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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.
Acknowledges with pleasure JH's kind note. Owes much to JH's book in the chapter on experimental methods. JH will doubtless find Auguste Comte's book worth reading. Would like a note of any errors in JM's book.
Urges JH to study a temporary index made by William Herschel that contains observations about types of zodiacal light.
Wishes JH had added his name at the head of the list of subscribers. Thinks he is being too cautious. AJ is responsible for the whole of the work though it appears under two authors.
Has been able to obtain some deodar seeds from Ireland. Sends them, together with some seeds of the Himalayan cypress. Hopes they will prove a success.
Describes a particularly brilliant aurora, which JH observed from Collingwood on the night of 6 May.
Thanks JH for earlier letter. Discusses JH's work on chemical action of light, with which he is familiar. Sends some papers for JH's comments.
Has received observations of the comet from C. P. Smyth, which he may like to communicate to the R.A.S. Comments on the deplorable state of the Cape Town [?] Observatory.
Sends comet observations from W. S. Jacob. Obtains 'another excellent epoch of Gamma Virginis.'
Regarding Captain [Charles ?] Gray's letter. Robert Peel has written asking Francis Baily and W. H. Miller to do the 'Standards.'
Regarding FB's paper on the revision of the boundaries of the constellations.
Concerned that the Colonial governors were not provided with copies of the Standards Commission Report; will not be able to get to Switzerland this year.
Recommends a method for destroying wasps' nests. Refers him to the Gardener's Chronicle for information on flowering Cape bulbs. Has no idea where he can obtain deodar seeds. Would like to see his paper on the influence of light on vegetable colors.
Francis Beaufort to publish comet information; also wants JH's opinion as to what data should be sent to Cape Observatory. James South will lecture at Royal Institution. South's requests for several historical astronomical instruments refused.
Regarding JH's answer to his own paper on the revision of the boundaries of the constellations.
Hopes that JH will maintain the road from the canals to Hawkhurst as SM possesses a right of way over it.
Will be at the Visitation and intends to spend a few days in town. Has got the catalogue of objects for the star maps.
His views on the imperfections and lack of suitable instruments at the Cape Observatory.
Can JH come to the congress on Friday?
Thanks JH for his letters about the Cape equatorial instrument.
Received a stray dispatch, dated at sea, from [James] Ross. Assumes Ross is on his way home.