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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy of draft letter, from Sir John Herschel to Thomas Young, dated at Slough

Reference number: HS/21/26

Date: 30 August 1828

Description

Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Encourages Thomas Young to publish 1829 supplement to Nautical Almanac. John Frederick William Herschel originally proposed supplement to introduce improvements that would bring N. A. to be like Encke's Ephemeris. That is all ended now. English are dropping behind French and Germans in science. John Frederick William Herschel refuses to accept money from government 'which treats its agents so cavalierly.' Reduction of Parramatta [Australia] observations. Did not see Thomas Young's paper in W. T. Brande's [Quarterly Journal of Science and Art], but objects to substitution of true for mean equinox.

Reference number
HS/21/26
Earliest possible date
30 August 1828
Page extent
4 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 Thomas Young, dated at Slough, 30 August 1828, HS/21/26, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_21_26/copy-of-draft-letter-from-sir-john-herschel-to-thomas-young-dated-at-slough, 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