Asks JH to confirm that JH appointed Charles Sterry as HF's assistant assayer on 25 Apr. 1851 after Henry Bingley declined position. Original letter of appointment is lost, and HF is accused of falsifying records.
Lists dates in 1851 on which steps were taken in appointment of Charles Sterry as HF's assistant assayer. HF is still under accusation.
Encloses copy of JS's letter to the Times in response to JH's recently published objections to currency system in India. Wishes to meet JH and discuss issue in private, then publish joint statement on subject.
Information about the distribution of papers.
In recent letter to the Times regarding international coinage, JH attributed viewpoint to Col. [J. T.] Smith that was in fact expressed by J. B. Smith, M.P. for Stockport. CW's remarks on valuation of coins.
Extended comments on John Herschel's [JH's son] observations of the spectrum of the solar corona.
Still worried about the meaning of some terms in John Herschel's [JH's son] paper [see GS's 1869-7-20].
Clarifications of some confusion in the proof copy of a paper by John Herschel [JH's son].
[Summary in JH's hand:] Enquiry about Henry John Hollier's request for advance on mortgage. Enclosed form to be signed by JH [as co-trustee] or chief accountant of Bank of England. [JH note: signed form and returned it to Anderson and Shonbridge. Forwarded letter to Few & Co.]
Notices in letter of last May JH's postscript about the rate of color blindness occurring to overworked or ill artists, and doubts it becomes di-chromic, but merely a 'weakness' of vision.
JH having declined offer from Clarendon Press to write a treatise on inductive logic, [Thomas] Fowler of Oxford, who had earlier written a book on deductive logic, drafted an inductive logic, relying heavily of JH's Prelim. Discourse and Familiar Lectures. Asks JH to make suggestions on the manuscript.
Describes celebration of [Alexander von] Humboldt's centennial in Boston. Sends photograph of total eclipse of sun, from Henry Morton, and various other articles. Praises science.
Pleased JH wants to defend [James] Grahame's work. Describes [Henry] Morton's work and sends additional publications. Intrigued by JH's prediction that a great discovery concerning the sun will be made soon.
Sends 'first fruits' of Melbourne telescope in form of a letter from [A.] LeSueur and [R. L. J.] Ellery. Includes discussion of nebulae.
Desires advice on construction of glass prisms for Newtonian reflecting telescopes. Also asks how to test the parabolic figure of a glass speculum before silvering.
Wilberforce Clarke, the nephew of an old friend, has been appointed to a meteorological observatory. He needs a list of useful books and instruments for his job from JH.
Has been translating into Latin 'your Dean's "Kentish Fire."' Has good Latin versions of [Oliver Goldsmith's] 'Edwin and Angelina' by Lord Stratford de Recliffe and of [Thomas] Gray's 'Elegy' by 'Chief Justice [Henry Thomas?] Cockburn.' Sends his 'Genevieve.'
Has autographs that display the activity of the sun. Sends sonnets he has written. Asks JH to mention distribution of nebulae at R.A.S.
Mary Somerville is sending her autobiography and desires comments and suggestions. She is busy with mathematics.
Thanks JH for his letters to her mother (Mary Somerville), who is not well enough to write. Describes eruption of Vesuvius.