Correspondence map
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William Lassell
John Frederick William Herschel
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”
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sending a description of the observatory he has erected, containing an equatorially mounted Newtonian reflector. Has high opinion of its efficiency. Has detected a sixth star near the trapezium of Orionis.
10 March 1842 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/125
Copy of a letter. Comments on William Lassell's finding a sixth star in the trapezium of Orion [see William Lassell's 1842-3-10]; lists other catalogues that identify that star.
20 March 1842 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/114
1843
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sending a letter he has received from a friend regarding a curious observation of the moon. Has seen the comet and encloses diagrams of its position.
29 March 1843 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/126
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
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. Has seen the seventh satellite of Saturn. Encloses diagrams and comments on them.
26 August 1846 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/127
Autograph letter signed by sender. Was in error when in his last letter he stated he had seen the seventh satellite of Saturn; he has yet to see it.
28 August 1846 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/128
Autograph letter signed by sender. Details of William Lassell's observations of the seventh satellite of Saturn.
7 September 1846 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/129
Autograph letter signed by sender. Details of William Lassell's observations of a ring and satellite of U. J. J. Leverrier's planet.
12 October 1846 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/130
Copy of a letter. Comments on William Lassell's observation of the seventh satellite of Saturn as noted in William Lassell's 1846-8-26.
28 August 1846 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/280
Copy of a letter. Believes that the observations William Lassell has made are quite sufficient to establish the existence of the seventh satellite of Saturn.
13 September 1846 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/283
Copy of a letter. Announces, to William Lassell, the discovery of a new planet beyond Uranus, gives co-ordinates, and urges William Lassell to look for satellites 'with all possible expedition.'
1 October 1846 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/285
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. About observations of the seventh satellite of Saturn, and using William Parsons' (3rd Earl of Rosse) 'machine'.
4 February 1847 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/131
Autograph letter signed by sender. Note to accompany details of William Lassell's observations of the satellite of Neptune. [Details are found in William Lassell's letter to H. C. Schumacher of 1847-8-6.]
6 August 1847 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/132
Autograph letter signed by sender. Grateful for John Frederick William Herschel's Cape observations. Has nothing new to report on the ring of Neptune. Has been troubled with dew on his prism, but has now succeeded in overcoming this difficulty.
14 August 1847 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/134
Copy of a letter. Ask William Lassell's permission to make reference to William Lassell's sighting of the seventh satellite of Saturn in John Frederick William Herschel's observations of all the satellites of Saturn.
1 February 1847 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/298
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. Has sent his observations on Saturn and Neptune to the Royal Astronomical Society and encloses a copy for John Frederick William Herschel. Weather has been unsuitable for many observations recently. Has not heard of any observations of a second satellite of Neptune.
22 January 1848 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/135
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has received a letter from W. C. Bond of the Cambridge Observatory (U.S.A.), who speaks of the satellite of Neptune. Bond also sends details of the stars around Orion. Relates his own work on the specula of telescopes. Intends to submit a paper on this to the Royal Astronomical Society
31 January 1848 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/136
Autograph letter signed by sender. Outlining the apparent controversy between himself and W. C. Bond over the discovery of the satellites.
13 October 1848 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/137
Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding W. C. Bond's discovery of the Neptunian satellites.
14 October 1848 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/138
Draft letter, with annotations by recipient. Criteria for deciding who can claim to be the discoverer of the satellite. [This letter marked 'not sent on second thoughts; see HS 23.41 for letter sent.]
15 October 1848 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/11/139
Copy of a letter. Urges William Lassell to make public his observations of the seventh satellite of Saturn as Otto Struve is about to announce his observation of the same body.
19 January 1848 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/4
Copy of a letter. Is pleased to hear of the discovery of further satellites of Neptune.
22 September 1848 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/37
Copy of a letter. Some question of Harvard University observer having observed the satellite [see John Frederick William Herschel's 1848-9-22] one day before William Lassell.
11 October 1848 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/39
Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Criteria for deciding who can claim to be the discoverer of the satellite. [This letter marked 'not sent on second thoughts; see HS 23.41 for letter sent.]
