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 meetings of B.A.A.S. Describes [Robert Chambers's] Vestiges of Creation as a 'singularly shallow work.' Asks various astronomical questions of JH. Says the author misunderstands P. S. Laplace and Auguste Comte. AS is quite harsh in criticism.
Asks various questions about P. S. Laplace's nebular hypothesis and about Auguste Comte's discussion of it. AS comments: 'Your Father and you have given ample materials for observations for a 1000 years to come.'
Reports in considerable detail on magnetical and meteorological observation in Russia. Supports the idea of international conference of leaders in such work.
Deprived of news from JH. Works on physical phenomena of globe. Calls attention to [J. C. A.] Peltier's work on electricity of air of barometer. Asks JH to please write soon.
Informing him of the death of her sister.
[Printed notice] Latest developments at Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana, including plans to form branch in London. Observer for Astronomical and Meteorological Society recently sailed for British Guiana with full complement of instruments.
Sending the first volume of Kosmos. Queries regarding the Magellanic Clouds.
On the usefulness of 'Bishmuth' candles, and some necessary additions to a future edition of AS's book.
Responds to comments about Robert Hunt [see JH's 1845-4-2]; talks about making an artificial eye.
Thanks for JH's certificate concerning AS's battery, now finding increasing support.
Mentions how helpful JH's name would be on a memorial for C. P. Smyth. C. P. Smyth working on zodiacal light observations.
Invites B.A.A.S. members to Geneva meeting of Helvetic Society of Natural Sciences.
The memoirs are cut enough already. Hopes his health is better.
Elizabeth Baily would like him to write an inscription for her brother's memorial tablet. Francis Baily was buried in the land of his fathers at Thatcham.
Suggesting alterations in the wording for the memorial tablet to Francis Baily.
Encloses the corrections by his friend T. H. Key to the wording for the memorial to Francis Baily.
Further regarding the inscription for the memorial to Francis Baily. Has forwarded it to the executors and translated it for Elizabeth Baily. Wire pens satisfy him.
The epitaph has been sent to be drawn onto the stone. Comments on some of the wording. Sends some Alderton's blotting paper and the compliments of the season.
Regarding pens and suitable ink for various types. Further comments on the inscription for Francis Baily's memorial tablet.
W. H. Smyth, Thomas Galloway, and AD went down and visited the library of the Mathematical Society and found it in very good state.