Preparations for departure prevented JR from dining with JH at Slough. Working on pendulum with Edward Sabine. Thanks JH for sending gimbals.
Preparations for departure prevented JR from dining with JH at Slough. Working on pendulum with Edward Sabine. Thanks JH for sending gimbals.
Advises JH to have Foreign Office send letter to Col. Campbell, consul in Alexandria, to accompany R.S.L.'s letter to Pasha. Otherwise, R.S.L. letter may be ignored. Good news from [Duncan Stewart]. JS is not going to Scotland; may visit Slough instead.
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.
Declines an invitation to visit JH; comments on political situation in South Africa.
Is sending FA information about magnetic proceedings.
Describes method of suspending furniture in a ship such that the furniture is less influenced by the ship's motion.
Suggests JH include in his report a discussion of the 'dividing line of the positive and magnetic fluids' and 'separating line between the northern and southern intensities.' Presents C. F. Gauss's ideas on this topic. Suggests a trip plan for James Ross in order to obtain absolute measures of magnetic intensity on the globe.
Relays the opinions of a returning officer from St. Helena that a wooden building need not be built there.
Has presented the draft of the report to [T. R.] Robinson, [Charles] Wheatstone, and [J. F.] Daniell. Points out mistakes in the report. Remarks that the dipping needle has greatly improved over the years, thus increasing instrumental accuracy. Encloses Humphrey Lloyd's contribution to the report.
States he has received the list of instruments and their prices sent by JH.
Encloses a letter from Humphrey Lloyd. Anticipates Lloyd's arrival. Worries he will not be ready with the necessary forms before James Ross sets sail. Includes many calculations.
Reports that the ships to be used for James Ross's voyage will not be available for a week and that Humphrey Lloyd is busy preparing instructions. Proposes that the ships receive their own sets of instruments.
Accepts JH's dinner invitation, regretting that James Ross is unable to attend. Encloses a letter from Humphrey Lloyd.
Because of R.S.L. council meeting on Thursday, suggests Friday meeting with JL and several others.
Sends plans for and detailed explanation of device to suspend cot or couch in ship so as to 'destroy' ship's motion and alleviate seasickness.
Sends JH the name and address of the printer who has an engraving arranged for by RS of JH's portrait. Requests that JH give thirty copies to Lady Herschel for her own use.
On the difficulties of writing his book [Cape Results]. Feels he has been at everyone's disposal but his own and is finding notes made at the Cape difficult to decipher. Asks RS to report to him from Germany on the state of telescope manufacturing there and on the progress of F. G. W. Struve's great refractor.
Discusses Lord Glenelg's role in the decision to keep him as Lieutenant Governor of the Cape and his support during the inquiry of AS's actions in a confrontation with the natives. Writes of Glenelg's retirement.
Has lost two sons with scarlet fever. Description of house at Playford, Sussex.
Encloses two meteorological reports of J. A. Lloyd (who has been ill with fever), and a paper of Dr. T. R. Robinson.