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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.
Has now succeeded in grinding his 20" speculum and it is ready for polishing. Would like to see the mounting of JH's telescope as it is not clear from the engraving.
Remembers taking him round the chemical works of Losh, Wilson and Bell, but is unable to give any news of the manuscript as Mr. Losh is away on the continent. Hopes he will visit them again in the future.
A. T. Kupffer proposes international meeting of authorities in terrestrial magnetism. ES suggests combining this with 1845 meeting of B.A.A.S. at Cambridge. Plans for publishing observations before Cambridge meeting.
Hopes to have the corrected copy of his father's History ready in about 10 days. If JH will give him the style and address of Dr. [Josiah?] Quincy he will send it direct.
Announces the discovery of a new comet by [Heinrich] D'Arrest, a university student. Wilhelm Struve has seen it.
Hoping to publish a register of examples of curves based on his own Septenary system of generating lines. Would JH be interested?
When his packet is ready for the Cape, forward it to him at the Admiralty and he will arrange for it to be sent. Congratulations on the new addition to the family. When next in town perhaps he would be interested in seeing the new object glass for the Cape, which William Simms is preparing.
Ship is ordered for Lt. Clark's excursion. Feels certain that Lord Stanley has consulted colonial governor.
JH is premature in concluding that international meeting of magnetic researchers would result in appeal to British government for funds to continue B.A.A.S. observatories beyond 1845. ES has not reviewed later observations [1842-43] and cannot judge whether observations have met original goals of R.S.L. and B.A.A.S. Agreement by Robert Peel and F. I. Brunnov on need for longer period of observations. Affirms value of JH's role in evaluating results of survey.
Has traced the comet notified in J. F. Encke's circular. Gives his readings for its position. Has compared the stars near it. Hopes JH's family are all well.
ES agreed to superintend publication of magnetic observations only because Humphrey Lloyd refused to do so any further. Format intended for each volume. Gratitude for JH's contributions to magnetic research. [P.S.: Provision of instruments to U.S. observers.]
Will send his letter to Thomas Maclear with one of his own. Agrees with him regarding the object glass, but feels that English artists should be encouraged.
As G. B. Airy is traveling in Ireland for his health, RM acknowledges receipt of JH's 1844-7-22, with a promise to deal with it as JH wishes.
Agrees to host congress at Cambridge to assess data from [magnetic and meteorological] observations. Suggests adding D. F. J. Arago to list. Will include this in GP's address to B.A.A.S at York. [JH annotation: List of five members.]
Approves the idea of a magnetic conference sponsored by the B.A.A.S. Assumes Edward Sabine will lead the way.
JM is traveling in Germany for some time and intends to end up at a scientific conference in Bremen. He encourages JH to try to attend that conference so they may become acquainted.
Does not believe that a magnetic congress held at this time would be productive or representative; a better job could be done by letter.
Will be in London and hopes to see JH. Thanks for his letter and the promise of sending his papers on light. Also wants information on [Louis] Daguerre's work.