Mural and transit are at JH's command. Will have pleasure in joining him on Saturday. Has a good supply of balls and will procure some goose shot.
Mural and transit are at JH's command. Will have pleasure in joining him on Saturday. Has a good supply of balls and will procure some goose shot.
Sends the original of the barometer observations as he cannot spare the time to copy them. Had hoped to have the Brisbane stars ready on Monday. Comet was invisible last night.
Is proceeding at a respectable speed with the Brisbane list. Has received [Andrew?] Smith's box safely. Saw Dr. Smith last night; he is more reconciled. Many thanks for the trees; the ground is suitable to receive them.
Has returned the drawings to [Andrew?] Smith not having received carte blanche to look at them. Bent one of the thick wires of the micrometer when taking out the plate, so has inserted another. The micrometer will be ready tomorrow. Clean Bermuda webs and two silver wires of 6" diameter.
Encloses the list in JH's own handwriting. Has placed two silver wires in the eye piece of the micrometer. Will JH secure him some cobweb for placing in the micrometer.
Thinks Monday 2 Jan. a suitable day for taking down the Circle. Has engaged J. K. Gibbs the carpenter for the coming quarter. No official notice has been taken of his Colonial Measure of Reference.
From a newspaper received today sees that John Pond is dead and buried. Affair of James South and Edward Troughton and William Simms is as before. Sends the observations of the 21st; rain was not good for astronomical observations. Comments on these readings.
Has succeeded in fixing an 18 pounder gun firmly in the ground to mark the western termination of the base-line query on how to measure the meridian of a mountain at sea level. Has requested permission from the Governor to inspect the military orders for 1751-2.
Charles Lyell was gratified to receive JH's letter, which RM has now perused. Sees that JH has some Trilobites for RM, and he would be pleased to receive them as soon as possible so that he can incorporate the new information into his forthcoming book. Affairs at R.S.L. in a sad way, though useful papers are being printed. About to visit Devon with Adam Sedgwick.
Received the print of JH with great pleasure. The picture by H. W. Pickersgill seems a truthful likeness. The bulbs have been planted and are thriving. Has just returned from the continent, where he visited Caroline Herschel, who is still well in mind, but weak in body. Church building progresses at Slough.
Wonders if people at the Cape observed the large fall of meteors during the night of 12 Nov. 1833; comments on this and gives theories of one professor. JH's name was used for newspaper article on discoveries on the moon; the person responsible was R. A. Locke. Encloses one of his own memoirs on the eclipse.
Comments on observation of comets, the position of Southern Hemisphere stars, and the observation of an annular eclipse.
Comments on the accusations made about himself before the Aborigines Committee.
Comments on communications with the Cape. James Stewart (Margaret Herschel's brother) is well liked by the family. GP is sending on his meteorological observations, noting that he has reduced his emphasis on astronomy. Is working on a long memoir on integral calculus. [Many parts of the letter are illegible.]
Note of thanks to JH for interceding on AS's behalf.
Introduces [Charles?] Cameron. Received angry and excited letter from Charles Babbage. Discusses barometers. Heard Herschels may be travelling to Rio de Janeiro.
Reports the death of family members. Reveals news of new Pulkowa observatory. Has completed his work on micrometer measurements, resulting in 10,500 observations. Includes lists of aspects of his works.
Wonders if JH has received AQ's letters and works sent to the Cape. Sends more. Has been doing meteorological observations. Will send some if JH wishes. Mural circle and transit instrument finally in place. Problems with equatorial; therefore missed Halley's Comet.
Pleased to hear JH's work is progressing. Disappointed with Dr. [John] Davy's meteorological observations at Malta. Comments on other scientific news, including recent eclipse, [Andrew] Crosse's controversial artificial crystals at Bristol B.A.A.S. meeting, JF's 1832 observations in Switzerland, and William Whewell's and William Buckland's books.
JH is frustrated with his inaccurate barometric readings.