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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.
On what is to happen at the expiration of a three year period assigned for the undertaking of certain magnetic observations.
Comments on the operational and organizational details of the magnetic and meteorological observatories, and on the supervisory committee's [the Physical Committee of the R.S.L.] responsibilities.
Insists on inclusion of all data and graphs in the publication of the accumulated magnetic observations, made as part of 'perhaps the very greatest scientific operation ... ever ... undertaken....' Urges that funding be sought from the government.
Advice for standardizing observations, to be given to the Physical Committee of the R.S.L.
Provides examples to justify governmental support of various magnetic and meteorological observations. States that 'Terrestrial magnetism ... of all sciences of observation holds out the greatest present prospect of decisive reduction under ... exact theory.' Mentions work by N. L. Lacaille and Thomas Maclear at the Cape.
Encloses letter on and discusses extent of government aid for proposed Hammerfest magnetic observatory and various alternatives with regard to it.
Encloses [G. B.] Airy's letter, which he thinks should accompany [Humphrey] Lloyd's reply regarding magnetism. Thinks all Physical Committee members must be made aware of new developments.
Discusses term and extra magnetic observations with regard to [Humphrey] Lloyd's letter. Would prefer to keep them separate, but feels no harm will come from keeping them together.
JH's reasons for requesting three-year extension of magnetic and meteorological survey from British government and H.E.I.C. Preliminary results from global stations.
Clarifies role and methods of R.S.L. Council and scientific committees, suggesting that members of Physical Committee need to be better informed about its activities.
Agrees with suggestions made by ES concerning the publication of meteorological observations.
Discusses time intervals for [magnetic] observation. Sorry a change was ever contemplated. Asks that his opinion be sent to [Humphrey] Lloyd and that ES make the final decision on how to proceed.
Wishes ES had expressed opinion on requesting government money to maintain 'establishment' at R.S.L. committee meeting.
Wollaston Fund should be reserved for furtherance of private individual research, not for vast public projects. Prefers to ask assistance from secretary for Colonies.
Believes that rather than asking the government for more money to continue making magnetic observations, the six years of observations should be studied to see if further observations can be justified.
Having been assured by ES that the government might receive a request for more money for magnetic observations, JH retreats from his earlier position [see JH's 1844-7-17], and is willing to accept the possibility of a magnetic conference, which JH does not want to lead in any way. JH believes his scientific life is almost over and he has much to do.
Responds to ES's request for JH's remarks on the mode of registering and printing the actinometer observations.
Will write to Court of Directors to ask H.E.I.C. to publish observations from Indian observatories. Needs to know where observations are stored, whether Humphrey Lloyd has reduced them, ES's reasons for making this request, best method for preparing data, and probable expense. Must go to Slough tomorrow to do business with former tenant.
[Charles] Lyell, [Roderick] Murchison, and JH will speak at B.A.A.S. [T. R.] Robinson should be notified that he will not need to speak at the meeting. Sees few advantages to combining all existing scientific societies into one.
Has discovered a flaw in the theory of actinometer observations. Realizes that JH's actinometer observations at the Cape may be useless and that observations made at Government and East India observatories should be suspended.