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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to James South

Reference number: HS/20/212

Date: 16 May 1825

Description

Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Has received materials sent by James South. Printing of paper by James South and John Frederick William Herschel on double stars is nearly completed. Urges that the issue is not whether the observations of 70 Ophiuchi made by Wilhelm Struve are better than those made by John Frederick William Herschel and James South; the issue is truth. Caroline Herschel has sent to John Frederick William Herschel a catalogue of his father's observation. Busy observing nebulae.

Reference number
HS/20/212
Earliest possible date
16 May 1825
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript
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Creator name

John Frederick William Herschel

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Citation

John Frederick William Herschel, Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to James South, 16 May 1825, HS/20/212, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_20_212/copy-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-james-south, accessed on 13 January 2026

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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