From:
Francis Baily
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[13 September 1842]
Source of text:
RS:HS 3.230
Summary:
Comments on the various reports of the recent eclipse. Regarding the star constellations.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
Comments on the various reports of the recent eclipse. Regarding the star constellations.
Would like JH's views on the suitabilities of the various makes of telescopes for their observatory.
Does not feel qualified to judge the merits of the various makes of telescopes. Suggests that the Astronomer Royal may be able to help or one of the other observatories.
Sending a Daguerreotype impression of the spectrum. Comments on this. Is publishing a work on the chemical rays.
Must complete graphs of barometer curves before B.A.A.S. meeting. Did JH mistakenly include 1837 Bogota Almanac in barometer observations?
Sends two dozen more papers on barometer graphs. Must have all papers on subject by January. Pleased with WB's lunar observations.
The instructions for making magnetic and meteorological observations are to be revised. JH asks CG's advice about this.
Calls attention to the increase in magnitude of the star Eta Cygni. Mentions some other variable stars.
Congratulates WW on a testimonial held in WW's honor in Lancaster. Reports the birth of JH's sixth daughter [Julia].
JDH last wrote to his sister, Maria Hooker, in May. He is sending her some shells, which he briefly describes collecting & packing. He suggests that she, as a conchologist, should label them. The first specimen of Voluta magellanica [Adelomelon ancilla] has gone to the Government collection but the next will be for Maria. The only land shell in the Falklands is a minute Planorbis, the specimens of Murex sent are from the South Seas. JDH has also collected Auckland Island shells, Albatross eggs & specimens from New Zealand which will be sent later. Describes how isolated the Falklands are. Only Yule & JDH remain in their berth, Oakeley having been promoted to Lieutenant when McMurdo was invalided home & Sibbald is now 1st Lieutenant on the HMS 'Terror'. Describes their food rations & what fresh meat they can get in the Falklands, stock has also been delivered by the ship 'Carysfort' from Rio de Janeiro. Summer has arrived in the Falklands but there is little vegetation to show the seasonal change. JDH has been skating once during the winter freeze. Captain Gardiner, famed for his Zulu expedition, is in the Falklands waiting to take his family to Hazy Bay in the Straits of Magelhaens [Magellan] on the Patagonian coast. If Aunt Palgrave knows Mrs Gardiner's family in Hampstead she can tell them the Gardiners are all well. The 'Erebus' & 'Terror' will soon sail for a port near Cape Horn, probably St Martin's Cove in Hermit Island, where JDH hopes to see the natives described by both [Charles] Darwin & [James] Weddel. They will then go south towards the Antarctic pole again & hope to get further south than Weddel who reached 74 degrees latitude. JDH theorises that the channels in the ice are very changeable, describes sailing through pack ice as pleasant with opportunity for visiting from ship to ship. Explains why such visits are called 'Mollymawking' by Greenland fisherman. They also hunt seals & penguins & have snow ball fights on ice floes. Sends New Year wishes.
JDH writes to his sister Elizabeth 'Bessy' Hooker, recalling how she used to miss him when away in Hastings & imagining that they both feel much the same now that he is in the Falkland Islands. He was distracted from his letter writing by Captain [James Clark] Ross's request that he go dredging, so he has been fishing marine animals out of the harbour all day in foul weather. He found another specimen of the rare Volute Magellanica [Adelomelon ancilla] but as it was distinguished by having an animal attached to it he could not keep it for his sister Maria. The expedition is to sail the next day for the Cape of Good Hope. JDH has also written to the rest of his family & asks them to send him news in return. He asks Elizabeth to request their father, William Jackson Hooker, send him books on Cryptogamic botany. Mentions that Governor [Richard] Moody complimented the students of Mrs Teed's school at Great Campden House, without knowing JDH's sisters went there. JDH expects Elizabeth to be a fine lady on his return, he himself has not seen a lady for over a year. JDH will be glad to see their friend [William Henry] Harvey at the Cape of Good Hope. JDH has not been able to get any interesting 'curiosities' for Elizabeth. He asks her to tell him how she is spending her time & instructs her not to give up her music. JDH loves music & was happy that Lord George Paulet asked his band, on the ship 'Carysfort', to play for JDH. He explains that all 'good ships' have bands of music supported by the Captain & officers. JDH sends his remembrances to [Walter Hood] Fitch & asks that he send a drawing of the Hooker's new home. Asks how their pet dog & cat, Skye & Judy, are. A note records that the cat died two years previously in Glasgow.
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