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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.
Sent JH's resignation proposal to both Lord Aberdeen [G. Hamilton-Gordon] and W. E. Gladstone yesterday. JH would have welcomed presidency of Board of Examiners one year earlier, but now desires only rest and recovery. Feels 'broken down.'
Delcines invitation to chair Society of Arts meeting because of poor health; may attend as visitor.
Thanks for having been informed of the death of an acquaintance.
Has been nominated Professor of Maths at the Native College and is in charge of the Observatory, now being erected. Would welcome suggestions from JH as to observations that would be useful.
Advises GS against spending £800 to verify the available drawings of Saturn; instead JH suggests alternative methods.
Recalls asking [Richard] Jones years ago if JH should seek public office. Jones was horrified, but suggested mastership of Mint as only suitable position. After four years in office, JH longs to escape it and return to family.
Lord Aberdeen [G. Hamilton-Gordon] must first refer JH's resignation to Queen Victoria. [?] encouraged Aberdeen to do it quickly, while Aberdeen is still in office.
Relates CH's and Arthur [Gordon?]'s conversation yesterday with Lord Aberdeen [George Hamilton-Gordon] on how to enable JH to resign without public 'mess.' Three weeks ago, Aberdeen would have accepted JH's resignation and appointed William Henry Barton as Master, but now Aberdeen's successor must decide.
Writes to answer a question about the expansion of water on freezing.
Having been asked for copies of standards, it seems to JH that the Royal Mint is not the office to decide on such requests.
The requests should be made to the Exchequer office [see JH's 1855-2-2]; complains about the incompetence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone].
Discusses proposal to fix up the aerial telescope of Christiaan Huygens so as to compare his drawings of Saturn with observations made by contemporary observers using Huygens's telescope. Expresses skepticism about the project.
Received JH's letter of resignation during ministerial crisis but elected not to present it to Queen Victoria. Send it to GG's successor [H. J. Temple], together with testimony to merits of W. H. Barton as JH's successor. [JH's daughter] Caroline continues well.
Chancellor of Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone] will arrange with Lord Palmerston [H. J. Temple] for JH's retirement as Master of Mint. Thanks for GH's support against 'external influences' during JH's term.
Writes to inform GH that JH has seen the Chancellor of the Exchequer and tendered his resignation as Master of the Mint.
Call on CT when convenient.
Estimates expenses and problems in production of medals for Kaffir war veterans. Asks for authority to determine wages for workmen employed on Kaffir and Crimean medals.
Returns 'table.' Thank grandma for loan of it.
[Copy in JH's hand of memorial to Treasury from F. R. Brande and Henry Finch. JH marked this copy 'Strictly private....'] Recount improvements that FB and HF have made in Mint operations, but complain that they do not receive the consideration, encouragement, or salary that is due them. [After reading this memorial, JH opened his finished letter (also 21 Feb 1855) to Brande and added a P.S. that led Brande and Finch to withdraw this memorial.]
Urgency for delivery of gold coins is reduced. Begin rolling and cutting silver bars.