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Hears that his chance of success at the R.S.L. is good. [John?] Lee will forward the certificate to JH for presentation to the R.S.L.
JH will be pleased with Mr. de Souza's and [Charles] Smallwood's letters. American and Havana instruments were dispatched. [Hermann] Schlagintweit has made interesting magnetic survey of India.
Asks JH's help in efforts to publish a complete edition of writings of physicist Augustin Fresnel.
On a static measure for gravity.
Many years ago he read a paper to the Royal Scottish Society of Arts on the merits of JH's telescope compared with that of William Parsons (3rd Earl of Rosse); this paper has never been printed. Gives details of his own optical work.
Outlines the differences between the telescope of his own father and that of Lord Oxmantown [William Parsons]. Comments on various lenses. Sends him a little work of his own on telescopes.
Is grateful for JH's letter and pamphlet. Worked on portraiture before Mr. Baird and assisted him later. Outlines the various lenses he used and made for other people. Is pleased JH has a good opinion of the work of [W. B.?] Rogers. Is he familiar with the works of [Thomas?] Dicks in astronomy?
Thanks for fine engravings; is concerned about the 'miraculous phenomena' depicted on some other people's engravings, 'especially American ones.'
Comments on AH's chemical results and on an apparently anomalous sample of common salt being sent by JH; sends AH £5 for the month.
Comments on a number of chemical phenomena, and asks AH to analyze several solid samples; further, JH discusses meteor falls, with emphasis on the application of Newton's laws and terminal velocities.
Is going to Kashmir for a geological survey. Wonders if while he is there he can carry out any meteorological research.
Returned JH's 'original sheets of nebulae.' Kept sheets of calculations. Will write about money accounts later. Lord Palmerston's communication about Thomas Maclear's pension.
Glad that JH approves introducing Julian dates. Notes their use in American lunar tables. Positions of three new nebulae.
Notes ingenuity of JB's gravimetric balance. Astonished that it did not occur to anyone before. [Letter continues 5 Feb.:] Suggestion for improving torsion thread arrangement.
JB's solution to torsion thread arrangement is simpler and more ingenious than JH's. Enquires about details of gravimetric balance. Pendulum measurements. Density of continents. Clarification of JH's privileges as foreign associate of Institute. Death of J. B. Biot.
Describes procedures, apparatus, and calculations for determining the static gravity of the earth. Thanks JH for some of his writings, and comments that JH, like Newton, has discovered the mind of the Creator and passed this on to humanity.
Mostly family news, concluding with concerns about family finances.