Showing 21–40 of 75 items
When in Cape Town he heard there was a parcel, probably of books, for JH, so has arranged for it to be delivered. Has had newspapers, etc., from England but not a word about the comet's northern tour. Encloses a copy of Thomas Henderson's Cape Declinations.
Congratulations on the birth of JH's son Alexander. Has a man preparing the old Ramsden Equatorial as the calculations from the repeating circle are so troublesome. Observations of the comet this morning were excellent.
Sends C. P. Smyth with the observing lists of JH's zero stars. Comments on these lists. Would like to see the Cedar Mountains, but cannot spare the time at present. Wished to visit Riebeck's Castle to verify one of N. L. Lacaille's remarks. Did not notice any air bubbles in JH's barometer. The Observatory barometer is similar to the one of Sir John Franklin. Goes to the Block House tomorrow to commence the triangulation.
Mural and transit are at JH's command. Will have pleasure in joining him on Saturday. Has a good supply of balls and will procure some goose shot.
Sends the original of the barometer observations as he cannot spare the time to copy them. Had hoped to have the Brisbane stars ready on Monday. Comet was invisible last night.
Is proceeding at a respectable speed with the Brisbane list. Has received [Andrew?] Smith's box safely. Saw Dr. Smith last night; he is more reconciled. Many thanks for the trees; the ground is suitable to receive them.
Mrs. Maclear is much better and has given birth to a son, their first.
Has returned the drawings to [Andrew?] Smith not having received carte blanche to look at them. Bent one of the thick wires of the micrometer when taking out the plate, so has inserted another. The micrometer will be ready tomorrow. Clean Bermuda webs and two silver wires of 6" diameter.
Much obliged for F. W. Bessel's zone. Thinks his own extra meridian observations of the comet will be respectable. Feels sure Fearon Fallows could not have approved of the supports of the dome. Has been promised the pleasure of inspecting the expenses of the Observatory. Captain J. E. Alexander and Dr. John Murray will call this morning for a parting cup of tea.
Encloses the list in JH's own handwriting. Has placed two silver wires in the eye piece of the micrometer. Will JH secure him some cobweb for placing in the micrometer.
Thinks Monday 2 Jan. a suitable day for taking down the Circle. Has engaged J. K. Gibbs the carpenter for the coming quarter. No official notice has been taken of his Colonial Measure of Reference.
From a newspaper received today sees that John Pond is dead and buried. Affair of James South and Edward Troughton and William Simms is as before. Sends the observations of the 21st; rain was not good for astronomical observations. Comments on these readings.
Has succeeded in fixing an 18 pounder gun firmly in the ground to mark the western termination of the base-line query on how to measure the meridian of a mountain at sea level. Has requested permission from the Governor to inspect the military orders for 1751-2.
Sends a list of additional stars to be measured for JH to use as standards.
About an anomaly in one of JH's lists of observations.
About the principles whereby the nomenclature of the constellations might be reformed.
Has installed his astrometer to help judge star magnitudes; also makes a comparison of barometric observations with those of TM.
Has compared TM's observational measurements with those of the Brisbane catalogue, and finds TM's observations to be better; is working on a star photometer.
JH's observations of the comet [Halley's], together with comments on constellation nomenclature and stellar magnitudes.
Sending some equipment back and forth, and some astrometer readings.