| RefNo | HSF/2/1/52 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.36, 32.8.36A and 32.8.38 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J [John] Herschel, Camp, to 'Dearest Father' [Sir John Frederick William Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 13-17 November 1860 and 18 February 1861 |
| Description | He is much in arrears in writing, but begins with his thoughts on the supposed comet he observed in June. He now thinks this was Mercury, having disposed of other possible planets and having prepared a sheet of coordinates. This established the identity of the object as Mercury and he sends a copy of the chart [present as HSF/2/1/37], noting the paths of other main planets and some stars. John mentioned to Major [James Thomas] Walker what his father had told him about the would-be comet seen in China, and that [George Biddell] Airy supposed this to be Venus; to which Walker related that he and several others had seen the object at Murree. John satified himself that it was Venus, partly from the date. [From 17 November] Following some uncertainty about fieldwork, things had settled down, with [James Palladio] Basevi going to Madras and handing over charge of the Indus series to John. John left Murree on 1 October, with baggage, camels and everything needed for six months in a country where he would have no access to anywhere of importance. He describes his preparations before being joined by [James Thomas] Walker and [Henry Ravenshaw] Thuillier and outlines his relationship with Thuillier, who is to take charge of the Kashmir party under [Thomas George] Montgomerie. There is no jealousy between them and Thuillier is accompanying him as a 'guest' in the Indus, since Thuillier has seniority. John describes the season's initial work in observing at ten stations north of the 'salt range' to the latitude of Rawalpindi, part of the series which was suspected of contributing to discrepencies. This is almost complete and the party will take a boat to another polygon to be revised. The landscape of the Punjab is monotonous and he notes the use of 'jungle' in India to describe any vegetation whatever. In Derajat there were few obstacles to a march, but where he is, the whole country is broken up by ravines. Foot tracks between villages are used and some are impractical for camels. From a geological point of view the countryside 'is magnificent' and the protruding strata and rocky points are useful as trigonometrical stations. More ground is got over this way. John is en route to a station called Sakesir, the highest point of the salt range about 5,070 feet above sea level. They are camped at the foot, but it will take two days to get there.
With a postscript, dated 18 February 1861. John notes scaling Sakesir, another hill as formidable, then a boat journey, which meant that his letter and chart were stowed away. He has found the papers during a halt and sends on the letter. The revision [of the trigonometrical series] is complete and it has been improved in detail. He refers his father on to his next letter. |
| Extent | 10p. |
| 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 |