Correspondence map
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John Tyndall
John Frederick William Herschel
Sir John Herschel serves as juror of the Great Exhibition
1851
Autograph letter signed by sender. Letter in application for Professorship of Experimental Philosophy and Chemistry at University College, Sydney.
8 November 1851 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/381
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends memoirs on magnetism of crystalline bodies. Notes that remarks on atomic mechanism of Iceland spar contrast with John Frederick William Herschel's views expressed in John Frederick William Herschel's Light.
8 November 1851 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/382
1852
Autograph letter signed by sender. Asks John Frederick William Herschel to keep memoirs John Tyndall sent with regard to John Tyndall's application for position at University of Sydney.
10 January 1852 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/383
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
1856
Copy of a letter. Thanks for papers on diamagnetism and lecture on 'slaty cleavage.' Compares with phenomenon of 'ringing coins' in mint. Explains with examples conformity of John Tyndall's views with John Frederick William Herschel's own on geological stratification. Praises simplicity yet completeness of John Tyndall's work.
27 July 1856 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/383a
Autograph letter signed by sender. Agrees with and asks permission to publish John Frederick William Herschel's letter in the Philosophical Magazine. Is going to Switzerland and Tyrol, where hopes to see phenomenon of glacial descent [see John Frederick William Herschel's 1856-7-31].
30 July 1856 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/384
Copy of a letter, with diagrams. Clarifies letter on motion and structure modification of glaciers. John Frederick William Herschel thinks glacier ice unfavorable for exhibiting John Tyndall's phenomenon [see John Tyndall's 1856-7-30].
31 July 1856 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/175
Copy of a letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Thanks for papers on diamagnetism and lecture on 'slaty cleavage.' Compares with phenomenon of 'ringing coins' in mint. Explains with examples conformity of John Tyndall's views with John Frederick William Herschel's own on geological stratification. Praises simplicity yet completeness of John Tyndall's work.
27 July 1856 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/176
1857
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends sketch of lecture on structure and motion of glaciers. Wants to conduct experiments on physical properties of ice, and applying polarized light. Beyond paper, is interested in cleavage of ice.
2 March 1857 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/385
Copy of a letter. Thanks for lecture on glacier cleavage. Wonders how 'regelation' occurs when two masses of ice at 32° are placed in contact.
17 March 1857 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/386
Autograph letter signed by sender. Remarks on physical properties of ice and their bearing on glacial phenomena. Asks for help inventing term for idea of 'fracture and renewal' of glacial bendings.
20 March 1857 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/387
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.
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. Apologizes for not having seen John Frederick William Herschel's paper on spectra of colored flames and thus having overlooked John Frederick William Herschel's prior claims [see John Frederick William Herschel's 1861-7-21]. Will try to make amends.
24 July 1861 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/388
Autograph letter signed by sender. Gives account of observations on lunar radiation, including detailed description of experiments.
21 November 1861 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/389
Autograph letter signed by sender. Clarifies that John Tyndall does not believe moon radiates cold itself, but effects are 'as if' it did. Relates this to atmosphere.
23 November 1861 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/390
Copy of a letter. Thanks for and comments on paper and lectures on 'diathermancy etc.' of gases, scientific teaching, and solar chemistry. Regrets that John Tyndall mentioned all names connected with light research except John Frederick William Herschel's
22 July 1861 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/335
Copy of a letter. Reply to John Tyndall's 'Remarks on Radiation and Absorption.' Calls non-absorption of air and vapor key to understanding meteorological phenomena. Remarks on 'radiant heat' from moon.
10 November 1861 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/347
Copy of a letter, with diagrams. Does not believe surface of moon can radiate cold; perhaps new moon can. Explains this geometrically.
22 November 1861 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/348
Copy of a letter. Finds John Tyndall's work on thermotics 'highly interesting,' although criticizes measurements of 'tenuity' of vapor, and explanation of scattering of sunlight and formation of corona around moon during eclipse.
