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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.
Comments on two business matters in the R.S.L., namely, the work of the Glass Committee and the question of calculation of observations made at Parramatta, Australia.
Giving his own and Michael Faraday's views concerning the continuation of the Glass experiments. Regarding the reduction of the Parramatta Observations. Does not wish to undertake it himself.
Last night he discovered Encke's Comet. Gives readings.
Hastens to correct his own error; the comet he observed is no comet, but one of his father's nebulae. Regrets the errors.
Should JH prepare a report for the R.S.L. Council on the work of the Glass Committee, including Michael Faraday's important results? W. H. Wollaston's health is failing. On recent sunspot and comet observations.
Is leaving London for many months and would therefore like his name removed from the Council of the Royal Society, and also his Vice-presidency to be terminated. Would like his name removed from the glass sub-committee.
Congratulates him on the cause of his temporary absence from London. Hopes he will reconsider his views on resignation from the offices of the R.S.L. at the end of the year. His resignation from the Glass sub-committee is a compliment to Michael Faraday.
Asks DG to respond to a note from George Rümker.
Time is approaching when the new members of council have to be considered. Has JH changed his mind about resigning. Hopes he will continue.
Received his letter of the 17th today. Does not think he can change his mind about resigning from the council.
Regrets the R.S.L. is to lose JH's services. Eilhard Mitscherlich has been nominated for a medal on JH's recommendation; can JH give DG some details of Mitscherlich's discoveries?
His library is in chaos at the moment due to house decoration, so he is unable to lay his hands on the note about Eilhard Mitscherlich. Gives a long survey of the work of Mitscherlich and states why in his opinion he should receive a medal.
Sending a letter he has received, and would like JH's opinion on it [probably about his telescope; see P. Barlow's 1830-3-14].
Suggests Peter Barlow should test his telescope by carrying out a series of observations.
On behalf of [J. F.] Encke, asks that Greenwich observations be given to library of Berlin Observatory.
Regarding authors for the Bridgewater Treatises. Would he write on astronomy? Would like his opinion on a paper by John Herapath on optics.
Declines to write the Bridgewater Treatise on astronomy; also declines to comment on a paper due to lack of time and difficulty with the author.