15 October 1848 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/40
Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Criteria for deciding who can claim to be the discoverer of the satellite. [This letter marked 'not sent on second thoughts; see HS 23.41 for letter sent.]
15 October 1848 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/41
1849
Sir John Herschel publishes Outlines of Astronomy.
1849
1850
Sir John Herschel is appointed Master of the Mint
1850
1851
Sir John Herschel serves as juror of the Great Exhibition
1851
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has discovered two new satellites of Uranus; gives observations. Would John Frederick William Herschel suggest names for them.
3 November 1851 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/141
Autograph letter signed by sender. Giving his recent observations of the satellites of Uranus. Has not detected more than four satellites.
27 November 1851 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/142
Copy of a letter. Congratulations to William Lassell on his discovery [see William Lassell's 1851-11-3]; naming should occur once the various satellites have been described and verified.
4 November 1851 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/109
Copy of a letter. Suggests names for the satellites of Uranus, in response to a request from William Lassell [see William Lassell's 1851-11-3].
1851-11-4 or later Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/25/14/18
1852
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is well satisfied with the names John Frederick William Herschel has suggested for the satellites, but wonders whether the continental astronomers will accept them. Is puzzled by the orbits of two satellites.
24 March 1852 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/143
Autograph letter signed by sender. Found he had made an error in his letter of yesterday. Encloses an amended table.
25 March 1852 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/144
Autograph letter signed by sender. Intends to use John Frederick William Herschel's names for the satellites of Uranus in a communication unless John Frederick William Herschel has any objections.
8 April 1852 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/145
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thinks the climate of this country is unsuitable for good observations and is thinking of setting up his telescope in Malta. What does John Frederick William Herschel think of this idea? Can John Frederick William Herschel provide an introduction to the Governor of Malta.
27 April 1852 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/146
Autograph letter signed by sender. Illness has prevented an earlier reply thanking him for his introduction to the Governor of Malta. Expects good results in Malta.
8 May 1852 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/147
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has been given every facility to erect his telescope in Malta. Atmosphere has been excellent for observations. Has studied the satellites of Uranus and the ring of Saturn; the latter is puzzling. Has been astonished with the views of Orion.
10 December 1852 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/148
Copy of a letter. Is willing to assist in obtaining letters of introduction for William Lassell's projected trip to Malta.
28 April 1852 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/121
1853
Autograph letter signed by sender. If the Herschels intend visiting the B.A.A.S. meeting at Liverpool he will be pleased to accommodate them.
21 November 1853 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/149
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
1857
Autograph letter signed by sender. Was indebted to John Frederick William Herschel for the names of the satellites of Uranus. Will find details of his observations in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Gives volumes. Is thinking of returning to Malta and erect a larger telescope.
29 October 1857 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/150
Draft letter. Wishes all success to his proposed visit to Malta. Has been able to find the volumes of Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices Comments on William Lassell's system of levers for his telescope.
1 November 1857 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/11/151
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for his suggestions respecting the mode of observation by collimator; will give it careful consideration. Sends two photographs of the method of mounting his observation tower.
11 November 1857 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/152
Copy of a letter. Is preparing a new edition of Outlines Astr., and would like to know from William Lassell the status of each of the satellites of Uranus and Neptune.
21 October 1857 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/209
Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Wishes all success to his proposed visit to Malta. Has been able to find the volumes of Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices Comments on William Lassell's system of levers for his telescope.
1 November 1857 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/212
1858
Draft letter. Is dismayed to find in the new edition of his own Outlines Astr. that he has attributed the discovery of Hyperion to W. R. Dawes without crediting William Lassell; will have this corrected in a future edition.
15 September 1858 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/11/153
Draft letter in Herschel's hand with extensive revisions. Is dismayed to find in the new edition of his own Outlines Astr. that he has attributed the discovery of Hyperion to W. R. Dawes without crediting William Lassell; will have this corrected in a future edition. Annotation in red pencil "original seen" by the copyist of the letter in 1873-4, as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father.
