Intended calling on JH today but legs and feet were too swollen. Has postponed his journey to Klypfonteyn until the first week in March, to make some alterations to the instrument. Is glad JH will visit the mountains with him. Believes the Thalia is about to sail soon. Formalhoet is now useless at noon.
Presents suggestions for improving and extending Land Station observatories. Will study parallax of Alpha1 and Alpha2 Centauri. Government will survey the colony. Quarantine due to measles outbreak. Boers hostile.
JH's letter of 9 Feb. has left him in high spirits. Is also pleased TM's paper was communicated to the R.S.L. Will make arrangements to collect parts of the meteorite and send the 4 lb. part to JH. G. B. Airy consents that Greenwich Mural Circle be sent to Cape Observatory. Will request more engineering personnel for Colonial Survey.
Mr. Zahn and John Truter in search of more meteorite specimens. Truter obtains a specimen near site of impact.
Sends another meteorite specimen. Mr. Zahn sends group to Bokkerveld to seek more specimens. John Truter describes specimens in possession.
Encloses letters concerning [William] Reid's Laws of Storms. Discusses problems obtaining money for Meteorology Society from government. Reports mural circle working well. Receives another meteorite specimen.
J. M. Craig requests TM to send meteorite to British Museum. TM asks JH to transfer the specimen sent earlier to the Museum.
William Mann arrives with compensation bars. Receives six men for transportation of equipment to Land Observatories. Military possession of Natal ends. Foundation laid for college at Government Gardens.
Work will begin on obelisk at Feldhausen. Occultation of Gamma1 and Gamma2 Virginis observed. Triangulation survey will take TM away from Royal Observatory for extended time. Slave ship carries small pox and causes outbreak. Parallax observations show brightest stars, not nearest.
Acknowledges letter requesting land for the Magnetic Observatory. Has a portion of land available in the S.E. corner of the grounds, but it will be necessary to obtain the permission of Rear Admiral George Elliot.
Erebus and Terror have arrived in Simon's Bay. Discussed Magnetic Observatory with J. C. Ross, Captain Croper, and F. E. Wilmot, and wrote government requesting funds. Obelisk has not yet reached the Cape. Small pox rages in Cape Town.
Arrived in Zwartland in September. Surveyed grounds; measured baselines. Will be absent from observatory until Zwartland work finished.
Came back from Zwartland for a day, but returns tomorrow. Relates news of the measuring of the base line. Visited magnetic observatory; work in Zwartland not yet complete. Magnetic Observatory satisfactory despite slow construction. No news of the obelisk yet.
Measuring work of the base line is virtually completed and levelling of the line will commence forthwith. Has devoted every day to the work except Sundays. Comments on various aspects of the work. F. E. Wilmot wishes he had not returned the rusty dip bar. Obelisk is on board the Romeo.
Received JH's constellation reform paper. Reports on triangulation at Zwartland and observations of possible variable stars. Obelisk at Feldhausen erected; relates controversies over the site.
Observed Comet Mauvais. Is grateful for JH's intervention on Observatory matters. Extra Meridian Instruments defective. Continues observations of variables. F. E. Wilmot's land survey cancelled. Magnetic survey progressing. Mary Maclear ailing.
Observatory work slowed since William Mann's absence due to head injury. C. P. Smyth's replacement not yet arrived. Regrets lack of assistants; wants to complete triangulation at Bushman Flat.
William Mann returns to England still in poor health. Expresses concern over running of Edinburgh Observatory by C. P. Symth. Regrets poor data from Cape Observatory on Comet of 1843. Observed Comet Gambert. Situation with Caffres hostile.
Suggests JH take trip to Continent to recover. Training a naval officer and the son of John Montague, Colonial Secretary, as observatory assistants. Describes outbreak of war with Caffres in detail.
Relating recent events in the latest Caffre war. [George] Childe has arrived and is engaged in preparing his rooms. Has had a letter from C. P. Smyth at Edinburgh. Price of commodities are rising rapidly at the Cape. Hopes that JH has taken expert medical advice.