| RefNo | HSF/2/1/58 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.41 and 32.8.41A |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J H [John Herschel], Mussoorie, to 'Dearest Father' [Sir John Frederick William Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 3 October 1861 |
| Description | He cannot make excuses for not writiing, saying that he has been in his usual state of hurry, neglecting his letters but making himself agreeable as a member of society there. He finds himself just weeks away from leaving for another solitary campaign. He has had a week in Roorkee, but has mostly been in office for five days per week, but with little practical result. He has been trying to do things better, generally failing, but learning much. He notes three or four instances for his father. He spent three weeks trying to perfect a method of fitting a Trigonometrical series between two measured bases, so as to have minimal distortion, but gave up despite the empirical method in use producing false results, he thinks. Then [James Thomas] Walker intended that he should go down the great arc with a large 3-foot vertical circle to observe a set of latitudes, to better understand the effects of mountain attraction, but the project was dropped. Walker was not confirmed in the Superintendent's appointment. He then had a 'fit...of longitudes' and asks if a well-kept register of magnetic disturbances could ever be used for determining the longitude of a place. John notes the large quantity of office work including the budget system. He leaves Dehra for the field around the tenth, delayed by rains, and he expects the country around the Sutlej at Bhawulpur [Bahawalpur] to be flooded. He notes local rainfall, the wettest season in 1850, and his misery at cloudiness. He will leave for Dehra to complete his arrangements and then start for Loodiana [Ludhiana], hopefully to take a boat, a more comfortable means of travel than marching, although more expensive. He is not enthusiastic about the next season, since he will be practically alone: his observatory recorder does not seem particuarly companionable. The country itself is barren apart from a few partridges; these and his concertina will keep him alive. He has a letter from Willy [William James Herschel] who talks about John coming home on furlough while he is still at home; but John would leave India just as Willy left England. John is healthy and does not anticipate sick-leave. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921); Colonel; military engineer, surveyor and astronomer | 1837 - 1921 |