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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.
Anticipates news from JH in Naples. Mary Baldwin staying with MH. Glad that servant James is good companion. [Letter continued 13 May:] Advice on sending mail from Italy. Carriage repaired and repainted. [Letter continued 14 May:] Terrible weather. Miss Deluc is not expected to survive. [Letter continued 17 May:] Visitors to Slough.
Disappointed with Roman ruins and art. [Letter continued 24 May:] Hopes to receive mail from Slough in Naples. [Letter continued 27 May:] Viewed pope's benediction in St. Peter's Square. Roman weather. JH's itinerary for June and July.
Delighted with JH's news from Italy. MH urges him to visit Englishmen on Continent, especially Lord Somerset's family. Death of Lord Byron. [Former servant] Carter was banished to Botany Bay for life. [Letter continued 22 May:] News of acquaintances. Reminder to pay wages to servant James.
Asks for news of MH's health. Lists all letters JH has sent. Problems with European post. Trip from Rome to Naples. Neopolitan countryside. [Letter continued 2 June:] At Hotel de la Città di Napoli on Bay of Naples. Describes Mount Vesuvius. Visit with Teodoro Monticelli and British minister W. R. Hamilton. [Letter continued 3 June:] Attended opera at Europe's largest theater. Prefers Naples to Rome; will stay at least one month.
Received JH's letter from Rome. Bought [David] Cox's Pictures of Italy to see places JH has visited. Visits London doctor with Mary Baldwin. News of acquaintances. MH authorized seizure of Mr. Davenport's corn, because he refuses to pay rent.
Describes last letter to MH. [Letter continued 9 June in Naples:] Will write to J. H. Nelson. Problems with postal service in Naples. Met European nobility at dinner of British minister W. R. Hamilton. Ascent of Mount Vesuvius with Nicola Covelli. Barometer observations, chemical experiments, and camera lucida drawings. High society in Naples. Describes 'ridiculous' religious practices at church of Madonna dell'Arco and barbarian lower classes of Naples.
Concerned about JH in Rome. Expecting visit from Mrs. [James] South and Charles Babbage, who has rented house in Passy, France. Many visitors to Slough for Ascot races next week. J. H. Nelson reminds JH to use special shipping agent in Florence to send items to England. [Letter continued 13 June:] Celebrating MH's 74th birthday. [Letter continued 14 June:] Asks for JH's itinerary.
Received mail from MH, Mary Baldwin, and J. H. Nelson. Death of George Gordon (Lord Byron). Dined with British minister W. R. Hamilton. News of English residents in Rome. Recent archeological discoveries in Naples. Describes Pompeii, Solfaterra, and Puzzuoli. Religious procession of king through Naples. [Letter continued 18 June:] Met British admiral H. B. Neale at Hamilton's. Problems with Dey of Algiers.
Voyage to Sicily. Scenes of Palermo. Visit with Giuseppe Piazzi and Niccolo Cacciatore at Palermo observatory. Names scientists JH plans to visit on Sicily.
Six-day mule trip to see ruins of Girgente. Servant James Child is holding up well.
MH suffering from gout. Heavy rains are ruining crops. Miss Deluc died yesterday. Postponing trip to seaside to await visit by Parrys. Difficulty in collecting rent from Mr. Davenport. [Letter continued 27 June:] Received today JH's letter from Naples. Pleased to hear so many in Europe honor William Herschel. [Letter continued 28 June:] Reminder to use Mr. Nelson's shipping agent for packages to England.
News of family friends. Awaits JH's return. Mary Baldwin goes to London.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Overjoyed upon receiving two letters from JH. Try to visit Caroline Herschel despite time added to journey. Asks for 'repeating watch' from Geneva.