Showing 1–20 of 31 items
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.
Discusses JH's spectrometer and possibility of using surplus from R.S.L. Donation Fund for its construction and enquiry with it into nature of light and heat.
Offers to meet FB at Manchester B.A.A.S. meeting and to bring FB to Collingwood for a quiet visit.
Has stayed in Manchester an extra day, and has managed to avoid becoming involved in the organization of next year's B.A.A.S. meeting at Cork; talks about plans for F. W. Bessel to visit Collingwood, and about JH's plans to return home.
Alerts WW that F. W. Bessel, in very poor health, will attend the Manchester B.A.A.S. meeting. JH plans to bring Bessel to Collingwood after the meeting.
Gives his opinion of [George] Merz, stating that he has not done anything to 'distinguish himself from a mere practical follower of [Josef] Fraunhofer.' Requests that JH send encouragement to James Challis.
Compares actinometric measurements of radiation. Explains interest in total eclipse relative to actinometry. Discusses the possibility of making actinometric measurements by photographic means.
Sorry to hear RH has been ill; JH sends some photographic examples.
Carl Steinheil has proposed making telescope mirrors by plating silver on glass. Is writing to JH to tell him that somewhat earlier he had included this process in one of his patents.
Of JG's intention to write a pamphlet against slavery.
Letter to accompany a complimentary copy of FB's new book on logic.
Thanks JH for his letter [1841-10-10]. Discusses difficulty of measuring distance between a star of primary largeness and a small telescopic neighbor star. Rejects theory that temperature influences observation results. Appreciates JH assessment of the correspondence between WS's work and that of [F. W.] Bessel. Complains confidentially that Bessel neglects to acknowledge WS's work on parallax, begun a year before Bessel's own. Assures JH of WS's continual efforts in observing new phenomena. Comments on JH's 'On the Revision and Rearrangement of the Constellations.'
Enjoyed CH's last letter.
With R.S.L. Council, is glad that compliance with JH's wishes regarding photographical inquiries has pleased JH.
Welcomes ER back to England. Met ER's host, Charles Babbage, at Greenwich yesterday. Wants to visit before ER departs for Geneva, but JH's wife is ill. Based on accounts of Geneva by ER's wife, JH sent three oldest daughters and their governess to spend summer there.
Received WB's atmospheric curves yesterday, but too late to report them [at 1842 B.A.A.S. meeting]. Final report will be presented at next [1843] meeting.
Hopes Lady Herschel is well soon. Meeting of JH and ER in England must be postponed. Visiting his family soon. Hopes to see Italy and Germany.
Has been working on the structure of mother of pearl and has come to different conclusions than those of JH. Would be pleased if he could send a sample to him to investigate further.
Note to let JH know that JG is in England.
Asks JH to inspect first magnetic and meteorological observations from [Tasmania] and Toronto. Hopes North American observations will be increased.
Encloses B.A.A.S. statement of objectives for Richmond Observatory, for which B.A.A.S. Council asks JH to organize goals and support annual subsidy.