Correspondence map
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John Frederick William Herschel
Robert Hunt
Sir John Herschel serves his first term as President of the Royal Astronomical Society
1839: to 1841
Birth of Maria Sophia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1839
William Henry Fox Talbot presents his paper-based photographic process at the Royal Society
1839

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been experimenting with photographic papers. Outlines some of his experiments. Has prepared some papers for sale.
9 December 1839 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/80
Draft in John Herschel's hand. Intrigued by Robert Hunt's experiments with photographic papers; will buy six sheets of Robert Hunt's specimens. Admits having conducted numerous experiments himself and asks to include some of Robert Hunt's results in a forthcoming paper on the subject.
14 December 1839 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/10/81
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for his letter. Sends some of his photographic sheets. Now uses a different chemical to prepare his papers. Will be pleased to send John Frederick William Herschel his results and to receive a copy of the memoir in due course.
18 December 1839 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/82
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Intrigued by Robert Hunt's experiments with photographic papers; will buy six sheets of Robert Hunt's specimens. Admits having conducted numerous experiments himself and asks to include some of Robert Hunt's results in a forthcoming paper on the subject.
14 December 1839 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/32Sir 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. Would like John Frederick William Herschel's account of his own method of fixing a photograph as noted in his memoir. Singular phenomenon of the Daguerreotype. Hopes to produce a photographic paper to equal the silver plate before the month has expired. Will let him know when his process is complete.
15 April 1840 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/83
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for the handsome manner in which John Frederick William Herschel has acknowledged Robert Hunt's work. Would be willing to prepare a memoir for the Royal Society [of London] Does Louis Daguerre's patent affect Robert Hunt's manufacture of photographic papers? Has not studied the bromnets so far, but has studied the effects of bromine on plates. Comments on his results.
23 April 1840 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/84
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends his paper for communication to the Royal Society [of London] Will send some more examples later as his camera has developed a defect.
9 May 1840 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/85
Autograph letter signed by sender. Returns the photographic drawings of W. H. Fox Talbot with many thanks. Fears for their permanence. Has produced similar pictures himself acting on bromide of silver with hydrocholoric acid. Has had trouble with his periscope lens.
16 May 1840 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/86
Autograph letter signed by sender. Was gratified to receive his memoir and to find many of his doubts corrected by John Frederick William Herschel's experiments. Hoped to enclose some sulphuretted papers but the chemicals went astray in the post. Intends to follow John Frederick William Herschel's example and precipitate a glass.
23 May 1840 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/87
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for the suggested emendations to his paper. Comments on the action of iodine on silver and its oxide. When can he expect publication of his paper? Has noted a peculiar property in the calorific rays when copying engravings. Encloses some Daguerreotype papers.
8 August 1840 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/88
Copy of a letter. Exchanging further information on several aspects of the photographic process [see Robert Hunt's 1840-4-15].
19 April 1840 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/49
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Has received Hunt's paper which he will forward to Mr Christie, Secretary of the Royal society for communication. Regarding the use of idonie in experiments.
12 May 1840 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/51
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Does not know anywhere that such processes as Robert Hunt uses are used for registry work, although the idea is frequently raised.
10 November 1840 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/70
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks Robert Hunt for a sample of Daguerreotype paper. Comments on some aspects of the action of 'thermic' rays and 'chemical' rays in photography.
17 August 1840 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/26/68Sir Robert Peel becomes Prime Minister
1841
Birth of Amelia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1841

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for referring him to Capt. Ludlow. Has now moved himself to Falmouth. What does John Frederick William Herschel think of the chances of success of a popular book on photography? He is contemplating the idea. Hears that J. B. Biot considers the production of colored drawings impossible, but is not convinced himself. Encloses description and drawing of a very clever instrument.
17 January 1841 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/89
Autograph letter signed by sender. Returns with grateful thanks the example of photographs recently sent him. They open up a new field of curious processes. Will not have much time this summer for photographic experiments as he is carrying out a series of investigations into the air of mines. Has been experimenting with the cyanurets.
5 June 1841 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/90
Copy of a letter. Has not lately done much work in photography, except to work with paper treated with vegetable substances.
10 February 1841 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/79
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Thanks Robert Hunt for his 'extensive and instructive view on the present state of photography.' Found many interesting results in experimenting with vegetable substances. Surprised by Robert Hunt's discovery that bi-chromate of potash is a photographic substance; John Frederick William Herschel nearly achieved this result.
21 May 1841 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/87Birth 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”

