From:
Jean Baptiste Biot
To:
Henry Kater
Date:
13 June 1895
Source of text:
MM/17/47, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
The Miss Edgeworths will prolong their visit until Friday in order to visit Slough. George Dollond has sent the radii of the crown lens. Will JH breakfast with the Katers on Friday?
The Miss Edgeworths have changed their plans again in order to visit Portsmouth, but will arrive at Slough on Sunday morning. Hopes the Herschels can still breakfast with the Katers on Friday.
Has been waiting for a letter from Basil Hall regarding the availability of his pendulums, but has heard nothing. Surprised at the error in William Lambton's calculations. What does he think of the method of finding the figure of the earth by measuring the parallax of the moon? Is writing in bed. Has been polishing a mirror for T. J. Hussey.
Sends Knowles's paper for his comments. The Board of Longitude has now been officially dissolved. Hopes the R.S.L. will not take on its work unless well paid by the government. Answers to JH's queries regarding the Nautical Almanac and other works of the Board of Longitude. Present time not good for state recognition of science.
Has been searching for the regulations regarding the Military College. William Fitton and HK have proposed Eilhard Mitscherlich for the Royal Medal and JH is to be asked to prepare a statement. Is pleased J. J. Littrow has adopted the collimator. Has heard of their visit to Gadesburgh. Still at the R.S.L. though he really wished to resign. Michael Faraday was voted the Copley Medal for his glass experiments.
Has been confined to bed with pleurisy. Davies Gilbert called yesterday and gave startling news of the wonders of James South's new telescope. Can JH inform him of its true capabilities? Gilbert talks of having an object glass of 2" diameter made of Michael Faraday's glass.
Has had a letter from Wilhelm Struve regarding the Standard. Could HK bring it to the notice of the R.S.L., and advise JH?
Has never seen the fair copy of William Herschel's polishing book. Will be pleased to assist Wilhelm Struve regarding the Standards. Will ask George Everest to call on him and discuss the Indian operations. How did Herschel perfect the adjustment of his object glass? Has been experimenting with the Josef Fraunhofer spots.
Does he want a scale ordered form George Dollond for Wilhelm Struve? Will not be in London when Struve arrives. Has written a paper on the Standards for the R.S.L. and will send JH a copy when printed. Comments on the comparison of Standards.
Sends details of the measurement of Wilhelm Struve's standard. Is pleased that JH has given an invitation to [E. de?] Beaumont, who is anxious to become an astronomer and is about to spend £1,200 on instruments. Wishes that JH appeared in town more often.
Has been prevented from answering his letter earlier by increased illness. If he returns to town he will have pleasure in meeting H. C. Schumacher. Believes the pound must be made of bell metal. Thought JH was on his way to the Cape, but sees his letter was written from Slough.
Obliged for the present of his papers. Will keep them until the catalogue arrives. The improvements in his 20' telescope are interesting; comments on this. Will obtain the troy pound as soon as Parliament meets.
Unable to be at Katers' home for dinner, but will arrive later. JH is pleased to find HK's and JH's measurements of Mars agree with those of JH's father, William, and compares these with some other measures.
JH very upset at the government abolishing the Board of Longitude; has many questions as to what will happen now.
About the use of the collimator, together with some family news.
About the need to have the standard pound carefully measured so it can be compared with other standards of weight.