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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy of draft letter, from Sir John Herschel to James South

Reference number: HS/20/171

Date: 21 December 1823

Description

Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Responding to James South's letter of 1823-12-19, advises caution in countervening John Pond's preferences in the appointment of Royal Observatory assistants. Were the post of Astronomer Royal to become vacant, John Frederick William Herschel would be 'anything but disinclined to offer myself for it,' but will not make a 'premature declaration' of his willingness to accept it.

Reference number
HS/20/171
Earliest possible date
21 December 1823
Page extent
8 pages
Format
Manuscript
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Creator name

John Frederick William Herschel

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Citation

John Frederick William Herschel, Copy of draft letter, from Sir John Herschel to James South, 21 December 1823, HS/20/171, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_20_171/copy-of-draft-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-james-south, accessed on 08 December 2025

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  • Herschel Letters

    This collection of nearly 10,900 letters, drafts, copies and notes is the largest repository of scientific correspondence from and to Sir John Herschel, leading figure of Victorian science.

    Dates: 1807 - 1875

    View collection