Suggestions by Alexander von Humboldt will be added to R.S.L. report regarding J. C. Ross's expedition. Send copy of Humboldt's letter so that it too may be included.
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Suggestions by Alexander von Humboldt will be added to R.S.L. report regarding J. C. Ross's expedition. Send copy of Humboldt's letter so that it too may be included.
Thanks WH for the bulbs, seeds, and a book, which he sent from South Africa. JH describes how well the tubers that JH brought back from South Africa are doing. JH complains about the weather in England. Sends WH a specimen of a plant 'photograph' made with W. H. F. Talbot's newly devised system.
Thanks for specimen of light sensitive paper. Provides hint on the chemical process that Louis Daguerre may have used in his photographic work. Sends specimens of JH's own work.
Describes method of varying the size of photographic images. Praises Talbot's light sensitive paper and suggests improvements regarding it. Complains about persons too ready to seek a patent.
Does not have operational telescope. Suggests WS set 1840 as epoch.
Is willing to be a witness to some battery experiments by J. P. Gassiot, but JH is busy, mostly with house hunting, and so may not be available.
Agrees with FB and others about the need for adequately trained men to be sent out to remeasure N. L. Lacaille's arc.
Is sending FA information about magnetic proceedings.
On behalf of the Council of the R.S.L., JH writes to LD to request a camera and a hundred plates of Daguerre's about to be announced process, so that the R. S. L. may equip the James Ross expedition to the Antarctic with the means of making a photographic record of the voyage.
Thanks JE for the account of an experiment performed by JE using an iron ring and a magnet, the results of which JE finds illustrative of the phenomena of Saturn's rings.
Did Académie des Sciences agree to R.S.L. request for magnetic observatory in Algiers? Stresses importance of multinational cooperation. Details of planned global survey of earth's magnetic field. Encloses list of observations needed from Paris.
Describes method of suspending furniture in a ship such that the furniture is less influenced by the ship's motion.
Reticent to accept fellowship of London University if obligations of time and attention are too great. Requests more time to consider responsibilities of the post.
About the question of an astronomer for a vacant position at Kew Observatory.
Discusses Harvard University offer to make magnetic measurements. Requests ES to read Admiralty extracts. Asks questions regarding JH's upcoming review [in Quarterly Review] of several works on terrestrial magnetism.
Expresses great pleasure that the fixed observatories have received official approval and financial support. Approves of ES's cost estimates. Encloses copy of the B.A.A.S. memorial. Agrees to tell Humphrey Lloyd to order instruments as requested by ES.
Regrets deeply the little notice given to the observatories and to Humphrey Lloyd in the R.S.L. President's recent speech. Urges ES to comfort Lloyd. States R.S.L. 'is no longer the sole arena in which a scientific name can be acquired.'
Declines to take steps to call a special committee or council meeting of the R.S.L. regarding foreign communications of the observatories, noting his own wish to stay out of R.S.L. affairs.
JH's brother-in-law John Stewart, who is delivering this letter, seeks admission to a printing establishment. Asks AQ to aid JS. Lists recently received letters. Glad that AQ has [C. F.] Gauss's apparatus. Discusses an experiment in photography.
Mentions visit of 1 Feb. 1839 from W. H. Fox Talbot. Reports that JH has now 'accomp[lishe]d the whole problem [of photography].' Describes JH's recent results.