24 November 1861 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/350
1862
Contemporary copy of the letter. Remarks on John Tyndall's papers on radiant heat and related role of moisture. Will send requested sample of rock salt. Explains difficulties using it and hopes John Tyndall will have better success, perhaps even repeating John Frederick William Herschel's experiments.
12 April 1862 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/390a
Autograph letter signed by sender. Finds John Frederick William Herschel's approval incredibly gratifying. Thanks for gift of rock salt. Is sending unscientific book; trusts John Frederick William Herschel's interests are broad enough to appreciate it.
15 April 1862 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/391
Copy of a letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Remarks on John Tyndall's papers on radiant heat and related role of moisture. Will send requested sample of rock salt. Explains difficulties using it and hopes John Tyndall will have better success, perhaps even repeating John Frederick William Herschel's experiments.
12 April 1862 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/367
1863
Autograph letter signed by sender. Asks permission to print extract of John Frederick William Herschel's letter on heat spots of spectrum of rock salt sample. Hopes John Frederick William Herschel's son [Alexander] will speak at Royal Institution; John Tyndall would help with illustration. Wonders how blue color of water relates to sky color and polarization.
4 January 1863 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/392
Contemporary copy of the letter. Likes John Tyndall's explanation of sky's blue color. Has difficulty with John Tyndall's explanation of polarization of skylight. Comments on absorptive powers of vapor and liquid.
5 January 1863 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/392a
Autograph letter signed by sender. Remarks on upcoming lecture of John Frederick William Herschel's son [Alexander], and on glacial movement.
16 March 1863 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/393
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for a gift.
28 April 1863? Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/411
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Likes John Tyndall's explanation of sky's blue color. Has difficulty with John Tyndall's explanation of polarization of skylight. Comments on absorptive powers of vapor and liquid.
5 January 1863 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/4
Copy of a letter. Thanks for lectures on heat motion theory and radiation through earth's atmosphere, and for brochure on 'conformation' of the Alps. Asks about upcoming lecture of John Frederick William Herschel's son [Alexander].
15 March 1863 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/14
1864
Copy of a letter, with diagrams. Thanks for and comments on papers on scientific history and molecular physics, particularly on a magnetic experiment and on dynamical efficiency of coal relative to motion theory of light and heat. Comments on nature of heat, 'vis viva.' Deplores laxity with which physicists use and confuse terms 'force,' 'motion,' and 'energy.'
18 July 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/393a
Autograph letter signed by sender. Regrets 'stupidity' of Italian post office, which lost note sent to John Frederick William Herschel suggesting reprinting of passage from Treatise Astr. of 1833 on operations of sun in second edition of John Tyndall's book. Also wants to publish John Tyndall's 'extremely philosophical views' on muscle contraction.
17 September 1864 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/394
Draft in John Herschel's hand. Thanks for and comments on paper on luminous and obscure radiation, particularly on extra spectral rays, incandescence of platinum, and experiment using transcalescence of iodine.
13 November 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/394a
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is not 'at liberty' to speak of experiments on change of refrangibility of 'extra-red' rays. Discusses other experiments on extra-red regions, having used various prisms but not obtaining John Frederick William Herschel's results.
14 November 1864 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/395
Contemporary copy of a letter. Surprised that John Tyndall cannot obtain heat spots [see John Tyndall's 1864-11-14]. Describes glasses and lenses used.
16 November 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/396
Autograph letter signed by sender. John Tyndall does not have 'luxury' of using sunshine; uses electric light. Perhaps this adds to inability to obtain heat spots [see John Frederick William Herschel's 1864-11-16].
17 November 1864 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/397
Autograph letter signed by sender. Asks John Frederick William Herschel to be a shareholder in venture to publish new weekly scientific journal.
18 November 1864 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/398
Contemporary copy in sender's hand, signed by sender. Wishes luck but expresses inability to help with new science journal [see John Tyndall's 1864-11-18].
