| RefNo | MS/583/15 |
| Previous numbers | MS/584 |
| Level | File |
| Title | Copy diary of John Frederick William Herschel, transcribed by Louisa Gordon |
| Date | 1 January-23 December 1847 |
| 1909-1910 |
| Description | Family transcription of Sir John Herschel's original diary. The volume describes Herschel's scientific and social life. On 19 February Herschel is at work on actinometer observations and realising the reasons for anomalies in his Cape sets: 'so perishes a mass of hard work...' Balloonists land near Highgate and visit Collingwood on 29 March. Herschel completes writing up his Cape observations on 7 April and later in the month attends performances by Felix Mendelssohn. Various Royal Society duties, includng refereeing a paper by Antoine Claudet. On 6 July Herschel views Bertel Thorvaldsen's statue of Lord Byron in Cambridge, accompanied by the Duke of Wellington, William Whewell, Otto Struve and others; he presents his Cape results to Queen Victoria at Trinity Lodge, then to Prince Albert the next day. He notes that the Royal Society has conferred its Copley Medal on him on 30 November. Occasional marginal drawings are copies of the originals.
With a note on the cover page '1847'. |
| Extent | 39p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | On paper, loosely bound with pink legal tape |
| Notes | The earlier dates supplied show the period covered by the original diary entries, the later date is when the copy diary was produced |
| AccessStatus | Open |