Discusses an exposed case of forgery involving supposed manuscripts of Blaise Pascal and the mathematician Michel Chasles.

Thanks for answers and for notice on Apteryx [Maerurus ?], which JH remembers watching Richard Owen inspect. Interested in W. B. Carpenter's and C. W. Thomson's ['Bathybius?]' as origin of chalk-flint. Discusses inorganic chemical allotropes. Organic allotropes may exist, serving as 'agents of vital action' and subject to a higher power.

Expresses thanks for receiving the 1868 volume of the Transactions of the Society of Engineers.

Encourages RP in his speculations about the nebulae and the structure of the Milky Way, which RP suggested is formed of a 'system of convolutions,' but raises objections to RP's views. Discusses idea that the Milky Way contains miniatures of itself and that beyond it may be a hierarchy of universes comparable to the Milky Way.

Discusses Olbers's Paradox, raises objections to RP's argument for the existence of dark celestial matter, and points out problems in RP's method of measuring stellar diameters.

Is unaware of experiment measuring amount of absolute error in transit measurements. Discusses matters relating to coinage and the standards underlying it.

Calls attention to sunspots then visible. [Written by JH under the pseudonym 'Helioscopus']

Calls attention to James Grahame's History of the United States of North America. Criticizes the Saturday Review for having slighted that work.

Corrects a misstatement JH made in his 1869-8-30 letter to the Times.

Proposes a method of diminishing the effect of a ship's rolling and pitching on a person on a cot or chair on the ship.

Discusses methods of diminishing the effect of a ship's rolling and pitching on a person on a cot or chair on the ship.

Of the fruit in the garden and the arrival of various of their daughters; JH seems to be feeling a little sorry for himself, but concludes with a riddle in French.

Is not prepared to come to any distinct conclusions about the effect of local attractions in geodetic surveying, but talks about the problem for the whole letter.

Unable to attend the forthcoming meeting of the Board of Visitors. Would like to resign from the Board as his enfeebled health will prevent him from attending future meetings.

Is a listing of some of JH's papers in an attempt to clarify how many were distributed, and then JH indicates how many he will send to addressee.

Comments on the proofs of his book that he has received so far. Has been ill and not feeling like intellectual work, so would he request his printer to send no more sheets for the time being.

Discusses the 'strange proceedings on the part of the Bombay Authorities.' Mentions actions in this regard by Carry [JH's daughter Caroline].

Talks about problems of observing nebulae—one of which seems to have changed—and one of which is in the catalogue and does not seem to exist.

Asks son John to stop at the British Museum and get the completion of a quotation JH needs; also asks John to pick up JH's R.S.P.T. copies not picked up recently.