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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.
Was not certain how to reply to his last obliging letter. Has resolved to write to Professor [J. P.?] Müller. Thought it right to inform JH of his plans.
Anthony Oliphant has died. The plan to establish a system of meteorological observations at the Cape Colony and in Caffreland has failed.
Discusses Charles Riddell's desire to serve at a North American observatory and the expenses involved.
Apologizes for his long silence. Outlines recent events at the Cape concerning Andries Stockenström, who has been replaced by J. Hare, and Major C. C. Michell, who has resigned. J. R. Innes has been all over the Colony and will shortly be coming to England. F. M. Eardley-Wilmot has dined with the Napiers.
Discusses glass manufacturing.
Sends JH a pamphlet about meteorological observations in India.
Would like JH's account of his own method of fixing a photograph as noted in his memoir. Singular phenomenon of the Daguerreotype. Hopes to produce a photographic paper to equal the silver plate before the month has expired. Will let him know when his process is complete.
Suggests a book of expenses be kept at the R.S.L.
Describes additional measurement of annual parallax.
Should think that the R.A.S. would be pleased to receive the 5-ft. telescope. Regarding the printing of Thomas Maclear's paper. H. C. Schumacher has sent a paper by Wilhelm Olbers on the constellations.
Has received [Temple?] Cheval[l]ier's paper and JH's letter informing him of his valuable gift. G. B. Airy is anxious to have Thomas Maclear's paper printed in the Memoirs as soon as possible without waiting for the government.
Discusses plans for a U.S. magnetic observatory and of [Karl] Kreil's paper about predicting earthquakes. Discusses the affairs of other observatories.
Is grateful for the handsome manner in which JH has acknowledged RH's work. Would be willing to prepare a memoir for the R.S.L. Does Louis Daguerre's patent affect RH's manufacture of photographic papers? Has not studied the bromnets so far, but has studied the effects of bromine on plates. Comments on his results.
Has received materials from [A. D.] Bache indicating that the U.S. government has proposed to establish 5 magnetic observatories.
Hopes [Humphrey] Lloyd will reconsider V.F. Magnetometer based on JH's remarks. Discusses Canadian observatories. States who will perform U. S. magnetic survey. Discusses micrometer use.
When the case containing the stand of the telescope was opened it was found to contain a number of books. Were these intended for the R.A.S. or should they be returned to JH?
Asks JH's advice in establishing new astronomical, meteorological, and magnetic observatory at Harvard University. Describes instruments already owned and those ordered from Europe.
Writes of a magnetic survey of a portion of India and the inaccuracy of the equipment used in magnetic observations at sea.
Waxes lyrical about nature, and comments on a new 'positive' paper JH has sent. Refers to JH's move to Hawkhurst.