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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.
Asks for JH's comments on George Peacock's assessment that the Report of the Standards Commission [see GA's 1841-7-27] is directed too much to scientific men, and others will not understand it; suggests an appendix to show the relationship between the proposed measures.
Reliability of measuring instruments used in scientific and public surveys. Approves George Peacock's suggestion to revise survey tables for use by non-scientist surveyors. Schools should teach only legalized systems of weights, measures, and money.
Comments on the report [see GA's 1841-8-11]; wants the standards legislation to be demanding of rigor in application.
Has received JH's 'Report' proof regarding JH's description of specific gravity. Captive balloons. Would JH refer him to D. F. J. Arago's experiments on the shadow of a disk.
Is confused by French system of recording specific gravity and seeks GA's assistance; also GA and JH are named to a committee that JH thinks only wastes money.
Complains further about French specific gravity designation [see JH's 1841-8-14 or earlier], and describes observing colored fringes on the edge of clouds.
Comments specifically on the accuracy of surveyors' chains [see JH's 1841-8-13], together with brief comments on a few other matters.
Is fully occupied reducing Cape observations, and is producing a star list by magnitudes, resulting in some interesting anomalies.
Outlines suggestions from [Drinkwater-]Bethune for improving 'Report of Standards.' Bethune distinguished Exchequer, Local, and Parliamentary (or National) standards, and preserved unit called 'land chain' equal to twenty yards.
Further comments on the Standards Commission Report [see GA's 1841-7-27].