Having been placed jointly in charge with G. A. Erman of a B.A.A.S. grant expenditure to support H. J. R. Petersen's recomputation of Gaussian constant for 1829, JH asks for corrections in the statement of the actions funded.

Agrees with GG and G. G. Stokes that the 'Magnetic Reduction Grant' should be approved. G. A. Erman also agrees.

Discusses various telescopes of his father and his father's [erroneous] announcement of his discovery of four additional satellites of Uranus.

Suggests reasons for doubting the distribution of bright stars that RP had reported. Responds to RP's query concerning a statement in Outlines Ast. Encourages RP's hypothesizing on star distribution.

Thanks RP for sending RP's Other Worlds than Ours and supplies comments, some favorable, on numerous claims made therein, e.g., on RP's theory that Jupiter and Saturn are hot and to some degree luminous.

Assures RP that he is not upset at RP for publicly questioning some of JH's ideas. Continues discussion of point in perturbation theory for Uranus.

Continues to explain matters in perturbation theory. Stresses need for careful observations in solar eclipses. Doubts the existence of the hypothetical intermercurial planet Vulcan.

Approves RP's method of preparing isographic projection charts of the distribution of bright stars, noting that JH's gauges of the southern stars are incomplete.

Thanks RP for sending RP's Sun. Suggests a theory that the solar corona, rather than originating in the earth's atmosphere, is produced by reflection from meteoric dust. Informs RP that he has completed a catalogue of all observations of double stars.

Replies to RP's objections to his theory of the solar corona. Informs RP that William Herschel's larger telescopes were used as front focus. Suggests explanation of his father's disconfirmed discovery of four additional Uranian moons.

Admits that recent heliographs of the corona favor the eruption theory over JH's meteoric theory. Notes that this raises question of the nature of the photosphere. Cites recent results showing link between sunspot formation and terrestrial magnetic disturbances.

[Responding to WJ's 1870-10-29], JH declines participating, suggesting that too many lobbying groups already exist and that such groups frequently end up agitating for ends others than those that led to their creation.

Proposes a method of defraying the cost of coinage by means of seigniorage involving silver coinage.

Expresses skepticism on the claims made by F. Abbott, observing from Tasmania, of the detection of changes in the Eta Argus nebula. Compares Abbott's drawings with drawings made by JH and and by JH's son John.

Mostly about how to deal with the implications of local attractions in geodetic surveying [see JH's 1870-11-17]; JH has had the mineral son John sent analyzed and sends the results. JH commiserates with daughter-in-law Mary's illness.

Asks son John whom he would like to have sign the certificate for fellowship in the R.S.L. [see JH's 1870-9-7]; JH talks about ways of dealing with local irregularities in geodetic surveying [see JH's 1869-11-25]; is wishing Amelia and family were out of China and into India.

Gives advice to son John about whom to ask for a signature for the certificate for fellowship in the R.S.L. [see JH's 1870-8-4]; talks about the war [Franco-Prussian ?], and announces the birth of a son to daughter Amelia and Thomas Wade in Peking.

Discusses the signatures needed for a fellowship certificate for the R.S.L. [see JH's 1870-8-1 or earlier]; comments on the arrival of son Alexander home from a holiday in Norway.

Talks about signatures needed for a fellowship certificate for the R.S.L.

A long rambling statement against the metric system and its proposed introduction into India.