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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Correspondence Explorer

Choose two people to view all letters between them.

Showing 89 letters from 1840–1871

81 letters from John Russell Hind; 8 letters from John Frederick William Herschel

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Correspondence map

Interact with the map by zooming, clicking hotspots, and selecting items to see more details. Hit play on the timeline to show correspondence over time.

Sir John Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions

1840: Sir John Herschel publishes “On the chemical action of the rays of the solar spectrum on preparations of silver and other substances, both metallic and non-metallic; and on some photographic processes”

Autograph letter signed by sender. Drawing attention to his prediction of the storms of 1838 and 1839.

Reference number: HS/9/319
1841

Sir Robert Peel becomes Prime Minister

1841

Birth of Amelia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1841

1842

Birth of Julia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1842

Sir John Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions

1842: Sir John Herschel publishes “On the action of the rays of the solar spectrum on vegetable colours, and on some new photographic processes”

1844

Birth of Matilda Rose Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1844

1845

Sir John Herschel serves as President of the British Association

1845

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends a copy of an ephemeris of Biela's comet for November and December.

Reference number: HS/9/320

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has just completed the orbit for the binary star Mu2 Bootis. Sends details. Could not send his notice of Biela's comet to W. R. Dawes as he did not know his address.

Reference number: HS/9/321

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for details of his method of calculating the orbits of double stars. Comments on some of his observations.

Reference number: HS/9/322

Copy of a letter. Has been considering what principle should be followed in the computation of the orbits of double stars. Gives his views.

Reference number: HS/9/323

Autograph letter signed by sender. Will apply John Frederick William Herschel's principle at the first opportunity. Has made some successful observations of the star Epsilon Arietes. Intends observing Castor on every fine evening.

Reference number: HS/9/324

Autograph letter signed by sender. Communicating the elements of Castor and Corona by John Frederick William Herschel's method. Comments on these readings.

Reference number: HS/9/325

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sending him the elements of the new planet Astrea. Orbit is based on the Berlin observations. Differs from those given by J. F. Encke.

Reference number: HS/9/326

Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Has been considering what principle should be followed in the computation of the orbits of double stars. Gives his views.

Reference number: HS/22/251
1846

Birth of Francisca Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1846

Sir John Herschel serves his second term as Foreign Secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society

1846: To 1847

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the strange appearance of the comet of Biela. Will observe the double star as soon as he has an opportunity.

Reference number: HS/9/327

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is obliged for his notice of the separation of Biela's comet; has sent extracts to H. C. Schumacher. Sends some observations made that evening. [Francesco] de Vico announces a new comet; so far he has been unable to trace it.

Reference number: HS/9/328

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has not been able to secure any angles of Gamma Virginis due to poor weather. Perplexed over the difference between Johann Heinrich Mädler and W. R. Dawes. George Bishop will be pleased to send any measures he may require.

Reference number: HS/9/329

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends his observations of y Cygni. Comments on the differences in the readings of various observers. Still unable to observe the double star John Frederick William Herschel requested, but the weather has been poor.

Reference number: HS/9/330

Autograph letter signed by sender. Obtained first rate measures of the double star on 31 May, but since then the atmosphere has been hazy and so unable to send any further measures. Thinks it worthwhile to observe all the stars in Cassiopeia and Ophiuchus.

Reference number: HS/9/331

Autograph letter signed by sender. Elements of the new comet observed at Regent's Park.

Reference number: HS/9/332

Autograph letter signed by sender. In case he has not received a letter from Berlin he sends details of the planet of U. J. J. Leverrier.

Reference number: HS/9/333

Autograph letter signed by sender. Discovered a telescopic comet on the confines of Camelopardes [sic] and Cassiopeia. Sends observations.

