Visited Liverpool for inspection of School Frigate. Observed Triton. C. P. Smyth will install large telescope at Alta Vista; WS sends excerpt from son's letter. C. P. Smyth also works on spectral line observations.
Has fallen from a ladder in his library and dislocated his shoulder, which accounts for the form of his letter. Has he any recollections of Humphry Davy rubbing his hands together?
Thought that AD's last letter was supposed to be written in verse. Hopes his injury will soon improve. Does not recollect any habit of Humphry Davy rubbing his hands together. A professor, [G. J.?] Stoney, has re-invented JH's collimating telescope and not improved it.
Quotes a rhyme. May have been injured even if he had been at Collingwood. Possibly [G. J.?] Stoney has not read JH on the telescope. Is thriving in health but sleeping very well.
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One of a set of letters providing in-depth descriptions John Wallace's life in the gold mining town of Columbia, California, building a system to bring water to gold mining operations in the town.
Talks of his arrival in Celebes [Sulawesi] and describes very sparse land. There are some woods (patch of about 6-8 miles) and he has found some birds and butterflies but no beetles. Talks of the difficulties collecting here being similar to that of the Amazon. Good collection of birds, including an abundance of Raptorial birds - the first place he has found these in the Archipelago. Collected over 40 species of bird, which he believes include some new species. Then talks of local traditions and some administrative matters.
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