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.
Introduces botanist [Nathaniel] Wallich in letter. Any kindness shown him will be appreciated. Discusses some matters of geology.
Will visit WS after attending two R.S.L. committee meetings. Asks WS's opinion of usefulness of occultation information in the Nautical Almanac.
About the election of Charles Babbage to the Lucasian professorship.
Babbage has been elected Lucasian Professor by a large majority. Is pleased by the unselfish service of JH to scientific research.
Charles Babbage has been elected to Cambridge's Lucasian professorship. Thanks JH for his efforts. Hopes Babbage will fill it effectively.
Was away from home when JH's letter came, which accounts for his belated reply. Would welcome a situation as clerk at the Bank of England should JH have any influence there.
Thanks for JH's efforts on behalf of her son (Charles Babbage) on his election to the Lucasian professorship at Cambridge.
Informing him that he has been elected to the Lucasian professorship at Cambridge. Offers congratulations and gives views of other friends of his success. He should return to take up his appointment.
Writes CB at Naples to inform CB that CB has been elected Lucasian Professor at Cambridge. Urges CB to write to thank the electors.
Would FB take the chair at the next meeting as he is busy nebulae-hunting. Regarding a printer for the papers of the Astronomical Society. Would like his own paper printed before June. Discusses J. J. Littrow's optical paper. Sends article on Light, which he has written for the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana.
Has just had a visit from James Graham[e], who came to apologize for a misunderstanding. Sends a Hindoo myth, which she is sure he can utilize for a poem. Her husband was pleased with JH's paper on light. Has himself written a paper on the collimator.
Thanks for his paper on light. Regarding the meeting on Friday. Pendulums. Invitation to dine with him. Geological Society has been offered room; would like him to think about the possibility of one for the Astronomical Society.
Invites himself and his brother to JH's for tea.
Of people JG has met.
Confusion around [James] Grahame's possible use of the verses that JH had offered to MK as suitable for the music Cherry Ripe.
Many thanks for the Hindoo myth. May attempt to put it in verse when he can spare the time from star gazing and computing. The South American Indians imagine their ancestors are hunting among the constellations. Is glad James Grahame called. Sorry to hear a poor account of Captain Kater's health.
There may be a delay in supplying the copy of her book on fishes as she has to wait for a sufficient number of subscribers.
Has not heard from Thomas Young about the reduction of the Parramatta Observations. James Dunlop will not carry out this work; best to leave it to the one named. Will be coming to London soon as the New South Wales Bill comes up, so will call on JH.
Needs more money to proceed with Charles Babbage's calculating machine.
Board of Longitude will accomplish nothing by meeting before T. M. Brisbane comes to town, but TY suggests informal discussion, either at TY's or Henry Kater's.