Outlines the election of J. D. Forbes and attributes his success to JH's letter. Regarding the work of Thomas Henderson. Pity JH has to waste time doing his own reductions. Paris observations. Saw the comet in Valparaiso. Magnitude of stars compared to the moon. Hopes he liked his own recent book. Pleased the sextant is of use.
Sends a small dispatch from J. D. Forbes. The barometer seems to have no connection with the weather this winter. Had a snow shower but could see no clouds in the sky. Preparing for the occultation of Mars.
Encloses a dispatch from Thomas Henderson, who is very pleased with his work and a word from JH would spur him on. Is more out of touch with science at Edinburgh than JH is at the Cape. Young engineer, J. S. Russell, has idea for swift towing canal boats. Doubtless he has seen Francis Baily's supplement on John Flamsteed.
Further information about boats in canals. Sends proof sheets of the article in question.
Is pleased to hear the Herschels are contemplating their return but regrets it will not be via Rio. J. D. Forbes is progressing well, may be in danger of overwork. Thomas Henderson too is doing good work at the Observatory. Gives results of lunar eclipses of Oct. 1837.
Francis Beaufort has shown him his copy of the 'Requiem' and would be pleased if JH would send him a copy. Mr. Harvey and himself have been observing nebulae on the clear nights. Is having a Munich object glass mounted. Will be in town towards the end of the month.
Wishes JH would lay hands on the memorandum concerning the Zenith observatory on Etna. Explains why JH's theories regarding a point in gunnery do not work in actual practice. Queries the measurement given by JH for the height of Etna.
Regarding the correct figure for the height of Etna, W. H. Smyth favors the half foot measurement. Regarding falls of stones from Vesuvius. Encloses calculations made by professor at Naval College. Remembers large balls of lava at Teneriffe.
Further explanation of a matter in gunnery. Can send further sketches if he is still interested.
Has accepted an invitation to visit the Victory and hopes to meet the JH's at the same party. Is off to the dockyard to see about an anchor.
Has been staying at Rome, where the climate did not suit him, but is now on a small ship touring the Mediterranean. Sends a letter of Feliciano Scarpelini, who has a man working a specula made of marble. Palermo Observatory is being put on a secure footing.
P.S. Has received her letter regarding travel home via Rio and will endeavor to find out the answers and send letters of recommendation later; is now in Paris. Hopes to send a copy of a small book he has written. Hoped to include something from D. F. J. Arago but it has not arrived yet. The French are unpunctual.
Further about the experiments of T. T. Grant. Man presented him with a sealed packet on the subject of the precession of the equinoxes by means of the libration of the moon.