News of family friends. Awaits JH's return. Mary Baldwin goes to London.
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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.
News of family friends. Awaits JH's return. Mary Baldwin goes to London.
Directs JP to additional sources of biographical information about William Herschel [see JP's 1823-12-13], and comments on some other details of JP's letter.
Mount Etna marks furthest point of JH's journey. Travel is difficult. Both JH and servant James Child are in good health. Describes ruins of Girgente. Send future letters to Geneva or Paris. [Letter continued 3-4 July at Mount Etna:] Few lines from Casa Inglese, highest house in Europe, built by Carlo Gemmellaro for travelers. [Letter continued 5 July in Catania:] Ascent of Mount Etna.
Describes his laborious journey to the summit of Mt. Etna; from his barometric readings, concludes that its altitude is 10,000 or 11,000 ft. Asks about the progress of Johann Pfaff's translation of William Herschel's papers; JH mentions that he wrote to Pfaff from Cattagione, Sicily. [Letter continued 20 July from Naples and 16 Aug. from Florence.]
Is observing the heavens from Etna. [Letter continued 11 July from Palermo:] Recent experiences touring Sicily.
Morichini will be gratified to see JH when he returns through Rome. The Abate Feliciano Scarpellini is also desirous of meeting JH; he is one of the foremost makers of instruments in Italy. Weather is just becoming hot, so hopes he gets through his Sicilian tour before the heat increases.
Encloses letter from CG's brother regarding barometer scales. Hopes JH had pleasant trip from Catania to Palermo in company of Count [Bessa?]. [Niccolò] Cacciatore will give JH six-year collection of DG's meteorological observations, soon to be published.
Worried about safety of JH's voyage to Sicily. Mr. Tasker forced Mr. Davenport finally to pay back rent. Should telescope be painted to protect it from rain? Planning trip to Margate. Asks JH to buy watch for MPH in Geneva. Declined Mr. Beckwith's request for MPH to be godmother to new daughter. [Letter continued 28 June:] James South and wife will visit MPH tomorrow.
Departure delayed by week-long feast of St. Rosalie, patron of Sicily. No vessels moving. Reviews Sicilian scenery, weather, and culture. Compares Mount Etna and Vesuvius. Describes travel across center of island with companions Count Bessa Negrini of Mantua and C. G. B. Daubeny of Oxford. [Letter continued 14 July:] Oppressive heat in Palermo. [Letter continued 18 July:] Arrival in Naples.
Is grateful for the assistance received while in Catania. Comments on the divisions of the barometer. His own barometer was undamaged after travelling 500 miles over impassible roads. Would be pleased to receive communications.
Written from Palermo, this chatty letter describes JH's time in Italy and Sicily. JH mentions having ascended Mt. Etna and having spent the night on its summit. A second part of this letter is dated July 19 and its location is given as Naples. On way to Hanover.
Thanks FB for informing him of his election to the Astronomical Society.
Lists all letters received from Slough and those sent by JH to recipients in England. News of acquaintances at home. C. G. B. Daubeny taken ill. Itinerary for return trip. Low opinion of southern Italians. English society in Naples. Describes cask of wine JH shipped to England. [P.S. 24 July:] Daubeny's illness is malaria. JH will stay with him. Grahames are not here.
Describes last leg of Sicilian tour and festival of St. Rosalie, patron of Sicily, in Palermo. [Letter continued 31 July:] C. G. B. Daubeny is recovering but not strong. JH will travel on alone. Lists letters received from England. Dinner with Lord Belvedere. Shipped case of shells and minerals to Mr. Beckwith.
Received MB's letters of 19 and 28 May [1824]. Responds to news from Slough. Expedition to Sicily was successful, but C. G. B. Daubeny contracted malaria. Summer climate in Rome and Pontine Marshes. Danger of malaria forced JH and servant James [Child] to travel separately. [Letter continued 7 Sept.:] James arrived from Naples. JH's trip to Tivoli. Itinerary home through Germany. Send letters to Munich.
Praises JH, JH's father, and their telescopes highly. Asks JH not to forget commission to FS.
Oppressive heat. Toured Rome and Florence in early morning hours only. Low regard for Romans and southerners. Glad to be in civilized Tuscany. Describes Florence. Sorry to hear of Renuel's death. Began letter in Catania to Caroline Herschel.
Invites JH to the Observatory of the Museo di Fisica.
Mail and news of acquintances at home. Met Jack Fuller, fellow of St. John's College. Visited astronomer Giovanni Inghirami. Describes Bologna. [Letter continued 23 Aug.:] Deciding route for trip home. Describes servant James Child. Journey from Bologna to Venice. Dismal condition of University of Padua. Describes Venice. [P.S. 24 Aug.:] Shipment to Mr. Beckwith from Rome includes engravings for J. H. Nelson.
Visit to Margate, including concert and dinners.