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.
JH's last letter before departure has brought AQ great pleasure. Has not received JH's memoir on absorption of light. Has mentioned JH's name in an attempt to explain the idea of Cambridge Reunion. Disappointed at not yet having received equatorial and mural circle. Asks for news of JH's observations.
Has JH's memoir on elliptical orbits of Saturn. Asks for JH's indulgence with lack of astronomy in annals. AQ has no big instruments. Has planted thermometers for experiments. Finally received transit instrument from [H. P.] Gambey.
Sending a letter by Francis Baily. Anniversary of the R.A.S. takes place on Friday. Capt. [Walter?] Forman has had a rise in the world. Observations of Henry Foster fills volume VII of the memoirs.
Is glad Mrs. Hall has written to Lady Herschel. Would like a private yacht so that he could travel round the world making scientific observations. Is pleased JH had a good voyage to the Cape and hopes things are progressing.
Forwarding two letters via Francis Beaufort. Has no political or scientific news as they are at present residing in a remote Austrian castle which they find very refreshing after the noise of Vienna. Longs to hear of JH's labors with the constellations.
[Form letter] Announces next two meetings of Statistical Society.
Thrilled that JH has arrived safely in Cape Town; notes that JH's Cape Town trip has captivated the intellectual world.
Asks about JH's children. Remarks that JH's discovery of globular clusters in the Scorpion is not what she remembered William Herschel being mystified about; remembers that WH exclaimed that there seemed to be a 'Loch im Himmel' ('hole in heaven') there.
Is sorry they were unable to see the Herschels but would be happy to dine at Feldhausen.
Regarding his machine. Suggested modifications for it. Recent meeting of the B.A.A.S. Political events.
Is sending a volume dealing with primeval history, which he hopes JH will accept. Is in some way related to JH.
Leaving part of his manuscript on alphabets. Will be a meeting at his house and would be pleased if JH would come and give his views.
Would like him to attend a small dinner party on Monday next.
Should have written earlier to thank him for the useful catalogue of stars. Weather has been fine, but he is still waiting for his eye tube from William Simms. Remarks on Orion's nebulae.
Has heard from Charles Babbage about JH, JH's father, and their telescopes. Describes telescope commission. Hopes to get to know JH better.
Hopes he is safely landed. The government have agreed to give financial assistance to set up an observatory at Edinburgh. Financial difficulties at the R.S.L. Dispute between James South and Edward Troughton. Admiralty has referred the question of the printing of [Stephen] Groombridge's catalogue to FB and G. B. Airy. Has received the Royal Medals on behalf of JH. JH has also been awarded the Lalande medal.
R.A.S. has been allocated rooms at Somerset House. The James South affair has been submitted to referees. Has discovered a large collection of John Flamsteed's papers at the Greenwich Observatory.
Thanks for the packet of letters. Thomas Henderson has been appointed to the Edinburgh Observatory. Richardson has just completed Brisbane's Catalogue of Southern Stars. Has observed a fortnight's tides for William Whewell.
Wishes JH well at the Cape; describes some of his current observations.
Observations on the weather of the past winter. 42 Virginis. Printing of [Stephen] Groombridge's catalogue. Has written article for the Penny Cyclopaedia. Refracted light in prisms. Machine for polarization of the sky. Petition to Parliament to abolish religious tests for degrees at Cambridge.