Reference number: HS/9/334
1847

Sir John Herschel serves his second term as President of the Royal Astronomical Society

1847: Until 1849

Sir John Herschel receives the Copley Medal

1847: Sir John Herschel receives the Copley Medal of the Royal Society "For his work entitled Results of Astronomical Observations made during the years 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837 and 1838, at the Cape of Good Hope; being a completion of a telescopic survey of the whole surface of the visible heavens, commenced in 1825"

Sir John Herschel publishes a paper

1847: Sir John Herschel publishes Results of astronomical observations made during the years 1834, 5, 6, 7, 8, at the Cape of Good Hope; being a completion of a telescopic survey of the whole surface of the visible heavens, commenced in 1825.

Autograph letter signed by sender. Discovered a telescopic comet in Cepheus. Gives readings.

Reference number: HS/9/335

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has discovered another member of the group of planets between Mars and Jupiter. Gives readings. May be the lost planet of Niccolo Cacciatore.

Reference number: HS/9/336

Draft letter. Obviously a ring of planets is being discovered. Congratulations on the discovery. Is the reading based on one night's observations only? Gives it a female name, possibly Iris.

Reference number: HS/9/337

Autograph letter signed by sender. Giving the details of his planetary discovery. Likes John Frederick William Herschel's name, but several more have been suggested. K. L. Hencke may have observed the new planet, but sees no reason why it should not have an English name.

Reference number: HS/9/338

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has discovered another new planet [Flora]. Gives readings.

Reference number: HS/9/339

Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for the neat name and symbol he has given to the new planet; thinks H. C. Schumacher has read Hora for Flora. The next one will have to be called Thetis as so many have suggested that name.

Reference number: HS/9/340

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends his first approximation of the elements of the asteroid Flora.

Reference number: HS/9/341

Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Obviously a ring of planets is being discovered. Congratulations on the discovery. Is the reading based on one night's observations only? Gives it a female name, possibly Iris.

Reference number: HS/22/325
1848

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood is formed, by John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rosetti and others

1848

Napoleon III is elected first President of France

20 December 1848

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sending notices of several variable stars he has observed recently. Observed Encke's comet twice. Newly discovered variable stars will be discussed in his forthcoming notes to the Ecliptic charts. Sends a small pamphlet on the expected comet.

Reference number: HS/9/342
1849

Sir John Herschel publishes Outlines of Astronomy.

1849

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends a copy of the Astronomical Remembrancer to which he referred. The garnet star is BAC 7582. Encloses a list of variable stars and comments on the proximity of two of them.

Reference number: HS/9/343

Autograph letter signed by sender. As John Frederick William Herschel is compiling a complete catalogue of variable stars, wonders if he has noticed the one listed in the Berlin maps. Has recently made a cometary summary.

Reference number: HS/9/344

Autograph letter signed by sender. May use his cometary summary by all means; believes that J. G. Galle's is the most complete but his method requires improvement. Thinks he has traced the history of Halley's Comet and will be writing a paper on the subject.

Reference number: HS/9/345
1850

Sir John Herschel is appointed Master of the Mint

1850

Autograph letter signed by sender. On the evening of 4 Jan. he found a nebulosity in or near Draco that he has been unable to discover in any catalogue. Has discovered another red star in Taurus, which is not given in John Frederick William Herschel's list.

Reference number: HS/9/346

Autograph letter signed by sender. In looking through Lamont 1845-6 he found two observations of Neptune not previously recognized. Thanks for his memoir on the orbits of double stars.

Reference number: HS/9/347

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends an interesting result of the comet computed by Mr. Barber of Etwell. W. R. Dawes's observations are about to be printed. Wilhelm Struve has some curious optical equations. Will be pleased to see Dr. [Henry?] Holland when he arrives.

Reference number: HS/9/348

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has just received a memoir from Bastiaan Bomme of Middelburg on the comet of 1264 and 1556. Sends the chief results. Comments on the findings and future appearances of the comet.

Reference number: HS/9/349

Autograph letter signed by sender. On Nov. 4 observed a red star, which does not appear in any of the recent maps or charts. Gives readings. John Frederick William Herschel may be able to throw some light on it.

