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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.
Further observations on David Brewster's experiments. On heliometers. Observations on suggestions for Standards.
Wishes JH would lay hands on the memorandum concerning the Zenith observatory on Etna. Explains why JH's theories regarding a point in gunnery do not work in actual practice. Queries the measurement given by JH for the height of Etna.
Consults JH before responding to Wilhelm Weber's proposal for publication of observations. ES proposes to publish German data with data from Toronto, St. Helena, the Cape, and Van Diemen's Land. The Physical Committee of the R.S.L. suggests strengthening Adolphe Quetelet's application to the Belgian government for magnetic observations. The Hammerfest [Norway] magnetic curve does not harmonize with European ones.
Took the chair at a meeting of the Committee for Physics at the R.S.L. Is to bring the matter before Council, who in turn will request the Master of Ordnance to publish the observations. Material from each observatory will require about half of a quarto volume.
Regarding the correct figure for the height of Etna, W. H. Smyth favors the half foot measurement. Regarding falls of stones from Vesuvius. Encloses calculations made by professor at Naval College. Remembers large balls of lava at Teneriffe.
Council of the R.A.S. will have to consider claims for the medal award at its next meeting. Has JH anyone in mind so that his claims may be considered.
On the possibility of obtaining a heliometer from Munich.
Has sent his communication on the comet to various observatories and the Times. Will consider candidates for medals at the next council meeting.
Has JH any special instructions for [Louis] Agassiz's actinometers? Has sent Wilhelm Weber recent data for Toronto and St. Helena observatories while requesting Göttingen lunar observations. Discusses publication of the German Magnetic Association. Seeks advice on the inclusion of a translation of JH's paper on photometric apparatus. Has left at the R.S.L. a copy of C. F. Gauss's and Weber's magnetic atlas.
Has not heard from Dr. Ferguson. Quotes what TY can recall of Latin maxim.
John Murray transmitted JH's note regarding his review of William Whewell's book. Wonders if this letter has been acknowledged. Would like the paper as soon as possible.
Cannot remember all four lines of Latin maxim. Will ask Dr. Ferguson for correct version.
Wishes he had communicated direct with JH regarding his article on William Whewell's History of the Inductive Sciences. Could not put it in the present number, but if any part of the article has been written please send it to their printer.
Arrived in Zwartland in September. Surveyed grounds; measured baselines. Will be absent from observatory until Zwartland work finished.
Writes about HP's observations relating to the 'Law of Storms.'
Thanks JH for letter introducing Mr. Burnet at the Cape. The Hudson Bay Company is recording the temperature of the subsoil at JR's request. Sends some findings, which he will publish.
It was a quiet meeting at the R.A.S. Medals have been appropriated by the R.S.L. Presumes he has had notice of the next visitation. Will be pleased to see him when in town. A new comet is to be seen.
Council of the R.S.L. has awarded JH the Royal Medal for his research on the solar spectrum. Hopes to have a communication from him soon.
Has received papers from Colonel Sykes. Describes (and includes a portion of) Lieutenant [Henry] Yule's report on broken instruments, which have prevented operations at Aden [?]. Suggests appointing a director there. Notes safe arrival of instruments at Toronto.
Will communicate JH's remarks concerning the Royal Medal to the R.S.L. council. Regarding the constitution of the Board of Visitors. He is now printing the star catalogues of Edmund Halley, Tycho Brahe, etc.