Letter from John Frederick William Herschel, Feldhausen to John Augustus Lloyd, Port Louis, Mauritius

Description

Herschel praises Lloyd’s observatory and notes its capability to become a ‘point of reference for hydrography and navigation’ in the region. Comments on importance of 'geographical observatories' like Lloyd's as complementary to astronomical observatories, and outlines their chief objects of enquiry. Suggests that Lloyd have observational results examined and published, and recommends taking many hourly observations. Herschel expresses is desire to organise a system of meteorological observations.

Reference number

MS/257/2/263

Earliest possible date

12 March 1835

Physical description

Ink on paper.

The letter has a hole where presumably the wax seal has been broken.

Page extent

4 pages

Format

Manuscript

Also available on Epsilon

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