Comments extensively on the calculation, and elimination, of error in geodesic measurements; JH concludes with a few family news items.
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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 extensively on the calculation, and elimination, of error in geodesic measurements; JH concludes with a few family news items.
Begins with a discussion of the probability of error in a series of measurements and comments on astronomical observations including the observation of a comet.
Writes to inform son John of the sudden death [after only a very brief illness] of John's sister Margaret Louisa. [The letter is quiet and accepting, praising God for the happy and blameless life that 'Looey' had led and what joy she had brought to the family.]
Expresses concern about son John's loneliness in India, and so JH proceeds to tell him of the Great Exhibition of 1862, and about scientific work being done such as improvements in meteorology, solar photography, and the work being done on JH's catalogue of nebulae. No decision has been made about the Edinburgh professorship for which son Alexander has applied.
A short note to comment on photographs son John has sent; also inquires about prospects for the India survey John has discussed.
Saw J. B. N. Hennessey [who had just come from India] at a Greenwich visitation day, but did not have time to speak to him there. JH will invite him to Collingwood.
Comments on zero and observational errors when using a telescope, and adds some comments about family relationships and JH's nebula catalogue. [Part of this letter is indecipherable.]
About geodesic books and JH's encouragement to John to keep asking questions; indeed JH is almost insistent on son John's writing to JH with questions, book needs, and confidences. JH also talks about finding the arithmetical mean of a number of observations. [Also included is the 1st page of a letter to John from one of his sisters.]
Announces son William's engagement to Emma Hardcastle; warns son John against the Anglo-Indian ladies; JH comments at length on a problem in surveying, and concludes with the news that daughter Francisca's health is improving.
Positively responds to son John's idea of geodesic measurements of much larger than usual triangles; suggests that John is not likely to be able to correct the whole world's English; JH reports about sickness in the family including his own seemingly permanent bronchitis.
Is pleased with the new wife of son William; JH is very supportive of son John's developing interest in language [an interest of JH's]; JH has not heard of any proposed Himalayan observatory; is sending a copy of his nebula catalogue.
Refers son John to JH's Meteorology for help with the mechanics of dynamic wave curves; encourages John to do good whenever he has the opportunity.
Discusses at length the means of calculating the mean daily rainfall in India, and comments on son John's work in geodesy.
Works out the derivation for a mathematical problem, and JH suggests that son John should use this derivation in his paper; it is christening day for William, son of John's sister Caroline. [Also included is a one page letter of family news from sister Julia.]
Most of the letter is devoted to a mathematical derivation to show that part of son John's work on errors in geodetic observations is in error; however, part is highly praised by JH. Remainder of letter is clearly intended as a morale booster for John.
A 'pep talk' from father to son on the occasion of son John's birthday.
Worried by not having heard from son John, especially as there is cholera in India; JH sends news of the family, especially of how bright the younger girls are; also comments on world events and about books sent to John.
The R.S.L. proposes sending telescopic and spectroscopic equipment to India to observe the solar eclipse of 1868. They want to know if son John would be prepared to make the observations. John could use some of his leave time in England to prepare.
Wrote to G. G. Stokes and agreed to seek the permission requested by R.S.L. Will arrange for personal interview with Stokes. Is this 'independent of [Charles] Tennant's proposal'? Outlines survey plans if given charge of large instrument.
Writes to son John [who is now in England] further about the solar eclipse observations [see JH's 1867-5-18]; comments on family matters, and talks about making improvements in photographic processes, so that JH is able to print on both sides of the paper.