Reference number: HS/9/350
1851

Sir John Herschel serves as juror of the Great Exhibition

1851

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for John Frederick William Herschel's efforts in bringing his case before the government. Hopes to prove useful to the cause of science if his health permits.

Reference number: HS/9/351

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has discovered another planet {Irene]. Gives readings. Suggests source of name.

Reference number: HS/9/352

Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for the name [Irene]; will lose no time in making it known. Observed a faint nebulous light around the planet.

Reference number: HS/9/353

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has received the elements of Irene from J. F. Encke, which places the planet near Egeria. Eduard Heis has asked for John Frederick William Herschel's address as he has prepared a paper on variable stars.

Reference number: HS/9/354
1852

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sending a table of variable stars. Appears to have seen the new planet [Psyche] on 29 Jan.

Reference number: HS/9/355

Autograph letter signed by sender. Takes the earliest opportunity of announcing the discovery of a new planet [Melpomene]. Gives readings.

Reference number: HS/9/356

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regrets the trouble John Frederick William Herschel has been caused, but it was due to the non-arrival of his letter. Cannot claim fellowship of the Royal Society [of London] as he did not attend any of the meetings following his election. Gives a list of his planetary discoveries.

Reference number: HS/9/357

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has found another planet [Fortuna]; gives readings. Finds that the famous eclipse of Thales took place in 585 B.C., not 610 B.C., as stated by Francis Baily and Mr. Altmann.

Reference number: HS/9/358

Autograph letter signed by sender. Angelo Secchi has found the second head of Biela's comet. Gives the elements of J. R. Hind's last planet (Fortuna).

Reference number: HS/9/359

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has discovered a seventh planet [Kalliope]. Gives readings.

Reference number: HS/9/360

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has discovered an eighth planet. Gives readings. Proposes to call it Thalia.

Reference number: HS/9/361
1853

Autograph letter signed by sender. What would John Frederick William Herschel like done with the column 'Equinoctial Time' in the Nautical Almanac?

Reference number: HS/9/362

Draft letter. Outlines the changes he would like to see in the column for Equinoctial Time in the Nautical Almanac.

Reference number: HS/9/363

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regrets he has been wrongly styled F.R.S. Comments on the projected Lawson Observatory at Nottingham and the high value placed on the instruments. Outlines his plan for the Equinoctial Time column in the Nautical Almanac.

Reference number: HS/9/364

Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Outlines the changes he would like to see in the column for Equinoctial Time in the Nautical Almanac.

Reference number: HS/23/137
1855

Birth of Constance Anne Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1855

Sir John Herschel is elected Foreign Associate of the Institut de France

1855

Sir John Herschel resigns from his position as Master of the Mint

1855

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has heard from W. H. Smyth that John Frederick William Herschel is suffering from serious and protracted indisposition. Hopes he will soon be restored to health as he himself has been.

Reference number: HS/9/365
1860

Sir John Herschel publishes in the Proceedings of the Royal Society

1860: Sir John Herschel publishes some “Remarks on colour-blindness" extracted from a referee report on Pole’s paper on the same subject.

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has read some extracts from John Frederick William Herschel's Prelim. Discourse and would be grateful if he has an old or soiled copy to dispose of as too poor to afford the work.

Reference number: HS/9/316

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for the gift of his Prelim. Discourse. Had to pay 4/8 excess postage.

Reference number: HS/9/317

Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for the 4/8 postage. Query on William Hopkins's theory of the Earth's formation. Would be grateful for any scientific works.

Reference number: HS/9/318

Autograph letter signed by sender. John Frederick William Herschel's copy of the Nautical Almanac for 1864 will be forwarded to the Royal Astronomical Society Johann Heinrich Mädler has solved the problem of one of William Herschel's observations.

