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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.
Encloses letter received today from Mannheim. [JH note on verso] Enclosed letter of 26 Dec. 1847 was from [J. C.] Schröder to John Simson. Gratitude for receipt of [Cape Results]. F. B. G. Nicolai died last year. Schröder was appointed provisional director of Mannheim Observatory.
Comments unfavorably on Admiralty's attitude to matters concerning magnetic observations.
A note to accompany further copies of correspondence to the Admiralty [see GA's 1848-10-30].
Is grateful for JH's request to add his name as a subscriber to his book. Sends a volume entitled the Poetry of Science for JH's acceptance.
About a number of new associate members of the R.A.S.
Will miss R.A.S. meeting; asks WS to take chair. William Lassell announces discovery of Hyperion; believes he may have also observed an eighth satellite of Saturn.
Returned from Continent in September, discovered JH's gift of JH's Cape Results. Grateful for this memento of friendship. Hopes JH received memoirs from [Giovanni] Plana, which RM sent from Turin. Notes on transition from Cretaceous to Miocene in Alps and Apennines.
Thanks RH for a copy of RH's Poetry of Science, and comments on an experiment in growing seeds under glass and in darkness.
States he has complied with Lord Auckland's and JH's wishes on the statistical section of the Admiralty Manual but fears such restrictions leave it little more than 'dry bones.'
Is pleased he approves of his style. Regarding the experiments on the germination of seeds. His own son is progressing satisfactorily.
R.S.L. Physical Committee considering giving Copley medal to W. E. Weber for work in electromagnetism. Does JH concur? Other candidates are F. E. Neumann or A.L. Cauchy in physical optics, and Michael Faraday on condensation of gases. Rumford medal was awarded to H. V. Regnault for work on steam engine.
Asks for reference to date of discovery of the moon's variation by Aboul Wefa.
Reports that JH will discuss the discovery of Neptune in his forthcoming Outlines Astr. Mentions Benjamin Peirce's calculations regarding Neptune.
Strongly supports W. E. Weber as the best candidate for the receipt of the Rumford Medal [see CW's 1849-11-10].
The tract JH means is by L. A. Sédillot on the history of astronomy of the Arabs. Comments on this. Possesses it but it is bound in with a lot of other papers so is too heavy to send. Would he give John Williams permission to open letters addressed to the President of the R.A.S.
Writes about 'floss[?]-growers of Kent' in response to JH's letter. Characterizes the activity as a form of lottery and profit-making in the context of the free-trade/protectionist debate.
Reports witnessing a lunar rainbow, including a secondary rainbow.
Regarding the letter on the planet Neptune, which JH submitted to the Athenaeum [see Athenaeum, #1100 (Nov. 25, 1848), 1176], JH requests suppression of the final paragraph 'referring to certain peculiar ideas of Professor [Benjamin] Peirce.'
Supports proposed course of action to procure for [Francis] Ronalds half of the grant and recognition given to [Charles] Brooke alone for similar photographic invention.
Would like to hear how the Admiralty Manual is progressing.