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.
How many sovereigns and half sovereigns could be coined at Mint annually without interfering with other business?
Lord Aberdeen [George Hamilton-Gordon] will see JH at 11 o'clock this morning.
Withdraws resignation [see JH's 1853-5-30] as Master of Mint. [JH annotation of 24 Feb. 1855: Letter not sent. Now regrets letting friends convince him to remain. JH has lived the past two years in 'the Shadow of death.']
Requests publication of a letter [see John Stewart's 1853-6-11] that JH received from Stewart and in which Stewart explains a method of 'taking from glass negatives positive impressions of different dimensions.'
HF and F. R. Brande received similar appointments, but HF's annual salary is £100 while Brande's is £150. Asks JH to raise HF's salary to £150. [JH annotation: Replied on 19 July.]
What would JH like done with the column 'Equinoctial Time' in the Nautical Almanac?
Disappointed by JH's response. Believes HF's case is identical to that of F. R. Brande. Lists benefits accruing to Brande that HF does not have. Asks JH to reconsider raise in HF's salary.
Chancellor of Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone] will meet with JH next Friday.
It is against Mint policy for JH to recommend any employee to act privately, as in EW's request for someone to inspect minting machinery.
JH cannot recommend anyone of the sort requested in letter from Mr. Wallenstein.
H. D. Harness will be leaving Mint to assume duties as Commissioner of Works in Ireland.
Outlines the changes he would like to see in the column for Equinoctial Time in the Nautical Almanac.
Eloquently, metaphorically congratulates WH on finally publishing Lectures on Quaternions.
Will spend weekend at Windsor Castle with Lord Aberdeen's family.
Thanks for catching CT's error. Returns letter, with £200,000 substituted for £150,000.
Advises against abolishing office of deputy master of Mint after H. D. Harness leaves at end of this week. Gives reasons.
Come to Argyll House tomorrow. Encloses reply by W. E. Gladstone to JH's letter of 23 July.
Notified [James] Wilson that HH's service at Mint will end today, but HH does not yet know what official date Treasury will record for HH's retirement.