Regrets that illness prevented JH's attendance at the Finance Committee. Gives the reasons why a change of uniform is necessary for the Rifle Volunteers.

Sending a lump of a substance quarried near Edenderry; has found some very similar in a quarry of his own. Can send some more specimens. Congratulations on his Baronetcy. Has been prostrated with bronchitis.

Origin of siliceous minerals sent by JH. Planning tenth edition of Principles of Geology. Convinced that changes in position of land and sea were principal causes of climate changes. Questions [James] Croll's theory of astronomical influences on climate, based on data from U. J. J. Le Verrier. Compares earth-pillars in Rhone valley with those in Tyrol. Wants tenth edition to include woodcut of JH's [1821?] drawings of earth-pillars.

Has received the notice of the meeting, but regrets his ill health will prevent his attendance at the meeting.

WM's friend William Huggins is a candidate for the fellowship of the R.S.L. and would be pleased for JH's support. Please return the certificate to WM when he has signed.

Commiserates with JH in his illness, and says CB is ill also and confined to his house. Seeing JH's letter in the Philosophical Magazine [see JH's 1864-12-20] seems to CB to obviate completely the need for any further response.

At JR's request [see JR's 1865-1-7], attests to merits of late George Boole as mathematician, in support of petition for government pension for Boole's widow.

Passionately protests bill before Parliament for compulsory adoption of French metric system, 'a piece of French national vanity.'

Encloses published letter of 20 Dec. 1864 from JH to editors of Philosophical Magazine and Journal concerning Charles Babbage, who 'revived this miserable subject' of 1826 dispute between W. H. Wollaston and Humphry Davy regarding Babbage's candidacy for R.S.L. secretaryship.

Asks JH to support a petition to the government for a pension for the widow and children of George Boole.

Sends additional meteorological data for 10-12 Jan. 1865, showing effect of full moon on cloud cover.

Thanks JH for copy of [John] Davy's letter. Is sorry to see Charles Babbage pursuing old disputes in his recent publication. Wife's health is failing.

Asks for JH's opinion of the mathematical work of Professor [George] Boole, who recently died. Needs testimony to get pension for his widow and child.

Thanks JH for his opinion of [George] Boole. It may help his widow and children in their application to Lord Palmerston [H. J. Temple].

Thanks WS for his Iliad translation. JH has just finished Book 3 of his own translation of the Iliad.

Lists works received. Has been suffering severely from bronchitic attacks. Is translating Iliad into hexameter verse.

Reports on H. G. Hennessey's paper [R.S.L. Proceedings, 13, 312-] on synchronous distribution of temperature over earth's surface. Feels bewildered by paper, and believes it could be condensed.

Fragment of a letter discussing diffraction, JH's son's journey to observe eclipse and strong polarization of sun's corona, evidence of vast solar atmosphere.

Note with some photographs.

Has kept the petition and will forward it after the meeting. His brother is now in the 16th book of the Iliad.