21 November 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/398a
Copy of a letter, with diagrams. Thanks for and comments on papers on scientific history and molecular physics, particularly on a magnetic experiment and on dynamical efficiency of coal relative to motion theory of light and heat. Comments on nature of heat, 'vis viva.' Deplores laxity with which physicists use and confuse terms 'force,' 'motion,' and 'energy.'
18 July 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/48
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Thanks for and comments on paper on luminous and obscure radiation, particularly on extra spectral rays, incandescence of platinum, and experiment using transcalescence of iodine.
13 November 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/66
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Surprised that John Tyndall cannot obtain heat spots [see John Tyndall's 1864-11-14]. Describes glasses and lenses used.
16 November 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/68
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Wishes luck but expresses inability to help with new science journal [see John Tyndall's 1864-11-18].
21 November 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/69
1865
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends copy of John Tyndall's '3rd Memoir,' along with specimens of liquid mercury ethyl and mercury methyl from discoverers Edward Frankland and B. F. Duppa.
7 February 1865 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/399
1866
Sir John Herschel publishes his translation of Homer’s Iliad
1866
Autograph letter signed by sender?. Describes experiment involving viewing spectrum of a light flash as it advances and recedes. [Marked 'not sent on further consideration.']
3 March 1866 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/399a
Autograph letter signed by sender, with annotation by Sir John Herschel. Corrects misinformation about refraction and dispersion of mercury ethyl and mercury methyl.
1866?-2 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/399b
Autograph letter signed by sender. Comments on excellence of the lecture at the Royal Institution of John Frederick William Herschel's son [Alexander].
26 May 1866 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/400
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Describes experiment involving viewing spectrum of a light flash as it advances and recedes. [Marked 'not sent on further consideration.']
3 March 1866 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/144
Copy of a letter. Thanks for note [see John Tyndall's 1866-5-26] on improvement of the lecturing style of John Frederick William Herschel's son [Alexander]. John Frederick William Herschel's son has studied lecture's subject deeply and loves science; John Frederick William Herschel hopes will be physics professor at a 'considerable institution.'
28 May 1866 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/157
1867
Sir John Herschel publishes Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects
1867
Autograph letter signed by sender, with annotation by Sir John Herschel. Asks whether Michael Faraday's work with glass resulted in improved manufacturing or if rather its main scientific value was in discovery of diamagnetism.
30 October 1867 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/401
Copy of a letter. Believes Michael Faraday's boro-silicate of lead has not been used for telescopes, but John Frederick William Herschel and others have tried using it for other optical purposes. Describes method for producing veinless flint glass.
3 November 1867 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/210
1868
Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister
1 February 1868
William Gladstone becomes Prime Minister
1 December 1868
Autograph letter signed by sender. John Tyndall has suggested that John Frederick William Herschel's son [Alexander] be appointed to position in Royal School of Mines, but colleagues, unwisely, John Tyndall thinks, want someone more well-known.
11 July 1868 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/402
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is studying vesicles. John Frederick William Herschel's son [Alexander] may yet get Royal School of Mines appointment.
27 November 1868 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/403
Autograph letter signed by sender. Observations on subjecting carbonic acid to concentrated beam of an electric lamp. Records experimental result so far. Interested in ordinary dust particles under electric light.
30 November 1868 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/404
Autograph letter signed by sender. Continues experiments with carbonic acid and electric light [see John Tyndall's 1868-11-30], hoping to 'explode' idea that atmosphere's polarization is due to reflection by air particles.
1 December 1868 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/405
Contemporary copy of the letter. Thinks John Tyndall's work on polarization will lead to remarkable discovery. Discusses production of rainbow, parallels to Isaac Newton's explanation of black spot on a soap bubble, and problems in John Tyndall's undulatory theory explanation of reflection. In John Tyndall's experiments, what are nebulous particles produced by light in gas or vapor?
2 December 1868 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/405a
Autograph letter signed by sender. Continues experiments with carbonic acid and electric light [see John Tyndall's 1868-11-30], suggesting possible cause of blue cloud color and eventual whitening of light.
