| RefNo | HS/18/209 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Copy letter, from Sir John Herschel to William Whewell, dated at Collingwood |
| Creator | John Frederick William Herschel |
| Recipient | William Whewell |
| Date | 29 December 1846 |
| Description | Copy letter in John Herschel's hand. Responding to a published statement by William Whewell regarding the discovery of Neptune, John Frederick William Herschel presents in detail a different interpretation, giving more credit to U. J. J. Leverrier than William Whewell favored. Suggests that some observatory make a photographic record of sunspots.
A pencil note is added in the last page noting "God forgive me for writing this way... the truth lies on the other side & Adams is the 1st theoretical discoverer of Neptune. The whole thing was perverted by Airy's indefensible reticence. On him be the responsibility of the (temporary) transfer of one of the brightest stars in Britain's scientific fame to France" |
| Language | English |
| Extent | 4pp |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Place origin | Collingwood, Hawkhurst, Kent |
| Origin coordinates | 51.035306, 0.513556 |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| RelatedMaterial | Original available: TC, Camb. Add. Ms.a.20770 ; copy: HS/22/294 |
| RelatedRecord | HS/22/294 |
| URLDescription | Also available on Epsilon |
| URL | https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/herschel/letters/Herschel9160
|
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8238 | Herschel; Sir; John Frederick William (1792 - 1871); mathematician and astronomer | 1792 - 1871 |
| NA6578 | Whewell; William (1794 - 1866); college Master; writer on history and philosophy of science | 1794 - 1866 |