Sends positions of Biela's Comet. Has much success with repolished telescope mirrors and collimator. Designs equatorial revolving roof for Cape observations; sends sketches. Compares WS's, W. R. Dawes's, and JH's observations of Gamma Virginis.
Sends positions of Biela's Comet. Has much success with repolished telescope mirrors and collimator. Designs equatorial revolving roof for Cape observations; sends sketches. Compares WS's, W. R. Dawes's, and JH's observations of Gamma Virginis.
Intends to visit WS after attending Cambridge B.A.A.S. meeting.
Reports observations with WS's equatorial during Bedford visit. Packs instruments for voyage. Pleased that Thomas Maclear will take post of Astronomer Royal at the Cape Observatory.
Unable to send Gamma Virginis observations because papers are packed. Declines offer of WS's transit circle for use at Cape.
Chooses a publisher and printer for Cape Results. Decides against getting portrait painted. Makes suggestions for observations.
Does not have operational telescope. Suggests WS set 1840 as epoch.
On the questions of the usefulness of occultations and the use of mean time in astronomy, JH would much value WS's opinions.
Wants WS to make a choice between the several skeleton forms JH has devised for recording astronomical observations. Also comments on orbit of Gamma Virginis and 30 Scorpii, as well as Encke's Comet.
As no one seemed to be finding Biela's Comet, JH sat up several nights looking for it and now has located it.
Explains, according to the laws of probability, how the arrows should have been distributed on the archery target at St. Leonard's, and compares that with the actual distribution.
Informs WS that JH located Encke's Comet the previous night, and gives the location.
Discusses contribution of WS's son, C. P. Smyth, as Thomas Maclear's assistant. Discusses observations of Halley's Comet, Gamma Virginis, other celestial objects, and the use of a double image micrometer.
Suggests method to check the effectiveness of James Dunlop's work at Paramatta Obsrvatory..
Believes that Thomas Galloway's paper on solar motion deserves a medal.
Sends WS William Herschel's chromatic observations of Beta Cygni. Completing 'Catalogue of Nebulae.' Works on translating Book IX of Iliad; fears he will not complete translation of Iliad.
Astronomical Society will lend instruments, including a Beaufoy Clock and a transit circle, to WS for his observations.
Agrees to support C. P. Smyth for membership in R.S.L. Objects to C. P. Smyth's statement regarding his discoveries observing at high altitudes. Stresses importance of variable star work.
Success of C. P. Smyth's Teneriffe expedition pleases JH; anxious for declination of nebulae taken from high altitudes. Upset over G. J. Stoney's reproduction of JH's collimating telescope without giving him credit.
Asks WS to take the chair at the next meeting of the R.A.S [probably concerning the Adams-Leverrier dispute].
Suggests John Lubbock's improvements in calculating planetary perturbations be discussed at a R.A.S. meeting. Plans to bring subject before the Council.