| RefNo | HSF/2/1/82 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.66 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J H [John Herschel], Bangalore [Bengaluru], to 'Dear Pater' [Sir John Frederick William Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 8 March 1868 |
| Description | He hopes that news will have reached England making it necessary to write to Professor [George Gabriel] Stokes about the safe arrival of the instruments, and he hopes to have more interesting things to say soon. He will be free of baseline work next week and will give attention to the spectroscope. The Bangalore base is practically measured and there will be three days more comparing the measuring bars with the standard before the camp breaks up. All who have used the apparatus are of the opinion that a replacement is urgently needed, and on a different principal. John comments on compensated bars, noting the variable length over the forty years of comparisons with the standard. To the people employed to work on the actual measurement, good or bad bars mean little. The measurement goes on, but the whole is reiterative, and the equipment's screws and joints are worn and rickety. Everything is past its prime. John thinks he may have to participate in another base meaurement with the same apparatus, at Cape Comorin [Kanyakumari] next January. He thinks about the family coughing their way through winter at Hawkhurst and Hastings, in his present heat. Mary [Mary Cornwallis Herschel] has been far from well but is getting better. |
| Extent | 4p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921) | 1837 - 1921 |