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.
William Parsons (3rd Earl of Rosse), Edward Sabine and a few members of the Philosophical Club are coming to JG's house on Monday, and it would give much pleasure if JH would join them.
Discovered a telescopic comet on the confines of Camelopardes [sic] and Cassiopeia. Sends observations.
Regrets that any letters of JH should have been neglected, but cannot undertake to open and read all letters addressed to him.
Can he recollect the origin of Table V in the Report of the Committee on Meteorology showing the elastic force of aqueous vapor? James Apjohn says JL calculated it but JL has no recollection. JL's mother is in a hopeless state.
Many years ago JH questioned him about the calculation of the perturbations in an inclined orbit, the satellites of Herschel [Uranus] for example. Has only recently seen the light. Is now confident that he can calculate the perturbations of any planet in any orbit. Gives details and would be glad of JH's comments.
Has just received his note. Will consider JH's views in regard to the new road.
Describes, in considerable detail, the arrangement of an [?] observatory.
Sending her last series of photographs. Comments on her photographic work.
Part of a love poem.
Family news.
Arrangements for the 12th suits him well, and looks forward to staying with him.
Would be very pleased to spend a day with him before his return.
Will be pleased to accompany him to the observatory on Thursday. Hopes that by then he and C. G. B. Daubeny will have recovered.
Unable to receive him on Wednesday; hopes he can manage Thursday.
Come at once.
Was delighted to receive news of the birth of JH's son. Has been suffering from headache herself.
Has delayed writing in order to assist JH's friend. Is sending the medal to his agent in London.
Cites six journal articles relating to chemical separation of titanium and iron. Sent report to Henry Kater.
Describes JH's 1826 rescue of a mountain guide caught in an avalanche on Monte Rosa.
Would like JH to come and have tea to discuss the idea of a fluid object glass, with which her husband is at present engrossed.