| RefNo | HSF/1/2/2 |
| Previous numbers | 600/31/20 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Draft letter from J F W [John Frederick William] Herschel, Collingwood, to [Henry] Alford, the very Rev[erend] the Dean of Canterbury |
| Creator | Herschel; Sir John Frederick William; first baronet (1792-1871); British mathematician and astronomer |
| Date | 28 April 1863 |
| Description | Herschel thanks Alford for his letter and for the 'very beautiful Hexameters', rejoicing at the support which Alford is giving, and looking forward to the increasing popularity of the verse form. He is glad that Alford thinks Herschel's hexameters are too dactylic. He has tried to keep them to an equilibrium and discusses the difficulties of hexameters in the English language, including 'galloping' verse. He has counted the dactyls and spondees in random 100 verses of Book 2 [of 'The Iliad' translation], where the ratio is almost exactly 6 to 5 and therefore not too unequal. Herschel is unable to reconcile himself to the introduction of the spondee in the 5th place except under stress of necessity. This is the only fault he can find in the verses which Alford has sent. |
| Extent | 4p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8238 | Herschel; Sir; John Frederick William (1792 - 1871); astronomer | 1792 - 1871 |