RefNo | HSF/1/3/62 |
Level | Item |
Title | Letter from C [Charles] Pritchard, Freshwater, to Sir John [Frederick William Herschel] |
Creator | Pritchard; Charles (1808-1893); British astronomer |
Date | 14 May 1869 |
Description | He returns the document about 'the non-accidentally hired telescope'. Herschel's note has been encouraging. He need not tell Herschel how little is understood about the great and continuous work of Sir William Herschel among scientific men. They are so absorbed by rapid modern discoveries that they overlook their predecessors. A review of Herschel's father's discoveries will allow Pritchard to inform many people of the steps from which their knowledge comes. He asks for information on Caroline Herschel's arrival in England, and if she was recognised by George III as her brother's assistant and paid an honorarium...'how in the world did she come by her knowledge of calculation & astronomy?' Pritchard was puzzled not to see [Nevil] Maskelyne's name on his father's election certificate and wonders if he was on Council. He would like to know of any great foreigners who visited Slough to see William Herschel and the great telescope would be pleasing; he thinks [Joseph Jérôme Lefrançois de] Lalande visited. Pritchard has been watching the Sun and describes his equipment, wondering what William Herschel would have given for it. He wonders if the circulation of rings or broken rings of meteoric matter are the cause of some periodicies of stellar light. When he thinks of how Herschel discovered Uranus, he loses patience with how 'the northumberland' [George Biddell Airy] missed Neptune. |
Extent | 4p. |
Format | Manuscript |
PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
Code | PersonName | Dates |
NA5459 | Pritchard; Charles (1808 - 1893) | 1808 - 1893 |