JH's actinometers.
Observations on double stars.
Instructions for preparing liquid for the actinometer. Describes 'very strange' experiments on the spectrum as well as an 'unusual' cloud formation.
Sends GA a spectrum photograph, and explains how JH obtained it.
Sends all his observations of Alpha Virginis. Has not done much to this recently. Regarding JH's observations of the fifth and sixth stars in Trapizio. Has informed James Challis of William Lassell's observations.
Sends JH samples of his calotypes. Off to Germany on a photographic expedition.
[JH's outline of letter] Compares Wilmot's actinometer observations with JH's. Acknowledges receipt of St. Helena specimens.
Impressed by accuracy of actinometer measurements made by JK, Joseph Dayman, and P. A. Scott from Feb. to Sept. 1841 at JK's observatory at Rossbank [Tasmania]. Suggests methods to improve readings and simplify reductions.
Returns photographs of spectrum, with observations on the results.