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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy of postscriptum, from Sir John Herschel to William Lassell, dated at Collingwood

Reference number: HS/22/326

Date: August 1847

Description

Copy of postscriptum, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father.
Annotated in parenthesis, "formal - presenting Results &c at C[ape of] G.[ood] H[ope]".Mentions the value of William Lassell's paper on Neptune's first Satellite. Considers the observations decisive and hope Lassell will find more. Notes "Your later diagrams seem to throw the ring overboard".
Discusses the merits of a prism designed by Frauenhofer to convert the 20-feet reflector telescope into a Newtonian, problems with dew condensing between the prism and aperture, and deflexion to the side would disturb Herschel's sweeping system.
Still considers "the prism was crown & the most exquisite thing as to workmanship I ever beheld".

Reference number
HS/22/326
Earliest possible date
August 1847
Page extent
1 page
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Frederick William Herschel

View page for John Frederick William Herschel

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Citation

John Frederick William Herschel, Copy of postscriptum, from Sir John Herschel to William Lassell, dated at Collingwood, August 1847, HS/22/326, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_22_326/copy-of-postscriptum-from-sir-john-herschel-to-william-lassell-dated-at-collingwood, accessed on 08 May 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_22_326/copy-of-postscriptum-from-sir-john-herschel-to-william-lassell-dated-at-collingwood

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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