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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.
Sending copy of GA's 'Tides and Waves' for Encyclopaedia Metropolitana; would be glad of JH's comments. Also encloses his eclipse paper.
Needs a good artisan to construct the framework of a solar spectrum photographic apparatus.
Answer to one of JH's on 9 January [apparently on equatorial telescopes].
Regarding William Cubitt (Engineer of the Dover Railway) and the proposed blasting down of the cliffs between Dover and Folkestone.
Intends to accept offer [see GA's 1843-1-18]; JH questions the correctness of P. S. Laplace's theory of capillary action.
Further news of his proposed visit to Dover to see the blasting of the cliffs?
Regarding projected committee for the construction of new Standards for weights and measures. Any observations or further instructions for captain visiting the China coast?
A new committee on standards is to be created to oversee the preparation and measuring of appropriate standard measures; seeks JH's opinion about asking Francis Baily and W. H. Miller to do the accurate weighing and measuring.
Would be pleased if Francis Baily and W. H. Miller would agree to serve [see GA's 1843-3-9]; believes sufficient remuneration should be provided for these responsibilities, and comments on the desirability of a continuing standards committee.
Tells GA about a new comet becoming visible.
Covering letter to one by Edward Cooper regarding appearance and observations on new comet.
Offers JH information about, and maps of, Switzerland, as GA understands JH is going there.
Regarding Captain [Charles ?] Gray's letter. Robert Peel has written asking Francis Baily and W. H. Miller to do the 'Standards.'
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.
Asks GA on behalf of F. W. Bessel, for unreduced positions of a star that FB wishes to examine for annual parallax.
Regarding H. C. Schumacher and the Stephen Groombridge observations.
Apologizes for confusion about F. W. Bessel's request [see GA's 1843-6-6], but JH had neglected to check date on FB's letter.
Regarding a letter from F. W. Bessel. On holiday on the Isle of Wight.
Regarding a meeting of the new 'Standard' committee.
Is expecting to be summoned to Slough, about repossessing JH's [and William Herschel's] old premises; this will affect JH's availability for a meeting [see GA's 1843-6-24].