Showing 21–39 of 39 items
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.
William Mann returns to England still in poor health. Expresses concern over running of Edinburgh Observatory by C. P. Symth. Regrets poor data from Cape Observatory on Comet of 1843. Observed Comet Gambert. Situation with Caffres hostile.
Describes controversy over his father's discovery of two satellites of Saturn in detail. Hopes to publish Cape Results before end of year.
Suggests JH take trip to Continent to recover. Training a naval officer and the son of John Montague, Colonial Secretary, as observatory assistants. Describes outbreak of war with Caffres in detail.
Relating recent events in the latest Caffre war. [George] Childe has arrived and is engaged in preparing his rooms. Has had a letter from C. P. Smyth at Edinburgh. Price of commodities are rising rapidly at the Cape. Hopes that JH has taken expert medical advice.
Has just read W. R. Dawes's description of the observatory at Camden Lodge and the telescope by eorg Merz makes TM envious. Hopes JH will press claims for one for the Cape. Is at present engaged sinking the Sector for shelter. TM has suffered much from the effects of the heat. Dr. Gall has died, aged 98. What a drubbing G. B. Airy has given R. H. Inglis.
Has had to leave his work with the Sector due to ill health. Found [George] Child overworked at the Observatory. Comments on some observations. Pleased to hear that JH's health has improved. Mr. Watermeyer has died and C. F. H. von Ludwig remarried. Gives latest news of Kaffir War. Comments on the quarrel between G. B. Airy and James South.
Complains of lack of time for correspondence. Equatorial for Cape Observatory completed. Advises TM to take relaxed observatory schedule to recover health. Cape Results published. Works on Outlines Astr. New governor arrives in Cape Town.
Illness in the family has prevented him from acknowledging JH's splendid work, which arrived some weeks ago. Is grateful for JH's appreciation of TM's work. Wife has been very ill. C. F. H. Ludwig has died. H. G. W. Smith has said there must be a Botanic Garden at the Cape. New treaty regarding Kaffir land may increase the chance of peace.
Gives recent observations with the 46" achromatic. G. B. Airy has sent the elements of the recently discovered planets. Latest news of the Governor of the Cape and his diplomatic missions. Mrs. Maclear's sister has come out to visit them and her health and Mrs. Maclear's is improving. R. J. Jones has decided to keep Feldhausen in the family and not sell it.
William Mann applies for Madras Observatory post; JH believes TM should be consulted for recommendation. [Andrew] Graham, observer for E. J. Cooper, discovered the asteroid Metis. Describes children's education.
Pleased to receive JH's letter of 12 June. Has to visit Agulhas to view the erection of the lighthouse. Gives details of the history of this new lighthouse. Pity François Arago does not continue his experiments with gas. Governor is in the North of the Country visiting the emigrant Boers.
While TM was at Agulhas the large equatorial arrived, perfectly safe. Dome and railway have not arrived yet. Had a letter from W. R. Dawes. Found lighthouse at Agulhas well made and has sent sample of the material to Francis Beaufort. Not much news of the war in the Colony. Will take care over the mounting of the equatorial.
Sends details of the progress of erecting the equatorial. William Mann is engaged on the Simon's Bay tide observations. The Madras Observatory post was offered to Mann but he declined it for health reasons. Comments on the affairs of [George Smalley], who is in financial difficulties. Not much news from the Cape. Comments on some of the educational news.
Has had four men working on the Dome to complete it before the bad weather. Has not heard who has been appointed to Madras. The candidate from the Cape is in financial difficulties. Tide reductions are progressing. Outlines the disturbances caused by the expected arrival of the convicts.
Encloses star observations. Comments on his instrumental system. Cannot find the rule for position when two stars are of equal magnitude. Neptune with the convicts is anchored in Simon's Bay, awaiting the answer from H. G. Grey (3rd Earl Grey).
Sends observations made with the nine-foot equatorial, with comments. Received JH's Astronomy and the Logs. of Charles Babbage; the latter aroused protests in the family. [Archibald] Robertson sold five copies of the Astronomy instantly and has ordered further copies.
Has had some splendid evenings, and sends the observations made. Comments on the work of the new equatorial. W. R. Dawes would like to compare the measures of Antares with the enclosed. Admiral Reynolds is being succeeded by Commodore Christopher Wyvill, a queer person. Sends Cape newspapers to show events in the convict question. All public servants are to be deprived of food, etc.
Thanks TM for double star observations. Refers to convict incident in South Africa.
Sends observations of Lambda Toucani and Zeta Eridani.