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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.
Has been requested by the relatives of the late W. R. Hamilton to write a memoir. Would be glad if JH would send him any suitable letters of Hamilton in his possession.
Many thanks for sending the seeds of Wellingtonia. Has two Cryptomerias also grown from seed. Was much interested in Alexander's lecture.
Agrees with him about the impossibility of sending W. R. Hamilton's letters by post. Thinks the best plan would be to send them to his brother at the Athenaeum, who will bring them to Ireland.
Package of letters has arrived safely via the Globe Parcel Express Co., for which accept his best thanks. Would like a page or two of JH's recollections of W. R. Hamilton if possible. Has sent a pamphlet on William Wordsworth and the Lake Country.
Does JH have any letters from H. C. Oersted to lend to Oersted's daughter for publication?
Sending some tables to show the relation between the mean distances of the primary and secondary planets.
Would be pleased if JH would come to the consecration of the new chapel in May.
Desires advice on construction of glass prisms for Newtonian reflecting telescopes. Also asks how to test the parabolic figure of a glass speculum before silvering.
Has discovered William Herschel's memoirs in R.A.S. library; arranged and read them. Asks JH whether any copies exist so the originals can be checked for completion before binding. Questions JH on William Herschel's opinion of the nature of nebulae and boundaries of the galaxy.
The Meteorological Committee of the R.S.L. is about to commence publishing the summary of the observation collected from the seven observatories. Would like JH's advice on method of publishing the barometric observations.
Suggests remedy for bronchitis problem in JH family. Young John Herschel's work on nebulae pleases CP. Comments on William Huggins's work on solar spectra.
Notices in letter of last May JH's postscript about the rate of color blindness occurring to overworked or ill artists, and doubts it becomes di-chromic, but merely a 'weakness' of vision.
Thanks JH for the memoirs he sent to CP, who will reciprocate with some of his own.
Has made the changes JH suggested. Autobiography will be published posthumously. Met [Henry W.] Longfellow. Wishes the Herschels would visit because it might improve JH's health.
Consulted A. C. L. G. Günther, museum ichthyologist. Answers JH's question about poisonous herring Clupea thryssa. [A. K.] Johnston's Physical Atlas attributes Ruminants article to GW, but GW wrote only Rodentia article.
It was a great pleasure to receive JH's letter. Sees that he still remembers the day at Portsmouth. Hopes to collect and publish her father's letters and now returns those written to JH.
Extensive discussion of comparative anatomy, taxonomy, and distribution of rodents. Encourages JH to use term Hystricidae for porcupines in JH's [Physical Geography (1861)].
Reptile genera in JH's [Physical Geography ] are consistent with those of [Edward] Forbes cited in Johnston's Physical Atlas [1854], but new genera have been discovered. Questions JH's claim that Elgin sandstone is Devonian. Notes Richard Owen's estimates on pterodactyl size, and distinct tail feathers [illustration] on recent specimen from Bavaria. Corrects JH's names for beaver genera.
Is pleased with the interest JH is taking in his volume. Understands the difficulty of comprehending it at once. Further comments on his own dynamical theory of dispersion.
Comments on exchange of astronomical works with JH. CP expects to improve the observatory library now that the Prussians have taken over Altona. Is making arrangements to carry out some pendulum experiments.