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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.
Funding for magnetic and meteorological instruments for Ceylon, which would be valuable addition to H.E.I.C. observatories. Compares [barometric] curves from America and Europe. Magnetometers for [Nossrey?] were paid for out of R.S.L.'s Donation Fund.
Sends actinometer returns for remarks and suggestions. Mentions public dinner for scientific community.
Sends actinometric returns and drawing of comet from Hobarton Magnetic Observatory. [John] Lefroy's expedition in U.S. and Canada is going well. Received the observations from Algiers.
B.A.A.S. should not assume publication of meteorological observations if L. A. J. Quetelet gives these up. Johann Lamont in Munich is better qualified. Received from John Caldecott five years of meteorological observations at Trevandrum [India]. George Peacock has invited B.A.A.S. to meet at Cambridge in 1845.
Encloses letter from Dr. [John] Locke. Wants to loan him a magnetometer to set up a station at Cincinnati. Received [John] Caldecott's volume of JH's observations. Thinks publishing costs will be high.
Encloses bills for the Committee. [Johann] Lamont will be in England that year to correct continental surveys. Glad JH will be president [of B.A.A.S. meeting] at Cambridge.
Add to [ES's] enclosed letter, which ES will explain more fully at committee meeting next week.
Colonial governor at Ceylon will grant £150 annually for operation of magnetic observatory at Colombo, directed by Royal Artillery officers already there, if [R.S.L.] will supply instruments. Proposes seeking money for instruments from Wollaston Fund.
Appropriate use of Wollaston Fund for supporting research. Possible sources of instruments for new magnetic and meteorological observatory at St. John's, Newfoundland.
A. T. Kupffer proposes international meeting of authorities in terrestrial magnetism. ES suggests combining this with 1845 meeting of B.A.A.S. at Cambridge. Plans for publishing observations before Cambridge meeting.
Ship is ordered for Lt. Clark's excursion. Feels certain that Lord Stanley has consulted colonial governor.
JH is premature in concluding that international meeting of magnetic researchers would result in appeal to British government for funds to continue B.A.A.S. observatories beyond 1845. ES has not reviewed later observations [1842-43] and cannot judge whether observations have met original goals of R.S.L. and B.A.A.S. Agreement by Robert Peel and F. I. Brunnov on need for longer period of observations. Affirms value of JH's role in evaluating results of survey.
ES agreed to superintend publication of magnetic observations only because Humphrey Lloyd refused to do so any further. Format intended for each volume. Gratitude for JH's contributions to magnetic research. [P.S.: Provision of instruments to U.S. observers.]
Informed A. T. Kupffer that JH will preside at 1845 B.A.A.S. meeting and invited Kupffer to attend. Activities of [James] Renwick and A. D. Bache in trigonometrical survey of U.S.
Let George Peacock take care of inviting foreign magnetic researchers to B.A.A.S meeting at Cambridge. ES could prepare report on results of British government observatories by next February.
Sends copy of ES's memorandum to George Peacock describing progress in publication of magnetic and meteorological observations. Encloses copies of observations from Antarctic survey and Ceylon. Reasons for H.E.I.C.'s hesitation to expand survey by C. M. Elliott. Praises C. J. B. Riddell's book, which described portable magnetic apparatus that is now requested by observers worldwide. Recent changes in other instruments. Reimbursement for instruments provided to observatory in Newfoundland. Recent results of surveys on Continent, in Canada, and by Capt. Blackwood in Torres Straits.
Forwarded to George Peacock JH's letter of 11 Sept. Karl Kreil will send self-registering instruments that ES ordered for Kew observatory. Influence of vapor pressure on barometer readings. Introduction of hygrometers.
George Peacock returned JH's papers, with letter by Peacock. ES forwards these to JH.
Received letter from J. H. Lefroy in Athabasca [Canada]. Extract of C. J. B. Riddell's winter magnetic operations and summer plans along Red River.
Magnetic phenomena move in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres. This contradicts a report made by JH. Asks permission to omit JH's statements concerning this issue.