Writes of voyage and his work in natural history: geology, collecting insects (freshwater beetles and spiders at Botofogo Bay); life at sea, sublime views ashore.
Writes of voyage and his work in natural history: geology, collecting insects (freshwater beetles and spiders at Botofogo Bay); life at sea, sublime views ashore.
Lists letters received and those sent; comments on family happenings.
The Beagle is back [from Bahia]; two sailors and "little [Charles] Musters" died of fever. In 14 days they sail for Montevideo, then to Rio Negro, then on to where no man is known to have been before.
News from Maer and Shrewsbury of family, friends, and reports of reactions to CD’s first letters.
Sedgwick suggests he look for fossils in gravel banks of rivers.
Fanny Owen is married to R. M. Biddulph. Reform Bill prospects.
His first letter to JSH since December. Recounts his seasickness, geologising and marine collecting at St Jago [Santiago, Cape Verde Is.]; his first tropical forest. Collecting small insects from the tropics. His Welsh trip with Sedgwick has been extremely valuable.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Is now committed to the Cape journey, and will be occupied most of the time till then with the reduction of JH's nebulae observations. Comments on several other astronomical matters. [Letter is finished on board a steam packet on the way to Hamburg to visit JH's aunt, Caroline, dated 1832-6-9.]
Is grateful for JH's letter and offer of assistance. Will come to London earlier than expected so that he can call on him and discuss his problems before foreign travel. Would be glad of an introduction to Mario Gemmellaro and other scientists JH thinks would help him in his studies.
In preparation for foreign travel, asks JH about instruments and method for measuring radiation.
Sends thanks and congratulations for paper verifying electric origins of all magnetism. Will give JF an actinometer with complete instructions. Includes some instructions for obtaining and using it. Sends regards to Mario Gemellaro, should JF go to Catania.
Will observe transit [of Mercury] hoping it will provide good meridian data. Encloses sketch of telescope in Bedford.
Sends Gamma Virginis observations. Devotes time to nautical astronomy; experiments with formulae for calculating occultations. Takes interest in eclipse of Jovian satellites.
Sends observations of Gamma Virginis, which differ from those of WS and James South. Observed transit of Mercury. Has abandoned plans of going to Cape of Good Hope this year. Plans to visit Caroline Herschel in Hanover.
Observations on the various ways of measuring angular positions (of double stars). Opinion on JH publishing his catalogue of nebulae. Remarks on the low standard of astronomical observations in England compared with the Continent.
Is trying to clean up JH's nebulae observations preparatory to leaving for the Cape; comments on communications from F. G. W. Struve about double stars.
Is grateful for GA's encouragement to prepare JH's nebulae observations for publication before leaving for the Cape; it now seems clear to JH that he cannot leave before 1833; JH has had further communications from F. G. W. Struve about double stars [see JH's 1832-5-4].
Would he inform him of the date of the next visitation meeting. Will bring his own catalogue of double stars for the next R.A.S. meeting. Thanks for his paper on proper motion.
Giving the dates of the visitation day. Also the date of the next meeting of the R.A.S. Has been experimenting with pendulums.
Regarding instructions for James Dunlop at Parramatta Observatory. Richard Copeland has been reappointed to the Meteor, now renamed Beacon.