A Manual of Scientific Enquiry
Prepared for the Use of Her Majesty's Navy and Adapted for Travellers in General

This 1849 publication was intended to encourage and assist naval officers in collecting scientific information on their travels.

John Frederick William Herschel (Edited by)

9781108029179, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 June 2011

524 pages, 20 b/w illus. 1 map
21.6 x 14 x 3 cm, 0.66 kg

Sir John Frederick William Herschel (1792–1871) – astronomer, mathematician, chemist – was one of the most important British scientists of the nineteenth century. Son of the famous astronomer William Herschel, he was persuaded by his father to pursue the astronomical investigations William could no longer undertake; John's subsequent career resulted in a knighthood and a lifetime of accolades. This 1849 publication was commissioned by the Admiralty to encourage and assist naval officers to undertake scientific research while abroad. The work provides instructions in making and recording observations in a wide range of disciplines – astronomy; magnetism; hydrography; tides; geography; geology; earthquakes; mineralogy; meteorology; atmospheric waves; zoology; botany; ethnology; medicine; statistics – written by experts in these fields, including Whewell, Darwin, Hooker and Herschel himself. It was hoped that the instructions could also be used by other travellers to advance scientific knowledge, and the work remained in print for over fifty years.

Memorandum Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
Preface Sir J. F. W. Herschel
1. Astronomy G. B. Airy
2. Magnetism Lieut.-Col. Sabine
3. Hydrography Capt. Beechey
4. Tides Dr. Whewell
5. Geography W. J. Hamilton
6. Geology Charles Darwin
7. Earthquakes R. Mallet
8. Mineralogy Sir H. T. de la Beche
9. Meteorology Sir J. F. W. Herschel
10. Atmospheric waves W. R. Birt
11. Zoology Richard Owen
12. Botany Sir W. Hooker
13. Ethnology Dr. Pritchard
14. Medicine and medical statistics Dr. Bryson
15. Statistics G. R. Porter
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Geology & the lithosphere [RBG]