Would have had great pleasure in accepting CB’s invitation, "whether for beauty or for shells", but has another engagement.
Would have had great pleasure in accepting CB’s invitation, "whether for beauty or for shells", but has another engagement.
CD is much obliged for invitations to CB’s parties, but is afraid to accept because he would meet people to whom he has sworn he never goes out.
Asks Babbage to take small parcel to Henslow.
At Lyell’s request sends his copy of Whewell’s History of inductive sciences [1837] to CB.
Asks permission to bring Fanny Allen to CB’s party.
Regrets he cannot accept invitation. "My health will not at present stand going out in the evenings."
Is so unwell today that he is unable to come [to CB’s party].
Asks to be allowed to bring his sister to CB’s party "that she may see the World".
Asks if he can bring his guests, J. C. L. and Mme [Simonde de] Sismondi and [Fanny] Allen, to CB’s parties.
No summary available.
Tells CB that everyone is anxious to have CB allow his name to stand for the Secretaryship of the R.S.L. JH lists many names of people who have all said they would vote for CB.
In describing the way in which J. G. Children was elected to the secretaryship, JH says 'the matter was irregularly brought by the President before a meeting of eight or nine persons whom he chose to call a council' to meet for a few minutes 'to transmit some business connected with the Treasurer's accounts.' JH feels Humphry Davy's actions will not be excused even by Davy's best friends.
Refuses to become a partisan in this conflict [see CB's 1854-12-13]. JH would only become involved if he felt he could be a peacemaker.
[Letter entirely 'in cipher' (code) except for 'Dear Babbage.']
Chemical news: decomposition of 'sulphuret of carbon' by J. J. Berzelius and Alexander Marcet. Analysis of 'azotane' and discovery of 'iode' by Humphry Davy. Congratulations on results of CB's examination.
Feigned reproach for CB's return to 'the Analytics.' Inquires about CB's 'Devonshire Ghost at Chudleigh.' Results of JH's chemistry experiments. Derides scientists who promote theory of 'akasch' as the one and only form of matter. Met Alexander Marcet in Greenwich.
Gratitude for CB's friendship. Chemical supplies and instruments. Describes synthesis of 'Sulphurane' [S2Cl2] and other experiments. Theories of combustion and acids. [Letter continued on 1813-9-21:] JH avidly studying law, against father's wishes.
CB has founded 'a calculus totally new and immensely powerful.'
Attending E. D. Clarke's mineralogy lectures. JH's analysis of dioptase.
Welcome back to London. Explain CB's demonstration of 'theorem in transcendental arithmetic.' JH's observations of 'new acid' [hyposulfurous] and optical phenomena in 'chrystals of nitre.'