Was glad to see the clause in Dr. Thomas Plume's will. Sees many advantages in the professorship at Cambridge, but still adheres to his former decision not to apply for the position.

Robert Woodhouse is in immediate danger. Urges him to think again before he finally turns down the offer. Would like to visit him and discuss the matter. Can JH come up during the Christmas holiday?

Sending a clause from Dr. Thomas Plume's will which he hopes will remove JH's objections to the professorship at Cambridge. There should be no difficulty in traveling between Slough and Cambridge with steam carriages.

Robert Woodhouse has died and if JH intends applying for the position at Cambridge, he should lose no time in making his application.

Outlines the difficulties he has had to return JH's actinometer. Gives details of his observations in the Alps. Comments on the chronometer used.

Sending observations of his barometrical observations made during the summer at Chamouny. Comments on them and the work of [Alfred?] Gautier.

Discusses comet observations, together with variations from different observers. HO offers some historical fragments about the planet Venus, and about the Lilienthal telescope.

Comments on the observations JH has made with his 20-foot telescope, especially nebulae. HO provides some of his own observational data of Comet Encke.

Is afraid JH will decline the invitation to be a candidate for the Lucasian professorship, so it is assumed Charles Babbage will be elected.

Thanks JH for his assistance with edition of William Herschel's writings [see JH's 1824-6-30]. JP indicates volume two is ready for submission to printer.

Needs money to employ men working on Charles Babbage's calculating machine.

Apologizes for incident at meeting; feels partially at fault for encouraging WS to speak on the subject. Advises WS on his microscope order. Stays at Slough because of good observing conditions.

Cannot at present accept the situation [at University of Virginia] discussed in JH's letter. Is still a candidate for position at London University [see WR's 1827-7-28]. Thanks JH for honor bestowed.

Left his job because of precarious health. Is retired. Discusses achromatic telescopes and his ideas for correcting spherical and chromatic aberrations.

Has more leisure after resigning as Secretary to the Royal Society. Is sending his and [James] South's magnitude scales and positions of observation for WS to compare. Lists common double stars and offers means of comparison. Remarks on 'new star,' the fifth star in the trapezoid of Orion.

Surprised and grateful for JH's encouragement concerning his Stellarum duplicium. Informs JH that the observatory survived the fire at Abo. The university is moving to Helsingfors, Finland. [F. W. A.] Argelander will remain and is working on determining delineations of the foundation stars.

Expresses regrets that George Airy's memoir on spherical aberration in telescope eyepieces and WH's 'Theory of Systems of Rays' reached JH too late for adequate treatment in JH's 'Light.'

Discusses the poor health of Heinrich Olbers, and Johann Encke's inability to acquire the necessary instruments. Wants JH to send to CH a few of her 'Indexes.'

Thrilled by JH's encouragement concerning WH's 'Theory of Systems of Rays.' Enthusiastic about his career prospects at the University of Dublin.

Apologizes for controversy at meeting with James South over the transit circle.