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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.
Discusses plans for printing of 4 maps of terrestrial isotherms prepared by [H. W.] Dove along with Dove's commentary.
Thanks JH for poem [F. Schiller's 'The Walk']. Sends greetings to Lady Herschel.
Has 50 copies of JH's paper ['On the Action of the Rays of the Solar Spectrum on the Daguerreotype Plate'] for P.M. printed exclusively for JH. Asks opinion of papers for next issue of Scientific Memoirs.
Has been reading JH's communication to the P.M. [on solar spectrum] and wishes to point out that RH was the first to carry out those experiments, which are recounted in the P.M. for 1840.
Has ventured on the risks of an election to the R.S.L. and would like JH's support and influence with those on the Council. Was prevented from visiting Dover. Sails for Canada on 4 Mar.
Regarding his brother-in-law's sale of property. Sorry he was unable to meet him at Dover recently. Mother in good health.
Sent JH's letter concerning actinometers to all observatories. [Johann] Lamont must be informed of recent work. ES comparing fluctuations of direction and force at Toronto and Van Diemen's Land. Mentions [G. B.] Airy and air currents.
Note of thanks for paper of JH's; replies with a printing of a talk by FB about William Herschel.
Extract from observations of 70 Ophiuchi by F. W. Bessel. Results agree with WS's measurements by different method and increase WS's confidence. Hopes for more information on Gamma Virginis before finalizing WS's manuscript.
Reports on GM's health and immediate travel plans.
A note accompanying some papers on the geodesic work carried out in Germany.
Regarding his own support for W. B. O'Shaughnessy. Star reform in the Southern hemisphere.
Thanks JH for favorable comments on BS's biography of [Charles?] Mason. Has been given part of an unusual meteorite fallen in the Cape. If JH has a piece of it, hopes to obtain JH's opinion.
Describes experiments in the electrochemical decomposition of metallic salts.
Announces election of Marquis of Breadalbane [John Campbell] as lord rector of Marischal College for coming year. Thanks for JH's advice to college senate.
Further regarding the method to be adopted for the printing of the star catalogue.
Is grateful for his note and the book; has been ill, which accounts for the delay in his acknowledgement. The verses appear to give a good idea of the original.
Sends JH observations of Comet of 1843; disappointed with Cape Observatory's records of the comet. Oversees Observatory in absence of Thomas Maclear, who is at Zwartland for meridian survey. Lists and describes instruments in use at Cape Observatory. Discusses sources of error.
A new committee on standards is to be created to oversee the preparation and measuring of appropriate standard measures; seeks JH's opinion about asking Francis Baily and W. H. Miller to do the accurate weighing and measuring.
Has forwarded a parcel to JH, but wonders if he has received it as he has had no reply.