Needs money to employ men working on Charles Babbage's calculating machine.
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.
Needs money to employ men working on Charles Babbage's calculating machine.
Thrilled by JH's encouragement concerning WH's 'Theory of Systems of Rays.' Enthusiastic about his career prospects at the University of Dublin.
Cannot at present accept the situation [at University of Virginia] discussed in JH's letter. Is still a candidate for position at London University [see WR's 1827-7-28]. Thanks JH for honor bestowed.
Left his job because of precarious health. Is retired. Discusses achromatic telescopes and his ideas for correcting spherical and chromatic aberrations.
Robert Woodhouse is in immediate danger. Urges him to think again before he finally turns down the offer. Would like to visit him and discuss the matter. Can JH come up during the Christmas holiday?
Sending a clause from Dr. Thomas Plume's will which he hopes will remove JH's objections to the professorship at Cambridge. There should be no difficulty in traveling between Slough and Cambridge with steam carriages.
Expresses regrets that George Airy's memoir on spherical aberration in telescope eyepieces and WH's 'Theory of Systems of Rays' reached JH too late for adequate treatment in JH's 'Light.'
Outlines the difficulties he has had to return JH's actinometer. Gives details of his observations in the Alps. Comments on the chronometer used.
Apologizes for controversy at meeting with James South over the transit circle.
Has more leisure after resigning as Secretary to the Royal Society. Is sending his and [James] South's magnitude scales and positions of observation for WS to compare. Lists common double stars and offers means of comparison. Remarks on 'new star,' the fifth star in the trapezoid of Orion.
Apologizes for incident at meeting; feels partially at fault for encouraging WS to speak on the subject. Advises WS on his microscope order. Stays at Slough because of good observing conditions.
Has just had a letter from W. S. Stratford announcing his decision to resign from the secretaryship of the Astronomical Society. Comments on this. He himself is also thinking of resigning the Presidency at the Anniversary meeting. Regarding the microscopes.
Discusses the poor health of Heinrich Olbers, and Johann Encke's inability to acquire the necessary instruments. Wants JH to send to CH a few of her 'Indexes.'
Sending observations of his barometrical observations made during the summer at Chamouny. Comments on them and the work of [Alfred?] Gautier.
News of his family. Joseph Clement's work on the machine and alterations proposed. Clement wants payment of £150. Recent happenings at the R.S.L.
Surprised and grateful for JH's encouragement concerning his Stellarum duplicium. Informs JH that the observatory survived the fire at Abo. The university is moving to Helsingfors, Finland. [F. W. A.] Argelander will remain and is working on determining delineations of the foundation stars.
Thanks JH for his assistance with edition of William Herschel's writings [see JH's 1824-6-30]. JP indicates volume two is ready for submission to printer.
Robert Woodhouse has died and if JH intends applying for the position at Cambridge, he should lose no time in making his application.
Plumian professorship is vacant owing to the death of Robert Woodhouse. How does JH feel about applying for it? The University would welcome him.
Regarding the suitable persons for the Observatories of Greenwich and Cambridge, is JH interested? Has been discussing R.S.L. Council matters with W. H. Wollaston.