Wishes to leave town and spend a few weeks in Torquay. Would JH join him? Has new theorem on functions.
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.
Wishes to leave town and spend a few weeks in Torquay. Would JH join him? Has new theorem on functions.
Comments on a number of family matters and discusses the activities of some mutual acquaintances.
Grateful for WW's comments on investigations of [Simon] Stevin. JH's work on polarization of light. Discovery of multiple axes of polarization was preempted by David Brewster. Diagrams polarization of niter crystals and Iceland spar.
JG's wife died, and he has been sick in body and spirit.
Thanks WW for and expresses agreement with WW's analysis of Simon Stevin. Describes experiments JH is conducting on the polarization of light.
Gives some analytical equations for his comments.
Expresses thanks for and comments on JH's account of JH's optical experiments. Discusses efforts to improve mathematical education at Cambridge, including WW's book on mechanics.
About letter writing, and the joy JG receives from his children.
Welcome back to London. Explain CB's demonstration of 'theorem in transcendental arithmetic.' JH's observations of 'new acid' [hyposulfurous] and optical phenomena in 'chrystals of nitre.'
Wants his support for his own application for a post on the Board of Longitude.
Has seen William Artaud, who will be pleased to paint William Herschel's picture. Will undertake it in the new year as he is rather pressed for time at the moment. Hears that J. C. Ross and W. E. Parry have returned from the North.
Coming to terms with the death of his wife and with his new life [letter completed 1818-12-8].
Further about additional mathematical articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia; comments on DB's intention to start a new 'superior' science journal.
When he comes up to town would he please bring Biot's work. Wants to show JH a paper on series. Has just had a visit from Edward Sabine, newly returned from Greenland.
Astronomer Royal's post at Greenwich vacant; hopes JH will try for it. Has not been successful in getting on the Board of Longitude. Hopes to spend a fortnight in Paris after Christmas.
Cannot meet CB in London this week. Has verified composition of [hyposulfurous] acid. Encloses crystal of 'sulpho=sulphite of lime.'
Thanks CB for his advice about applying for the post of Astronomer Royal when it becomes vacant, but does not think himself qualified. Will not be able to come to London this weekend. Regarding his new acid.
Urges JH to apply for the Greenwich post. Quotes extract from Thomas Thomson on chemistry. Gives equations for his comments. Has found a new method of producing household gas.
Fifth [1817] edition of Thomas Thomson's System of Chemistry shows previous discovery of JH's 'new acid,' but its reported composition is wrong.
Thanking CB for CB's further remarks on the Greenwich post. Further regarding his new acid.