Autograph letter signed by sender. Was hoping to send him some positive paper, but has been unable to prepare this due to a medical problem. Did make a sheet or two today. Returns some of the specimens John Frederick William Herschel sent him but would like to keep those made by John Frederick William Herschel himself.
28 May 1842 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/91
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for the specimens sent him. Has been carrying out a series of experiments on the Calotype process with extraordinary results, especially the crimson skies. What does he think of the idea of publishing a treatise on 'Light' considered as a chemical agent?
12 October 1842 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/92
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been working at [L. F.] Moser's experiments and believes he is wrong in considering latent light as the agent that produces the photographic image. Read a paper last evening on the subject, which will be printed. Has been producing images by the action of heat and electricity and proposes to call this process Thermography.
9 November 1842 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/93
Autograph letter signed by sender. Was pleased to receive John Frederick William Herschel's letter and to read that he had really proved the existence of [invisible light?]. One of his students has produced images on copper plates by sulfur fumes. Has just seen Macedoine Melloni's memoir, which is now governed by John Frederick William Herschel's views.
21 November 1842 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/94
Autograph letter signed by sender. Was very pleased with the specimen John Frederick William Herschel sent him; it is still in good condition. Has he read [John William] Draper's paper? Comments on some of the points. Outlines some of his own proposed experiments.
8 December 1842 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/95
Autograph letter signed by sender. Much indebted for his paper on the influence of the solar spectrum on vegetable colors. Has a series of experiments ready that he hopes will resolve some of his own doubts. Does not like the term J. W. Draper uses for the new rays.
15 December 1842 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/96
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends a few samples of plates made by the cyanotype process; they are poor because the sun has not been very strong of late. Comments on this process and wishes John Frederick William Herschel would make a few experiments with his more perfect apparatus. Inclined to agree with him about the mechanism of the eye.
24 December 1842 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/97
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Some information about Charles Piazzi Smyth. John Frederick William Herschel needs information about some of Robert Hunt's photographic paper, which John Frederick William Herschel has tried but without success.
May 1842 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/117
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Sorry to hear Robert Hunt has been ill; John Frederick William Herschel sends some photographic examples.
2 June 1842 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/121
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Thanks for Robert Hunt's paper on mineralogy. John Frederick William Herschel has explored use of mercury together with iron in photography.
September 1842 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/133
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Sends Robert Hunt a packet of photographs with a description of each type.
2 December 1842 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/143
Copy of a letter. Is anxious for some means to be developed to get a measurable quantity [preferably by weight] from the action of a beam of light on a surface. John Frederick William Herschel has been experimenting in photography with 'flouric' compounds.
1842-12-9 or later Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/25/14/15
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been reading John Frederick William Herschel's communication to the P.M. [on solar spectrum] and wishes to point out that Robert Hunt was the first to carry out those experiments, which are recounted in the P.M. for 1840.
4 February 1843 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/98
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends some specimens of photographs he has made by using bichromate of potash and an acid solution of nitrate of mercury. Gives details of a luminous phenomena he has seen in the S.W. and would like an explanation of it from John Frederick William Herschel.
23 April 1843 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/99
Autograph letter signed by sender. Enlarging on the luminous phenomena he has seen in the S.W. and giving some comments from a naval officer who had observed it.
24 March 1843 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/100
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for the very interesting photograph; will keep the preparation secret if he discovers it. Has been trying many experiments with benzoates with curious results, but bad weather has stopped progress so has now turned to thermography to test the truth of Mr. Prater's conclusions. Comments on these.
7 June 1843 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/101
Autograph letter signed by sender. Enclosing the specimens of photographs by different methods; comments on the methods used. Encloses a paper by Were Fox.
6 July 1843 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/102
Autograph letter signed by sender. Enclosing specimens of his chromatype; comments on how these were produced and their characteristics. Is very busy with the Annual Exhibition of the Polytechnic Society.
11 September 1843 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/103
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has received from the P.M. proof of an article replying to the attack of [L. F.] Moser on Robert Hunt, also details of a new instrument by J. W. Draper. Would like John Frederick William Herschel's opinion on the instrument. Has had some good results with the fluorates recently.
19 November 1843 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/104
Autograph letter signed by sender. Would like his views on a name for the combination of hydrogen and chlorine. Comments on the various theories. Has replied to [L. F.] Moser.
12 December 1843 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/105
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Clarification of priority to the prismatic analysis of the Daguerreotype photograph; comments on the location of a limiting diaphragm in a camera obscura.
17 February 1843 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/147
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Some comments about photographic processes and about Robert Hunt's observations of the heavens [see Robert Hunt's 1843-3-24].
25 March 1843 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/150
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Comments on Robert Hunt's chromatype photographic process and other processes tried by John Frederick William Herschel.
17 September 1843 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/168Birth of Matilda Rose Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1844

Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for his instructive letter. Comments on the terms suggested for the chemical change. Has now improved his chromatype process. Unable to continue his researches on light owing to lack of finance.
26 January 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/106
Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses some specimens of photographs made by the use of chloride of gold and bichromate of potash. Comments on the process.
24 February 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/107
Autograph letter signed by sender. Outlines his domestic history. If John Frederick William Herschel knows of a suitable position vacant that may suit Robert Hunt he would be pleased to hear of it. Cannot understand John Frederick William Herschel's lack of success with the photographic process Robert Hunt uses. His own book is printed and is waiting for an engraving. Will send him a copy.
22 March 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/108
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is most grateful for John Frederick William Herschel's offer of assistance for one of his sons. Suggests the second one would be most suitable. Is certain Sir Charles Lemon, their president, would support him.
13 April 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/109
Autograph letter signed by sender. Charles Lemon has communicated to him the result of an application made by John Frederick William Herschel to Prince Albert on behalf of one of Robert Hunt's children. Is deeply grateful for his assistance.
1 May 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/110
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks John Frederick William Herschel for the application [HS/10/110]. It would be a great relief to him to "procure a presentation for either of my children". Succeeded in experiments demonstrating the absorption of the chemical action of the sunlight. This will show chemists "that the results of well conducted analysis are materially different, accordingly as they are obtained by day or artificial light
1 May 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/111
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends a copy of G. R. Anson's letter to Charles Lemon regarding a scholarship for one of Robert Hunt's children. Is deeply grateful to John Frederick William Herschel for his nomination and support.
3 May 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/112
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sending some specimens of photographs by a new process that he thinks is unrivalled for simplicity and sensibility. Comments on his method. Has sent an account of another curious process to the P.M. His little boy will go to Christ's Hospital in July or September.
17 May 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/113
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has just returned from London where he has taken his son, ready to go to Christ's Hospital. Would have called on John Frederick William Herschel but believed he was not at Collingwood. Hopes to meet him at York. Comment on his recent photographic work. Would like to obtain a position in London.
17 September 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/114
Autograph letter signed by sender. Returns his interesting specimens. Has read his communication in the Physical and Chemical sections. Regarding the use of certain terms. Had long discussion with W. H. Fox Talbot on matters of Light. Has been offered a position at the Birmingham Institution. Is there any chance of obtaining a position in London?
2 October 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/115
Autograph letter signed by sender. Received the enclosed silver plate on which is an impression made by the moon; has he any comments. Has been experimenting with solution of bichromate of potash and sulphate of copper exposed to actinic influence. Has been giving his attention to ferrotypes recently.
2 December 1844 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/116Sir John Herschel serves as President of the British Association
1845

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has applied to the Council for the position and Michael Faraday has promised him support. Has also heard of a forthcoming vacancy in the Museum of Economic Geology. Is undecided which to apply for and would welcome John Frederick William Herschel's views.
19 March 1845 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/117
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been appointed keeper of Mining records at the Museum of Economic Geology. Hopes to meet him personally and thank him for his assistance.
9 April 1845 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/118
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends an analysis of the salts he sent him at Cambridge.
3 July 1845 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/119
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has just been showing Michael Faraday some of his experiments on the influence of magnetism of bodies slowly precipitating; comments on this and will be pleased to carry out any experiments for John Frederick William Herschel.
29 December 1845 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/120
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Expresses his pleasure at Robert Hunt's new position at the Museum of Economic Geology.
13 April 1845 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/229Birth 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

