Has installed his astrometer to help judge star magnitudes; also makes a comparison of barometric observations with those of TM.
Showing 61–80 of 190 items
Has installed his astrometer to help judge star magnitudes; also makes a comparison of barometric observations with those of TM.
Has compared TM's observational measurements with those of the Brisbane catalogue, and finds TM's observations to be better; is working on a star photometer.
JH's observations of the comet [Halley's], together with comments on constellation nomenclature and stellar magnitudes.
Sending some equipment back and forth, and some astrometer readings.
Sends observations of several more standard stars, and of the comet.
Sends formulae for dealing with the apparent differences, in viewing the comet and compared star, due to the effects of parallax and refraction.
Calms TM about not having his comet observations published yet; those published so far are not of much value.
A note along with a request from Niccolo Cacciatore for some observations that JH says he cannot make.
Received the print of JH with great pleasure. The picture by H. W. Pickersgill seems a truthful likeness. The bulbs have been planted and are thriving. Has just returned from the continent, where he visited Caroline Herschel, who is still well in mind, but weak in body. Church building progresses at Slough.
Wonders if people at the Cape observed the large fall of meteors during the night of 12 Nov. 1833; comments on this and gives theories of one professor. JH's name was used for newspaper article on discoveries on the moon; the person responsible was R. A. Locke. Encloses one of his own memoirs on the eclipse.
Comments on observation of comets, the position of Southern Hemisphere stars, and the observation of an annular eclipse.
Comments on inaccuracies in earlier Southern Hemisphere star catalogues, along with an extended description of comet observations.
Comments on the accusations made about himself before the Aborigines Committee.
Comments on communications with the Cape. James Stewart (Margaret Herschel's brother) is well liked by the family. GP is sending on his meteorological observations, noting that he has reduced his emphasis on astronomy. Is working on a long memoir on integral calculus. [Many parts of the letter are illegible.]
Thanks for alerting JH to extraordinary hoax in New York Journal of Commerce (2 Sept. 1835). Invites [Caldwell] to visit JH at Feldhausen.
Having read John Burrow's book, JH proposes procedure for analyzing masses of data from [African] Expedition. Will volunteer to interpolate chronometer errors if TM will undertake computations.
JH's theory of meteors. Will convey to England RP's recent observations of eclipses. Received New York paper claiming discoveries in moon by JH. Invites American observers to join international system for simultaneous meteorological observations.
Advice on how best to survive business world of Canton. [Letter continues from Hout Bay:] Family finances. [Letter continues 9 May at Feldhausen:] Asks help in developing JH's 'Phonetic Alphabet' of Chinese language. Considers writing book for Chinese. Comments on Chinese literature and culture. JH has changed shipping agents in Cape Town. Poem by JH.
Speculates on extinction of species by natural (not miraculous) causes intermediate to Creator. JH's theory of shifting crust over Earth's surface and its subsequent transfer of pressure. Seeks geological primum mobile for volcanoes based on continual deposition and melting of strata. 'All records of former worlds must ultimately perish.'
Thanks CL for the gift of a new edition of CL's Principles of Geology. JH comments on a number of issues, in a very long letter, including the replacement of extinct species by other species, CL's solution of the problem of the variation of climate, and the evolution of language. JH speculates at length on the isothermal activity under the earth's crust that may result in volcanoes or the formation of new land masses, and describes a considerable number of geological examples that JH sees as supporting CL's ideas.