Reference number: HS/9/366
1861

Death of Margaret Louisa Marshall, née Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1861

William Morris established the decorative design firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company (later Morris & Company)

1861

Charles Dickens publishes Great Expectations as a three-volume book

1861

Sir John Herschel publishes Physical Geography as part of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

1861

Abraham Lincoln begins his term as President of the United States

4 March 1861

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been studying the star discovered by Anthelm [Voituret Anthelme] in 1670. The star he discovered in Ophiuchus has not disappeared as stated by some astronomers. Bishop is seriously ill.

Reference number: HS/9/367

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has received several letters from German astronomers on U. J. J. Leverrier's suggestions for the re-naming of the asteroids. Comments on this. Is preparing a report for the Royal Astronomical Society and would like to hear John Frederick William Herschel's views on the subject.

Reference number: HS/9/368

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is very pleased he agrees with the present system of naming the asteroids; so does G. B. Airy. George Bishop died yesterday, and the Observatory is now in the hands of Bishop's son.

Reference number: HS/9/369

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends his calculation of the number of days from the commencement of the Julian period to 1 Jan. 1801; the result agrees with that of John Frederick William Herschel.

Reference number: HS/9/370

Autograph letter signed by sender. [James?] Ferguson wants Titania changed to Echo, which he has now inserted in the forthcoming Nautical Almanac. H. M. S. Goldschmidt has recovered Pseudo-Daphne. U. J. J. Leverrier does not wish to name No. 59.

Reference number: HS/9/371

Autograph letter signed by sender. Will incorporate his suggestion respecting the introduction of the current Julian date in the Nautical Almanac. The name 'Baucis' has been proposed for No. 59. Has sent U. J. J. Leverrier his own views on nomenclature. Bishop's Observatory may be moved to Twickenham.

Reference number: HS/9/372

Autograph letter signed by sender. Will send the Nautical Almanac to Smith, Elder and Co. Is pleased they agree on the naming of the asteroids. Gives readings for the approaching transit of Mercury.

Reference number: HS/9/373

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has received a letter from U. J. J. Leverrier requesting a name for No. 59; sees difficulties; so would John Frederick William Herschel suggest a name. Has sent the Nautical Almanac supplement and a memoir by Yvon Villarceau to Smith, Elder and Co.

Reference number: HS/9/374

Draft letter. Suggests the name 'Clio' for asteroid No. 59. Gives a list of proposed names for asteroids.

Reference number: HS/9/375

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for the ample list of suggested names for asteroids that John Frederick William Herschel has sent. Outlines the difficulties over the name 'Clio'. Would prefer 'Olympia.'. Believes 'Pseudo-Daphna' will be called 'Galatea'.

Reference number: HS/9/376

Copy of a letter. About the naming of asteroids.

Reference number: HS/23/352
1862

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the apparent disappearance of a nebula. Comments on this.

Reference number: HS/9/377

Autograph letter signed by sender. Cannot see how there can be two opinions regarding John Frederick William Herschel's catalogue of nebulae. Suitable work for the Royal Astronomical Society to publish. Further regarding the lost nebula in Taurus.

Reference number: HS/9/378

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been considering how to incorporate John Frederick William Herschel's suggestions regarding the insertion of the Julian dates in the Nautical Almanac. Would like his views. Quotes extracts from a letter of U. J. J. Leverrier.

Reference number: HS/9/379

Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses slips to show how he has incorporated the Julian dates. Agrees with the American lunar tables. The nebula in Taurus is invisible to William Lassell.

Reference number: HS/9/380

Autograph letter signed by sender. Was interested to receive the information regarding another missing nebula; would like to mention it at the Royal Astronomical Society The late George Bishop's observatory is now being rebuilt at Twickenham. Will return N. R. Pogson's table of Julian dates tomorrow. Has adopted the first of John Frederick William Herschel's suggestions.

Reference number: HS/9/381

Autograph letter signed by sender. Returns N. R. Pogson's tables. Has received a communication from [W.?] Lummis concerning a dark spot on the sun's disc. Has been unable to make any calculations yet.

Reference number: HS/9/382
1863

Autograph letter signed by sender. Would like John Frederick William Herschel to add his signature to Hind's certificate for the Royal Society [of London], and then forward it to G. B. Airy.