3 December 1868 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/412
Autograph letter signed by sender. Asks John Frederick William Herschel to review paper on blue color of sky, polarization of skylight, and polarization of light by cloudy matter.
12 December 1868 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/413
Autographed draft letter written on the back of various notes, letters and order forms. John Tyndall's paper on polarization of sky light suggests that neutral points are functions of cloud density. This verifies John Frederick William Herschel's earlier explanation of blue sky color. Incomplete polarization. Cause of blue color in water. Corrects note on W. A. Miller's observations of rainbows.
13 December 1868 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/19/160
Copy of a letter. Thanks for paper on action of solar and electric light on vapors, which should give John Tyndall further insight into blue color of sky and polarization of skylight. Comments on the latter. John Frederick William Herschel's son [Alexander] is working hard at Glasgow.
26 November 1868 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/241
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Thinks John Tyndall's work on polarization will lead to remarkable discovery. Discusses production of rainbow, parallels to Isaac Newton's explanation of black spot on a soap bubble, and problems in John Tyndall's undulatory theory explanation of reflection. In John Tyndall's experiments, what are nebulous particles produced by light in gas or vapor?
2 December 1868 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/242
Copy of a letter. Thanks for paper verifying John Frederick William Herschel's prediction that explanation of blue sky color carries with it that of polarization of skylight. Involves ultimate link between chemical and analytical dynamics. Notes that 'neutral points' in sky polarization have yet to be explained; offers tentative explanation based on clues in John Tyndall's work.
14 December 1868 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/243
1869
Jules Verne serializes Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea
1869: (Vingt Mille Lieues sous les Mers)
Contemporary copy of the letter. Thanks for paper on comets. Offers questions, problems to be resolved, particularly on termination of comet.
28 May 1869 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/406
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for John Frederick William Herschel's suggestions on John Tyndall's outline of comet speculations. [G. B.] Airy, too, has replied. Includes more speculations on 'envelopes' and nucleus of comet.
29 May 1869 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/406a
Contemporary copy of the letter, with diagrams. Suggests experiments with regard to polarization and vaporization, and comets' tails.
30 May 1869 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/407
Autograph letter signed by sender. In response to John Frederick William Herschel's comments on John Tyndall's explanation of comets says faintness of head and nucleus does not indicate non-existence; eye may not see all. Experiments with polarized light produce 'gorgeous' 'residual blue.'
1 June 1869 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/407a
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is delighted with John Frederick William Herschel's exposition of colors of thin plates and of measurements of a wave of light in Familiar Lectures. Asks permission to quote from it.
16 November 1869 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/408
Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses reference to one of John Frederick William Herschel's letters to John Tyndall that has already been printed.
27? June 1869 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/414
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Thanks for paper on comets. Offers questions, problems to be resolved, particularly on termination of comet.
28 May 1869 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/260
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. 'Great Comet of 1843' presents difficulties for John Tyndall's explanation of comets' tails [continuation of John Frederick William Herschel's 1869-5-28].
29 May 1869 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/263
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Suggests experiments with regard to polarization and vaporization, and comets' tails.
30 May 1869 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/264
1870
Autograph letter signed by sender. Gratified by John Frederick William Herschel's 'sympathy and approbation,' and that John Frederick William Herschel's writing and spirit remain 'firm' and 'fresh.'
9 June 1870 Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/409
Draft in John Herschel's hand. Thanks for paper on action of rays 'of high refrangibility' on gases and vapors. Attempts to understand reflection of wave motion on particles with diameters 'incomparably smaller' than length of wave.
23 October 1870 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/17/409a
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for suggestion-filled letter. Remarks on blue color of water.
3 December 1870? Sender: John Tyndall Reference number: HS/17/410
Copy of a letter. Thanks for work on diamagnetism and magne-crystallic action [Researches on Diamagnetism (1870)], which John Frederick William Herschel is excited to read. Mentions long-abandoned plans for magnetization experiments. Envies those who can see John Tyndall's 'magic' experiments at Royal Institution.
7 June 1870 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/317