15 September 1858 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/11/154
Autograph letter signed by sender. Do not let the error in Outlines Astr. disturb him; he quite understands. The 4-foot telescope proceeds. The speculum has been polished and awaits trial. If John Frederick William Herschel is attending the B.A.A.S. meeting hopes he will visit Lassell.
17 September 1858 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/155
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Is dismayed to find in the new edition of his own Outlines Astr. that he has attributed the discovery of Hyperion to W. R. Dawes without crediting William Lassell; will have this corrected in a future edition. The draft version is annotated "original seen" by the copyist.
15 September 1858 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/239
1859
Copy of a letter. Asks for details of William Lassell's system of speculum polishing and telescope construction as John Frederick William Herschel is preparing an article on telescopes for the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
27 August 1859 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/271
Copy of a letter. Comments on William Lassell's information on telescope construction, and adds some of John Frederick William Herschel's own experience.
23 September 1859 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/278
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. Sends a lithograph of the 4-ft. aperture equatorial. Has made no observations with it yet. Had difficulty with the surface of the speculum. Comments on the drawing and on the use of the instrument. Cannot recollect seeing any of the irregularities pointed out by John Frederick William Herschel in his letter.
8 February 1860 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/156
Autograph letter signed by sender. Pointing out the reasons for some apparent discrepancies in the drawing of his telescope. The drawing was hurriedly done by his daughter.
13 February 1860 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/157
Autograph letter signed by sender. Was grateful for the copy of John Frederick William Herschel's article on the telescope. Sends parcels containing two specimens of 4-ft. specula; comments on these. Weather has been unsuitable for observations.
11 December 1860 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/158
Copy of a letter. Comments on William Lassell's 4-foot equatorial telescope of which William Lassell sent John Frederick William Herschel a lithograph [see William Lassell's 1860-2-8].
11 February 1860 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/297
Copy of a letter. Comments on William Lassell's nebulae diagrams and asks for more.
13 November 1860 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/317
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. Is on the point of departure for Malta and would welcome letters of introduction from John Frederick William Herschel.
26 July 1861 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/159
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks John Frederick William Herschel for his efforts in having Sir Benjamin Brodie provide letters of introduction for William Lassell's time in Malta.
23 August 1861 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/160
Autograph letter signed by sender. Details about William Lassell's preparation for departure for Malta.
31 August 1861 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/162
Autograph letter signed by sender. About William Lassell's activity in setting up his observatory.
26 November 1861 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/163
1862
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the procedures William Lassell uses when observing, and the responsibilities of an assistant.
17 December 1862 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/164
Copy of a letter. As John Frederick William Herschel is preparing a catalogue of all known nebulae, would William Lassell please provide a complete listing of all he has seen.
4 May 1862 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/373
1863
Autograph letter signed by sender. After receiving testimonials of the highest order he has appointed [Albert?] Marth to be his assistant. Encloses some observations of nebulae. If John Frederick William Herschel's sons are visiting Malta he would be pleased to see them.
6 January 1863 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/165
1864
Autograph letter signed by sender. Was grateful for a copy of the proof sheets of John Frederick William Herschel's forthcoming 'Catalogue of Nebulae.' Comments on the Colonial book post. May discover a few hundred new nebulae but they are faint. Regrets to learn that John Frederick William Herschel's health is not good. Temperature has been very warm.
23 July 1864 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/166
Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses lithographs of some of his drawings of nebulae, and two tracings of [?] 2241. Has presented his large equatorial to Melbourne and invited the Astronomer Royal [G. B. Airy] to Malta to observe through the telescope before it is dispatched to Australia. Would also welcome a visit from John Frederick William Herschel.
6 October 1864 Sender: William Lassell Reference number: HS/11/167
Copy of a letter. Comments on the several drawings of the same nebulae; thanks William Lassell for the invitation to Malta but John Frederick William Herschel is too ill to accept.
23 October 1864 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/24/63
1866
Sir John Herschel publishes his translation of Homer’s Iliad
1866
1867
Sir John Herschel publishes Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects
1867
1868
Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister
1 February 1868
William Gladstone becomes Prime Minister
1 December 1868