Reference number: HS/9/383

Autograph letter signed by sender. Explaining the discrepancy in the Nautical Almanac; will endeavor to make a clearer explanation in the next edition. Returns John Frederick William Herschel's son's memorandum.

Reference number: HS/9/384

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sees that John Frederick William Herschel mentions 'the longitude of perihelion on the ecliptic' as one of the elements he would like to have in the case of the small planets. Would like his advice.

Reference number: HS/9/385

Autograph letter signed by sender. Comments on John Frederick William Herschel's advice regarding the 'longitude of perihelion in the ecliptic.'

Reference number: HS/9/386

Autograph letter signed by sender. Explaining some of the signs in the enclosed table. Has sent the Nautical Almanac for 1867.

Reference number: HS/9/387

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sending the revision of the first half sheet for the 1867 supplement containing the latest elements of the small planets.

Reference number: HS/9/388
1864

Autograph letter signed by sender. John Frederick William Herschel's letter went to the old address, which accounts for the delay. Regarding his query, gives date of the conjunction of the planets.

Reference number: HS/9/389
1865

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the comet seen at Melbourne (Australia), may be the 1843 comet discussed by John Frederick William Herschel in his Outlines Astr. Comments on this.

Reference number: HS/9/390

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the southern comet; does not think it can be the 1843 one until he receives further observations.

Reference number: HS/9/391

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sending the elements of 79, 81 and 82; is not certain if N. R. Pogson has sent the orbit for No. 80. It is reckoned in the same way as in the last edition of John Frederick William Herschel's Outlines Astr.

Reference number: HS/9/392
1866

Sir John Herschel publishes his translation of Homer’s Iliad

1866

Autograph letter signed by sender. Thinks that E. W. L. Tempel's comet may be connected with that of Biela. Comments on this.

Reference number: HS/9/393

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regrets his reply [to Hind's 1866-1-30?] is late owing to absence on an excursion. Has not heard that either comet has been perceived. Has not seen Otto Struve's remarks.

Reference number: HS/9/394
1867

Sir John Herschel publishes Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects

1867

Autograph letter signed by sender. [John?] Farley has just given him the readings for the minor planets. Encloses these and also readings for the major planets from U. J. J. Leverrier.

Reference number: HS/9/395
1868

Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister

1 February 1868

William Gladstone becomes Prime Minister

1 December 1868

1869

Jules Verne serializes Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea

1869: (Vingt Mille Lieues sous les Mers)

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends photograph of a medal lately struck in Paris to commemorate the discovery of 100 asteroids, on which Hind appears.

Reference number: HS/9/396

Autograph letter signed by sender. His last note on the Julian period puzzled him. Has not taken many double star measurements, but will send on a few later. Has not finished the ecliptical charts yet. Regarding a planet more distant than Neptune.

Reference number: HS/9/397
1870

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has calculated the ecliptic of Thucydides. Comments on this and the reading given by E. W. Hartwig. Regarding the 7 eclipses of the sun during the past 30 years. G. Bishop's assistant (W. Plummer) is investigating the orbit of the great comet of 1861. Nautical Almanac for 1874 delayed due to extra work on the transit of Venus.

Reference number: HS/9/398
1871

Death of Sir John Herschel, at Collingwood, Kent

11 May 1871

Sir John Herschel is buried at Westminster Abbey

19 May 1871

Autograph letter signed by sender. Forgot to call his attention to the column regarding the Julian period in the Nautical Almanac. Something strange about the neighborhood of R. Leporis. He has no doubt seen the table of Julian dates in the Connaissance des temps.

Reference number: HS/9/399

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends calculation of the Transits of Venus in 2004 and 2012. Cannot find any record of new double stars. Is in doubt about R. Leporis. Quotes an historical incident regarding an eclipse of the sun and the removal of Mahomet's pulpit. Did F. X. von Zach make his calculations himself?

Reference number: HS/9/400