Copy letter in John Herschel's hand. Robert Hunt's experiments are extremely interesting and deserve to be pursued. Comments on experiments made by Michael Faraday and others relating to the formation of crystals in a magnetic field and the effect such crystals have on polarized light.
5 January 1846 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/10/121
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been pursuing his magnetic experiments with crystals and will be publishing a memoir on them. Comments on these experiment. Is there a difference in the mass of the earth at the poles?
6 April 1846 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/122
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is giving a series of lectures at the Collegiate Institution. Has made some interesting discoveries recently and has deposited a paper with Faraday for communication to the Royal Society [of London] Comes to the conclusion that chemical action can be suspended by magnetic force. Comments on this.
1 June 1846 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/123
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has often thought of the inactive condition of iron and has made some notes before he received John Frederick William Herschel's comments. Has overcome all John Frederick William Herschel's objections to the intrinsic difference in the two poles. Comments on some of these experiments.
16 June 1846 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/124
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Robert Hunt's experiments are extremely interesting and deserve to be pursued. Comments on experiments made by Michael Faraday and others relating to the formation of crystals in a magnetic field and the effect such crystals have on polarized light.
5 January 1846 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/264Sir 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. Is desirous of procuring impressions of prismatic spectra from all parts of the globe. These should show the chemical influence of the solar rays. The B.A.A.S. may be able to help or Colonel Edward Sabine. Can John Frederick William Herschel use his influence?
3 March 1847 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/125The 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. Has been working for a long time on the supposed influence of magnetism on chemical action. Outlines an experiment he has used to show whether magnetism affects chemical action; would like his comments.
17 March 1848 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/126
Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses a copy of his own paper from the P.M. Has not found time to do the experiments suggested by John Frederick William Herschel, but hopes to shortly. Is revising some papers on the physical powers of the universe for re-publication.
12 April 1848 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/127
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for John Frederick William Herschel's request to add his name as a subscriber to his book. Sends a volume entitled the Poetry of Science for John Frederick William Herschel's acceptance.
7 November 1848 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/128
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is pleased he approves of his style. Regarding the experiments on the germination of seeds. His own son is progressing satisfactorily.
9 November 1848 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/129Sir John Herschel publishes Outlines of Astronomy.
1849

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is thinking of withdrawing his son from Christ's Hospital owing to his frequent epileptic fits. Should he inform the Prince Consort? Outlines his recent photographic work. Second half of the letter had been separated and numbered 136, item now reunited.
21 April 1849 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/130
Autograph letter signed by sender. Since writing to John Frederick William Herschel he has taken medical advice and decided to leave his son at Christ's Hospital for the time being. Gave a lecture at the Royal Institution on Friday evening.
24 April 1849 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/131Sir John Herschel is appointed Master of the Mint
1850
Sir John Herschel serves as juror of the Great Exhibition
1851

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the absence of his own name from the candidates list for the Royal Society [of London]; thinks there is a clique working against him.
8 May 1852 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/132Birth 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
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.
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
Sir John Herschel publishes his translation of Homer’s Iliad
1866
Sir John Herschel publishes Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects
1867

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been requested by the Editor of the Quarterly Journal of Science to write a paper on John Frederick William Herschel and modern astronomy. Would like John Frederick William Herschel's sanction, and also a few notes on the most important aspects.
28 October 1867 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/133
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is grateful for his letter and will study the memoirs to which he refers. The Editor would also like a photograph; can John Frederick William Herschel oblige?
1 November 1867 Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/134
Autograph letter signed by sender, incomplete. Has a work on Elementary Physics almost through the press; it is intended for the young. Hopes to construct an instrument to measure amount of chemical action in the solar rays. Would like John Frederick William Herschel to speak to a member of the Government about a position Robert Hunt would like.
Sender: Robert Hunt Reference number: HS/10/135