Has received the bill of William Ewart concerning the metrical scale.
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.
Has received the bill of William Ewart concerning the metrical scale.
Explains conditions of his will and the distribution of his estate.
Suggests reducing the number of Greenwich astronomical observations printed, but not reducing the magnetic and meteorological observations.
Death of Pierce Butler. Recommended F. W. Holland, who has explored Palestine, to Henry James. RM has been too busy to keep track of survey fund.
Forwards a drawing of the great nebula of Orion, which he has just received from Angelo Secchi for JH. Quotes Secchi's remarks.
Proposes a principle for the establishment of musical scales to satisfy musicians, not mathematicians, as JH had apparently done.
In Dec. 1867, JH offered small theodolite to Pierce Butler for survey of Sinai peninsula, and agreed to serve as co-trustee of Sinai Survey Fund with Henry James. Heard nothing until news of Butler's death and announcement that F. W. Holland and George Williams would take leadership and that RM was involved. Renews JH's offer, but health prevents JH from attending meetings.
Has made arrangements to have copies of solar autographs sent. Discusses sunspots. Inquires whether JH knows of the University of Lund in Sweden.
Opposes parliamentary bill to adopt French metric system. Explains weaknesses of system.
Thanks JH for calling AH's attention to 'mischievous & preposterous metric measure bill.' Will work to defeat it [in Parliament].
Thanks JH for his Familiar Lectures. Sends meteorological information.
Is graphically charting the sun and planets to compare them. Explains the lines and positions of bodies in his diagrams.
About arrangements for JH's return home, together with information about paying bills and the state of JH's finances.
Comments on a number of mathematical matters, on a book on positivism, and increased sunspot activity.
Hopes HF and his wife can join the Herschels for lunch with [P. F.] Robertson at Collingwood. Gives information on transportation.
Relation of British imperial units of weight to their 'geometrical synonyms.'
Relation of imperial measures of capacity to their 'geometrical synonyms.'
Working on rejection of metric bill [in Parliament]. Grateful for information provided by JH.
Problem of Irish church has forced postponement of Parliamentary discussion of metric bill until 13 May.
Sends copy of ST's Progress of Philosophy in the Past and in the Future.